The Magic are going to have to prove to me that they aren't just a regular season tiger, like the Nash Mavericks. They've got great chemistry, good team guys, and a fantastic offense that's gelled. But their defense is completely predicated upon Howard playing zone defense, protecting the rim to allow the rest of the team to shade into passing lanes for steals. That defense doesn't work when they play a team like us with a dominant post player, because Howard (and therefore, the rest of the team) is forced to defend one-on-one. And aside from Howard, these guys are poor one-on-one defenders. Losses to us, Boston (twice), Phoenix (Shaq), Toronto (Bosh/O'Neal), Portland (Aldridge)...it's not that bigs kill them, but they disrupt the zone defense that Orlando needs to play. I think that is going to haunt them in the playoffs. Evan
We already beat them http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=281122019 We could not stop nelson in the first half if I remember right
I'll admit, i dont watch the magic and outside of turkelou, howard, lewis, nelson, and reddick i dont really know much about the rest of their team. But they dont scare me and i dont think they are nearly as deep as our bench is.
Watching them play the Celtics last night, I wasn't too impressed. I know they had an off-game and was rusty due to their long layoff, but like some posters already mentioned, their offense is predicated on double teams on howard, swinging the ball and shooting 3's. When their 3's aren't falling, they are almost useless. Last night, when no one could make shots, they didn't even look down low to Howard. He barely had any touches in the second half, and sometimes wasn't even posting up. Even I was like, "throw it down to Howard you idiots, he's the supposed best center in the league!" Howard gets most of his points off offensive rebounds and broken play dunks etc. and I think Yao can keep him in check. When our shots aren't falling we can always throw it down to Yao and he'll score. When the Magic's shots aren't falling they just keep chucking. I wasn't impressed. Of course, when their 3's are falling, they are hard to beat, but you can say that about any team. I'm not gonna say they are good because they're in the East, because they just destroyed the West recently, defeating all the Division leaders. But I do think we match up perfectly with them. Therefore, yes, we are better than the Magic, healthy or otherwise.
Let's put it this way, if they were in the West, I would love to play them in the first round. They are a good match up for the Rockets, Utah is not. I never want to see the Jazz in the first round again. Forget revenge, skip them. I think they will beat us in a series 9 times out of 10. The Rockets don't match up well with the Jazz period, I would rather take on L.A.
No need for the analysis, Magic will be the best team rockets can pick to play in the finals (if they can get there). And it will be a easy 4-2 win for the rockets. IMO.
overall we are no better than the Magic but we can beat them cause we don't have to double team Dwight and leave their shooters open
In case you didnt realize, 3 of the four best teams in the NBA are in the East. As for the Magic, they are 33 and 9. 15 and 5 against the East, 18 and 4 against the West. Lakers are 22-3 against the West and 12-5 against the East. Hornets are 17-7 against the West and 9-6 against the East. Hell, look at us. We are 18-9 against the West and 9-7 against the East. That being said, I still think we have an advantage on them head to head due to matchups. But at this moment, you would have to say they have a better chance as far as advancing in the playoffs. Cant really say if that is the case if we were healthy, cuz no one knows how this team will look when everyone is healthy.
Yes. Maybe I'm a homer but that team still seems fragile to me. Too many jumpers and a big guy who still seems very, very unpolished and prone to make a lot of mistakes when he sees a quarter of the attention Yao does.
