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Orlando Magic will go to the NBA Championship!

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by The Real Shady, Dec 2, 2004.

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How would you feel?

  1. Bitter

    13 vote(s)
    17.8%
  2. Happy

    39 vote(s)
    53.4%
  3. Both

    21 vote(s)
    28.8%
  1. The Real Shady

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    Can you see it now. Steve Francis, Cutino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato doing group interviews on ESPN joking and laughing at how everyone thought that the Rockets got the best of the trade. Rockets management refusing to comment on the issue. Be prepared to feel the sting Houston fans because it's going to hurt.

    Taking a look at the East there is no reason that Orlando can't go the the NBA Championship. Indiana has been gutted because of the fight, and Detroit is not playing like they did last season. So really that leaves Miami as the biggest threat to beat the Magic. However, looking at the Magic they have the potential to get better and have a higher celling then the Heat. The Magic are roughly a new team and are still gelling. Also, Mobley has been hurt most of the year and in his first game back the Magic scored 129 points in a game that didn't require overtime.

    So at the end of the year if Magic are in the Championship, and the Rockets are in the lottery, how would you feel? Bitter or happy for the Magic and the ex-Rockets? I would probably feel a little of both.... errr, make that a little happy and very bitter. If this scenario plays out the Rockets will be known as the new Clippers of the NBA for such a big screw up.
     
  2. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    i'll believe it when i see it.
     
  3. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    They can definitely go. With the destruction of Indiana, they're the third best team in the East. Actually, the way Detroit looks, they might be second best. But I think Shaq is going to turn it up a couple of notches come playoff time.
     
  4. emjohn

    emjohn Member

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    They're good, but not that good. Funball is great for the regular season, but never lasts too long in the playoffs. Ask Dallas and Sac-town about that.

    Heat are looking more and more like a good pick for the Finals.

    I'm certainly rooting for Orlando, though. Bitter-free. It's nice to see Steve get some vindication.

    Evan
     
  5. JumpMan

    JumpMan Member
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    The question should be.

    So at the end of the year if the Magic have a nice playoff run, and the Rockets are in the lottery, how would you feel? Bitter or happy for the Magic and the ex-Rockets?

    I would say the Pistons still have the best shot, followed by the Pacers even without Ron Artest, and then it looks like Miami is just a little bit better than teams like the Magic, Cavs, Wizards, Sixers and Celtics. I'm not that impressed with Miami, Wade is the real deal but Shaq isn't even the best big man in the East I wouldn't be surprised to see them get upset in the playoffs.
     
  6. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    They're much closer than we are. We barely score 129 points in two games, they do it in one night.

    There is no way that anyone in their right mind can say that trade has worked out for us at this moment. Of course, if that assclown quits or is fired soon, that may change quickly.
     
  7. rrj_gamz

    rrj_gamz Member

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    THe Magic have a great team and Franchise gets to do what he loves to do, make plays and showboat...

    They'll do deep into the playoffs...but Championship...please...
     
  8. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    my problem is with those who want to evaluate this trade based on how the Rockets are playing at this moment. as best i can tell, this trade was about pairing together two potential superstars and building around them. they've done the first part...it's the building around them that still needs work. but if they have a good offseason...put together some nice pieces...and turn into legit contenders next year or the next...we're gonna laugh at ourselves for freaking out after the first month or so of regular season play.
     
  9. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    I'm not basing it on that. If we were 6-10 with any hope that we would play better or the players were showing any heart on the court, then I'd agree with you. I never saw this lack of heart from our team when Francis, Mobley and Cato were here.
     
  10. The Real Shady

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    I'm not saying they will win the championship, but they certainly have a shot to get there since there are no dominate teams in the east.
     
  11. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    that's fair criticism. i just don't think you're looking at the team the Rockets have in mind to be the true contenders when they made this trade.
     
  12. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    That's most of it, which is why I bolded the "at this moment" for you. :D Seriously though, I'd be with you all the way if we were just losing these games....I was with you three games ago. The way we've lost the last three games has embarassed me more than nearly any team I've ever rooted for. Not only are they not playing good, they don't care that they're not playing good.

    However, I can also admit that I think that will change as soon as there's a change in the head coaching position. JVG gives his players absolutely no incentive to play hard for him.
     
  13. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    I completely agree. There was never a lack of heart last season. Our team showed so many emotions. I really like what we had last year.

    I hope they get the necessities around Yao and Tmac. Cause right now....we suck.
     
  14. JumpMan

    JumpMan Member
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    You keep preaching that but we didn't trade Francis, Mobley and Cato for Tracy and pieces that we'll add next season or the season after that, we traded Francis, Mobley and Cato for Tracy, Juwon, Lue, and Gaines. So IMO, if anyone wants to say that the trade worked out better for Orlando than it worked out for Houston they can and they would be right. Expectations and ticket sales went up right after the trade was made, nobody thought we'd have to wait a year or two to see this thing pay off.
     
  15. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    really??? i sure did! i was screaming it here. i know jeff said the same thing, because i remember reading a post of his about it and talking about it with him.

    that's not giving myself any credit...i'm not a hoops genuis. i just look at this lineup and can tell you this team is not a championship level team...they're not a real contender. they may end up being a playoff level team before it's all over. we'll see.
     
  16. JumpMan

    JumpMan Member
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    That's fine not that many people thought we'd be championship level anyway, but did you think the trade would make them take a step back? Right now the best we can hope for is a repeat of last season I don't think anyone, not even you, could of expected that.
     
  17. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    The problem isn't they are not looking like champions, the problem is they are not even trying. No one expected them to be worse than they were last year. And they have the talent to be a 45 win team. My problem with the “sunshine pumpers” (I always wanted to say that) is that these are the same people who said these guys with their high BBIQs will mesh fairly quickly. Even I thought they would at least look more fluid. And for a few games they have. But they aren’t competing to be .500 team, and that’s a problem.
     
  18. F.D. Khan

    F.D. Khan Member

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    The East is a complete free for all right now:

    Probable Playoff Teams:

    Detroit
    Miami
    Cleveland
    Indiana
    Orlando
    Toronto
    New York


    I think the Magic group of :

    Francis
    Mobley
    Hill
    Howard
    Cato

    They have a great chance against any of those teams. Miami or Detroit will probably come out of the east, but they even have a chance against those two teams.

    They honestly have one of the best starting five's in the east. They lack low post scoring, but Howard seems to be getting better and better. Much of their chances are based on his development.

    I honestly watch Magic games and still root for all three players, especially Francis. I agreed with the McGrady trade and still do but Francis gave so much effort and tried to do everything that was asked of him. There were fundamental flaws in his game that having a ball handler like Hill and an uptempo can mask, but he's an amazing, exciting player that i will always root for (unless they play the rockets!!)
     
  19. vj23k

    vj23k Member

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    Seriously.

    I may cry.
     
  20. francis 4 prez

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    a. i'll be happy. i don't think they'll make it b/c they don't play enough D (though after watching jvg teams maybe i should never complain about wanting D again) and aren't that good on the road, but i'll be happy. it's not like they have to take us out to get there or anything

    b. the magic are playing WAY better than us

    c. i'd still do the trade 10 times out of 10

    d. anyone who undervalued francis and mobley and thought we weren't losing overall talent this year was foolish

    e. anyone who thought we'd compete with the big boys this year was foolish

    f. this trade was about getting two stars together at 25 and 24 years of age and then building around them. if we don't screw it up and build solidly for the next 3 years, we could have a nice supporting cast around two stars who are still only 28 and 27. that's very good and why i would do the trade 10 times out of 10

    g. that being said, there is no way in hell we should be playing this badly right now

    h. i blame that on jvg

    i. fire jvg
     

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