i am also surprised that so many of you guys think they'll make it. orlando has been on a major slide while indiana has been on a roll and the celtics and sixers have improved their rosters through trades. I think the Atlantic could get two teams in the playoffs now and so i think the magic will be left out.
i think it's a shame that they'll miss the cut. they have a lot of talent, but just not enough chemistry.
They only make it if Nelson starting works. If he can't get Howard involved and Francis does not make a good catch and shoot 2 then no they don't make the playoffs. With Celts and Sixers' getting better, Nets improving, Detroit back on top and Wizards getting Hughes back it looks bad for the Magic and subsequently Weisbrod. For a guy to go so far out on a limb as to call out McGrady and make the trades he has made and then flop, he should be looking for a job. (Major ditto on Thomas). McGrady is already winning the PR battle and now with Francis up to his usual, Weisbord is looking bad. Tmac and a healthy Hill would have run away with the division, even with Shaq in Miami.
Heck - even without a healthy Hill they would've been a tough team! They added quite a few peices (Howard, Turkoglu, Battie, Nelson, Garrity healthy again) - could've been quite the supporting cast for TMac... Hey, I'm not complaining about their GM's madness!!!
Yeah, I'd have to agree that was the turning point. Weisbrod really screwed that one up, and it looks like he completely killed Francis' devotion to the team at the same time. Evan
BIG TIME! A lot of it has to fall on Francis since that trade he hasn't been his usual self at all, he's been way, way, way, too emotional, more than I've ever seen him, he looks like the normal emotional out of control Francis Rocket fans are used to seeing... on steriods! He's putting up the numbers but they won't lead to wins or the playoffs until he starts controlling them like he usually does, he's a grown man losing Mobley shouldn't be this big of a deal you still have games to win! You can usually tell when Francis isn't into the game when you look at his rebounding numbers, the higher they are they more focused and determined he is to win, last five games, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2. It's funny how overrated they got to be though, Greg Anthony talking about the Magic having more talent than the Heat do without Shaq, HA! He used to be a point guard he should know better, can't believe he said that with a straight face. Wiesbrod seriously screwed them up, trading McGrady wasn't going to bring back an equally talented player no matter what, overall that trade was almost in their favor if not a tie as long as people don't do silly things with it and say we got McGrady, Howard, Barry, and James for Francis, Cato, and Christie. Where he really screwed up were moves after that, Gooden and Varejo for Battie looks really dumb now, so does Bogans for Hunter, Mobley for Christie has been a disaster a 50 year old Stacey Augmon plays better! I hope Francis gets traded in the offseason, he may not have great PG skills but he doesn't have that many skills a SG needs either, he needs the PG position and a respectable coach more than anything. Gotta take back what I said about Wade and Francis being close to equals, Wade has taken the step into top 5 to top 10 player status that Francis never took. Francis is standing still, I mean he improved this year but with the new guys coming in he may get lost in the shuffle of talented point guards like Andre Miller, Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, Stephon Marbury and Jason Williams are getting lost. The NBA's cold you'll get replaced quick if you stop doing great things like Francis stopped since that Mobley trade, here comes Wade, Lebron, Hinrich, Arenas, Ridnour, Parker, maybe even Jameer Nelson, keep up or step aside!
What I was thinking too. I know they wanted to get something for him, but they killed their season with that choice. Chemistry has fallen apart since then. They won't make the playoffs. They've been sliding after a strong start and I see no reason why they'd turn it around.
Guard shift doesn't net victory. By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted February 27, 2005 MIAMI -- Until further notice or too many losses, veteran Steve Francis is no longer a starting point guard in the NBA, specifically for the Orlando Magic. The Magic handed the job to rookie Jameer Nelson before a 101-98 loss to the Miami Heat in a Saturday matinee, thus beginning the delicate process of prying the ball from Francis' sometimes steely, sometimes slippery grip. Francis was moved to starting shooting guard, replacing Doug Christie, who will come off the bench. It was the start of a new game plan after 53 games, but one thing didn't change: The ball eventually found Francis at the end. Francis has five game-winning shots on his Orlando résumé, but he couldn't rescue the Magic (28-26) against the Shaq-less Heat. And Coach Johnny Davis gave him two chances in the last half-minute to try to slow the Magic's free fall from the playoff race. The changing of the guards was a move that had been in the works the past few days, designed to give the Magic a much-needed jolt and curb reckless play. The experiment showed its merits against the Heat, especially addressing Orlando's habitual slow starts. Nelson, 5 feet 10 of boundless energy, finished with 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had seven assists in his first pro start. But the one stat that backed up the alteration -- at least in this game -- was this: Nelson committed just one turnover in a career-high 37 minutes. The Magic had just 11 turnovers. "I felt comfortable out there," said Nelson, a late first-round pick. "It's just basketball, man. . . . I don't know the reason for the change. I just go out and play." The reason was to get the ball out of the hands of a dynamic, but erratic, three-time all-star, and to abate some grumbling in the locker room by teammates fed up with Francis' domination of the ball. "Sometimes," team captain Grant Hill said, "you have to shake things up a bit." Francis is leading the league in turnovers (222) after finishing second last season. He struggled playing off the ball early, missing his first six shots, and went 30 minutes without a field goal. He finished with 16 points -- five points fewer than his team-leading average -- but had just three turnovers. An emotional powder keg, Francis saw his career take yet another tumultuous turn. He was upset at being traded last summer from the Houston Rockets to Orlando. Then he was angered that the Magic traded Cuttino Mobley, his best friend, to the Sacramento Kings for Christie. He and Davis both said Francis has accepted starting at a position other than point guard, where he started in 427 NBA games over a six-season span. Either that or they're good actors. "It was good," Francis said, even after missing nine of 14 shots. "I don't have to worry about handling the ball. It was a different look for us." But it looked the same at the end. Francis missed a running shot from 6 feet with 27.9 seconds left and the Heat leading by two at 97-95. Then he had his next last-gasp shot blocked by Dwyane Wade that effectively wrapped up Miami's sixth consecutive victory against Orlando. Davis said he was going for a quick shot to at least tie the score and leave more clock with which to work. When Francis missed on his first trip, Davis said he tried to get Francis or anybody wearing a blue uniform to quickly foul Wade, who more than made up for Shaquille O'Neal's absence (sprained left knee). "I wanted us to stop the clock and have a chance at winning the game and not just one last shot at it," Davis said. "But we didn't get the message." Instead, 13 seconds ticked off before Francis finally got the foul call. That left just 15.8 seconds left and Wade at the line, where the young all-star made both free throws for a safe four-point lead. Again, Davis called Francis' number, but curiously, it looked like the same play. Francis drove to the hoop, but Wade swatted his shot with 10.9 seconds left. "I was anticipating that," Wade said. Hedo Turkoglu hit a scrambling 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining, making the score 99-98, but Rasual Butler was fouled to stop the clock and hit both free throws. Wade, Shaq's East Coast answer to Kobe Bryant for the Southeast Division-leading Heat (41-16), scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Hill led all scorers with 28 points. The state series -- and the Magic's point-guard experiment -- continues with a rematch tonight at TD Waterhouse Centre. Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com. Link
Steve's career is in serious trouble. He can still make tons of money, but it looks like he will no longer have a chance to achieve greatness, as he once was projected to do here in Houston. Well, who knows maybe he can be a Chuncy Billup later in his career, but right now, it doesn't look good at all.
Wow, the Magic are in trouble....All those combinations the Magic are trying, we already tried. Oh well, thats not our problem
Mistake #1 was trading Cuttino. They're tied right now for the 7th and the 76ers and Nets will both make it over them. So NO.
looks like the magic playoff chances have improved. J O'neal was injured tonight in denver and from what i just heard on tnt it didnt sound too good (i didnt see the actual injury but it was shoulder related) and that he could be out for a long time. Expect the pacers to drop out for sure if its the rest of the season or continue to battle for the last seed if he can come back quickly. but apparently he shot and made two free throws with only his left hand before being taken to the locker room. the magic have a lead on the pacers right now by i think 1.5 games (after the pacers loss tonight) and look to be in better shape in keeping that 7th spot. philly is still chasing them but i think the only way they'll lose out now is if NJ makes another push here at the end, they've been playing well lately and make be a dark horse to make it. I think that they are about 4 games out of the final spot right now. shame about O'neal things just keep going from bad to worse for that indiana franchise this season. may as well tank and try to land chris paul or someone
HAHAHA...just like when the Rox lose a game, everyone pisses in their pants and cries like the sky is falling. Orlando will be fine and I guarantee they'll make the playoffs and at least the second round. I have no doubt Steve will step it up again, he was having an amazing season and has been crap since the return from the all-star break. Yeah he is TO prone but it's all good b/c he more than makes up for it in other areas (close to 7 boards and 7 assts). Orlando has no post presence: D. Howard is a good rebounder and shot blocker but not someone you can run an offense around YET!, Cato is all defense and can only score on those allys by Steve, Tony Battie (need I say more?). Grant Hill is probably their best low post option right now. It's tough to win consistently being strictly a perimeter team. They need to stop panicking, they have a bright future especially after last season's disaster. Anyways, peace out.
ummm..this thread wasn't started because the Magic lost ONE game. they're 4-6 over their last 10. they're now 2 games over. they've dropped to the 7th spot. they're under .500 vs their own division, which includes an expansion team and the worst team in the league. they're 15-18 in their own conference. 9-19 on the road. they're not exactly on a good trend right now...and one game doesn't necessarily fix that. will they make the playoffs? i think probably. of course that's more of a function of the weakness of the Eastern Conference than any big compliment to the Magic. agreed with you that they're improved. but they're not overly secure in their 7th slot.
a bold statement followed by an entire paragraph which does anything but back up your guarantee that they will make the 2nd round. i think they will make the playoffs, but very unlikely they get homecourt, in which case its going to be very difficult getting out of the 1st round. however, whoever gets the #6 seed gets to play the atlantic div. champ so i guess they could get lucky. good luck passing da bulls right now though.
Come on now Rivaldo, you should only guarantee them making the playoffs, the only way they could upset someone is if they get the sixth seed and play against either Boston or Philly because they don't stand a chance against Miami or Detroit. Also can everyone stop calling Grant Hill a point forward, he's a scoring forward this season, more Carmelo Anthony than Lebron James.
