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MagicMadness
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ESPN on the East contenders; Magic under the radar as expected.
Topic Started: Mar 6 2008, 07:57 PM (886 Views)
gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
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3. Besides the Cavs, which dark horse team is most likely to make a surprise run to the NBA Finals?

Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Orlando has the big man and the coach for the job. And it's easy to picture Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis having huge series. But it's tough to bet on a team with an uncertain point guard situation.

So I'll take Toronto: The Raptors have a big man in Chris Bosh, a steady point guard in Jose Calderon and maybe some learned lessons from last year's disappointing end to the season.

J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Why not the Magic? If their 3-pointers are dropping and Dwight Howard is dominating inside, they're a good team. Turkoglu is a tough matchup, too, because he can shoot outside and take defenders off the dribble.

Orlando was the first team to beat Boston. It's 2-1 against the Celtics and 2-1 against the Pistons. People limit the Eastern Conference discussion to three teams, but don't forget the Magic have a better record than the Cavaliers.


Chris Broussard, ESPN Mag: I fully believe that Boston, Cleveland or Detroit will rep the East.

If forced to pick another dark horse, it has to be Orlando, with its great front line. I'd say Washington if Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, or even just Butler, were healthy.



Link

I say we are the dark horse in the East. We have been mostly overlooked even when we are having a great season. The main reason is the shaky PG situation and thin frontline.

Would love us to surprise the league with a solid playoff performance. I still think it will be tough to reach the Conference Finals but wouldn't it be a nice surprise if we did?

Go Magic!

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MAGICMANEVAN
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Oh yeah were the dark horse. ESPN talks up Boston, Detroit and even Cleveland over us. Its ok I love being the sleeper. Jumping all over teams and finally moving on to the 2nd round is nicer :D
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Canes2311
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if our pg's play good during the playoffs ( which is unlikely) we will rep the east.
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MagicMadness
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Honestly, they have it about right. Obviously the Celtics and Pistons are the cream of the crop, then after that, considering their playoff successes the past two seasons, you've got to put Cleveland.

That leaves Orlando and Toronto.

The way I see it is like this:

Tier 1: Boston/Detroit
Tier 2: Cleveland
Tier 2.5: Orlando/Toronto
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adamosthegreek
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Kings of Europe
4 wins back of Detroit yet still underrated, I love it. :lol:

Broussard has hated us forever. :lol:
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CLos
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Eastern Conference Champs
I think Toronto is a better team than us. I mean Bosh destroys us and so do their terrific 2 PG systems. I think we are better than Cleveland however. The Cavs still have to rely on LeBron and Dwight owns Ben Wallace. If we face Cleveland, I think we can beat them.
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MagicMadness
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adamosthegreek
Mar. 6, 2008 07:38 PM
4 wins back of Detroit yet still underrated, I love it. :lol:

Broussard has hated us forever. :lol:

Well, he's talking about the postseason, not the regular season.

Whole different ballgame.
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Vinnie
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Legend
I tell you what, Washington will be tough if Butler and Arenas come back at full strength, but that is a HUGE if, especially after hearing Arenas' recent comments. I think it's obvious Detroit and Boston are the fav's with the Magic being the other team that has a legit shot. I don't like what Cleveland did in that trade, it's not that it was a horrible deal, but I just don't like a team having to try to re-create chemistry this late in the game.
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Eyriq
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Yeah, I read that stuff. I was surprised they were all over Cleveland like they were based on last year’s team, but hey, I guess that is the safe pc thing to say right now. I feel comfortable in saying that the Magic are the third best team in the east. With two more games against Cleveland those experts will be singing a different toon if we win both.
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Eyriq
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Hey, another thing; did anyone else notice that Cleveland lost against the Bulls tonight? Hmm, don't look now, but I think the Bulls may have a run in them to make the playoffs, and prove that they ripped off Cleveland in that trade. I don't know what infatuation people have with LBJ's team but it ain't in line with reality.
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Canes2311
Sixth Man
I had to mute the TV for tonights game because of the fellatio they were performing on Lebron on national television. I want nothing more than for the Magic to pimp slap Cleveland in the playoffs. Same goes for the Celtics there a bunch of losers anyways so who the hell thinks there all of a sudden gonna learn how to win. Even if they do make it out of the east the west team is gonna knock em on their a**. The only thing Pierce, KG, and Allan have ever been is losers. A team like San Antonio would knock them out in 5 or 6 games. Look for Detroit to take them out if they play because I have no faith in any of them.
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CLos
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Canes2311
Mar. 6, 2008 10:30 PM
Same goes for the Celtics there a bunch of losers anyways so who the hell thinks there all of a sudden gonna learn how to win. Even if they do make it out of the east the west team is gonna knock em on their a**. The only thing Pierce, KG, and Allan have ever been is losers. A team like San Antonio would knock them out in 5 or 6 games. Look for Detroit to take them out if they play because I have no faith in any of them.

Technically, looking at the franchise's history, they know how to win. Hungry players like KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen who are unselfish are definitely dangerous in the playoffs. They could definitely have a chance to win the championship this season. You have it all wrong.
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MagicMadness
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Have to agree with CLos about the Celtics. Before the season began, media and fans predicted them to be the team to beat. With less than 20 games left in the season, the Celtics have the best record in the league.

They are going to be a tough out in the playoffs for anyone. So far, they've been living up to the hype, in their first season playing together.
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Ben Q Rock
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Eyriq
Mar. 6, 2008 09:55 PM
Hey, another thing; did anyone else notice that Cleveland lost against the Bulls tonight? Hmm, don't look now, but I think the Bulls may have a run in them to make the playoffs, and prove that they ripped off Cleveland in that trade. I don't know what infatuation people have with LBJ's team but it ain't in line with reality.

I think Cleveland fleeced Chicago, not the other way around.
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gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
I don't agree that the deal was one sided. Neither the Bulls or the Cavs got a better deal. They both improved by exchanging unwanted parts.

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