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East Playoff Projection; ESPN's Jon Barry
Topic Started: Mar 12 2008, 03:40 AM (749 Views)
gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
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First Round
No. 3 Orlando Magic vs No. 6 Washington Wizards  -- Another great job by Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. The Wizards have run their system even without Gilbert Arenas for much of the season and Caron Butler in and out of the lineup.

The Magic have taken a step forward with Stan Van Gundy's coaching and Dwight Howard's move into absolute stardom. The Magic are limited in some ways at power forward, having never replaced Tony Battie. The Wizards win a couple here based on previous playoff experience. (Magic in 6)

East Semi Finals
Detroit vs. Orlando --  This Orlando team is still not ready for title contention. Detroit's frontcourt is too much for this Orlando team -- Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson and now Theo Ratliff. They have too many big guys they can throw at Howard, who's bedeviled by poor free throw shooting (59.8 percent).

The Magic's other problem here is no adequate matchup for Chauncey Billups -- Carlos Arroyo and Jameer Nelson are smaller point guards. Hedo Turkoglu should have been an All-Star, but the Pistons still have Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton. This series is a matchup made in heaven for Detroit. (Pistons in 5)



Link

Jon Barry has completely forgotten about Rashard Lewis. Still we are going to be the underdog on that Semi-final match with Detroit.

I would say I agree with his assessment.

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Kwik10z
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you know...i dont know what is worse....another first round exit, or ANOTHER playoff beating by Detroit!

Oh god, how i hate (despise) Detroit!
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Eyriq
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Calderon for most improved is hard to argue with.

He really drools over the Cavs, doesn't he? Depending on how the Raptors finish the season, meaning how good Bosh looks, I could see them handling the Cavs in 6, not the other way around.

For prides sake I want to say that the Magic will make more of the Detroit match up than just 5 games. We can steal one in Detroit, so conceivably we have a chance at winning the series. Also, our front court is superior to anyones in the East (Edit: on 2cd thought, our front courst is the best in the NBA), so I don't know what Barry is smoking.
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blksage2000
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Eyriq
Mar. 12, 2008 06:21 AM
Calderon for most improved is hard to argue with.

He really drools over the Cavs, doesn't he? Depending on how the Raptors finish the season, meaning how good Bosh looks, I could see them handling the Cavs in 6, not the other way around.

For prides sake I want to say that the Magic will make more of the Detroit match up than just 5 games. We can steal one in Detroit, so conceivably we have a chance at winning the series. Also, our front court is superior to anyones in the East (Edit: on 2cd thought, our front courst is the best in the NBA), so I don't know what Barry is smoking.

you are definately wrong if you really believe we have one of the best front courts.....especially with the battie injury. the only thing that is saving our flaws on the front linr is how well our boys are shooting from the outside and dwights rebounding.
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Eyriq
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-blksage2000

Name one better than Howard/Lewis/Hedo..... Having a hard time I imagine.

It certainly ain't the Pistons, with McDyess/Wallace/Prince. Thats a good front court, but McDyess is the weak link there. For the Celtic's their weak link is Perkins. For the Cavs it's Varajao.

When you go to the bench is when the Magic get into trouble. Bench impact is however minimalized in the playoffs, and what we have is not that bad anyway.

So all in all, I stick by what I said.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Eyriq
Mar. 12, 2008 02:16 PM
-blksage2000

Name one better than Howard/Lewis/Hedo..... Having a hard time I imagine.

It certainly ain't the Pistons, with McDyess/Wallace/Prince. Thats a good front court, but McDyess is the weak link there. For the Celtic's their weak link is Perkins. For the Cavs it's Varajao.

When you go to the bench is when the Magic get into trouble. Bench impact is however minimalized in the playoffs, and what we have is not that bad anyway.

So all in all, I stick by what I said.

Those three are only a temporary frontline. Lewis is not really a PF. So its hard to count them because they were forced into it.
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Eyriq
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MAGICMANEVAN
Mar. 12, 2008 01:19 PM
Eyriq
Mar. 12, 2008 02:16 PM
-blksage2000

Name one better than Howard/Lewis/Hedo..... Having a hard time I imagine.

It certainly ain't the Pistons, with McDyess/Wallace/Prince. Thats a good front court, but McDyess is the weak link there. For the Celtic's their weak link is Perkins. For the Cavs it's Varajao.

When you go to the bench is when the Magic get into trouble. Bench impact is however minimalized in the playoffs, and what we have is not that bad anyway.

So all in all, I stick by what I said.

Those three are only a temporary frontline. Lewis is not really a PF. So its hard to count them because they were forced into it.

-Not really sure what that would have to do with anything. Lewis is doing well as a PF, think Dirk, so I don't see how it's unnatural or anything. If Otis decides to go back to a more traditional lineup next year than more power to him, but I think there is a good argument to be made on behalf of Lewis staying at the 4.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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No because him at the PF is only temporary. He wont be staying there once we get Battie back or another PF to start. He is only filling that role and is out of positon and we all know that. We need a better rebounder and someone who can guard low post players, with toughness, down low. To really compete for a championship, that is.
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Eyriq
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MAGICMANEVAN
Mar. 12, 2008 02:03 PM
No because him at the PF is only temporary. He wont be staying there once we get Battie back or another PF to start. He is only filling that role and is out of positon and we all know that. We need a better rebounder and someone who can guard low post players, with toughness, down low. To really compete for a championship, that is.

Count me out of the all-knowing group then. That would probably be the group that was pissed when Otis did not bring in a big at the deadline. We rebound fine on the defensive glass and the offensive glass is as much couching philosophy as anything. I would be much more excited about bringing in an upgrade at the 2 than moving Turk there and upgrading the 4. But that is just one mans opinion. :D
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CLos
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Eyriq
Mar. 12, 2008 01:16 PM
-blksage2000

Name one better than Howard/Lewis/Hedo..... Having a hard time I imagine.

It certainly ain't the Pistons, with McDyess/Wallace/Prince. Thats a good front court, but McDyess is the weak link there. For the Celtic's their weak link is Perkins. For the Cavs it's Varajao.

When you go to the bench is when the Magic get into trouble. Bench impact is however minimalized in the playoffs, and what we have is not that bad anyway.

So all in all, I stick by what I said.

I wouldn't say McDyess is a weak link in that front court. McDyess does a good job defending and can also hit the mid range jumper. Also with Perkins, the man has been rebounding excellent for them and playing terrific defense as of late. I like the Utah Jazz frontcourt of Okur, Boozer, and Kirilenko. I think that frontcourt could possibly be the best in the NBA. Our bench isn't that bad but then again the Pistons have one of the best benches in the league. I think we will lose in 6 games to the Pistons. Not 5. We definitely need to get another big man because Rashard Lewis is going to get owned against Rasheed Wallace.
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Eyriq
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I think he is the weak link when you compare their front court to ours, same with Perkins. Howard/Lewis/Turk is just too dominant.

Besides, the point is not whether our front court is a real front court (?) it is how it matches up with other team’s front courts, and in my mind there is a good argument to be made that it is the best for match up purposes (though Phoenix would give us fits). The Magic’s real match up weaknesses lie in the back court. Mogans are serviceable at the 2, and our point guard play has really been up lately, but over the long run those two spots seem to be what separates us from being real contenders.

Plugging Battie back in the lineup may or may not resolve that. He just is not that inspiring of a player to put those concerns to rest, especially when it requires moving Turk from his natural position. He may become more turnover prone yet if defended by smaller, quicker 2 guards. So if it isn’t broke, and our front court is not broke, then don't fix it!
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TheFalcon
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You don't think Detroit's front court gives us fits?
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Eyriq
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TheFalcon
Mar. 13, 2008 09:01 AM
You don't think Detroit's front court gives us fits?

What, with Wallace shooting threes and McDyess shooting J's? Don't get me wrong, they are more physical, and Prince defends like nobodies business, but D12 and Lewis can handle their share and Turk and Prince are a wash. So slight advantage Magic. Actually, I think Detroit has one of the weaker front courts of the top five teams in the east. Averaging out their PER for their three front court players backs this up, if that is worth anything.
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Ben Q Rock
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Rasheed always kills us. If we put Dwight on him, he'll take threes all day. If we put Turk on him, he'll post him up and shoot that unblockable fadeaway along the left baseline. He's impossible to guard.
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gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
Rasheed has a very smart big. He uses his smarts on both ends, and this gives him the advantage over Dwight in their matchup. Dwight may have the physical gifts but Rasheed can compensate with playing smart basketball. Even McDyess gives Dwight trouble since he can match Dwights strength and the Pistons are very good at sending double teams. To have a chance to win against Detroit we need our 3s to fall and Dwight to stay focused and not get frustrated since Detroit clearly have him figured out.
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