Beating Orlando

[Kwhit10]

So as some of you may have noticed the Magic lost last night to the Pistons of all teams.  I know it's not always as easy as saying you will do it, but they had Dwight in foul trouble all night.  He ended up playing only 17 minutes, and the Pistons won.  It also probably helped that the Magic shot 36.5% however, the Pistons only shot 37.5%.  Those things being equal they were able to get Dwight in foul and win the game.

The Magic have been playing well without Rashard so far as well (minus this game), I wonder how he will be able to gel with everyone getting less minutes than they were when he was absent?

[Fafnir]

He also left the game for some time with a shoulder injury.

Its easier said than done to get him into foul trouble. They let him get away with a ton of contact on his "block attempts". The C's did get him in foul trouble for a few playoff games though...

[Kwhit10]

Yea I know it's always easier said than done.  But he is really their only defensive presence in the paint. Even hurting his shoulder he fouled out in 17 minutes of play.

[Rondo2287]

So easy a caveman can do it!!

[ACF]

So easy a caveman can do it!!

TP.

[idrinkdetergent]

I think howard will have problems with the combo of perk, KG and Sheed, he will either have to battle with perk or be drawn out of the paint by KG and sheed. I think we have a better front court to combat him this year then last where he basically just had to battle perk and then jump over BBD

[celticinorlando]

not so sure about the magic bench

[RAcker]

I think howard will have problems with the combo of perk, KG and Sheed, he will either have to battle with perk or be drawn out of the paint by KG and sheed. I think we have a better front court to combat him this year then last where he basically just had to battle perk and then jump over BBD

TP for the excellent point.

I've been saying this all through the summer.  For some reason, Orlando and Cleveland were making moves to gear up for each other instead of trying to match up with Boston.  This may turn out to be one of the biggest pair of GM blunders perpetrated in a single off season in the history of the league.

[twinbree]

I'm curious to see us play the new look Magic. If the defense especially the perimeter is good we shouldn't have trouble with them. Perk and Baby keep Dwight in check and we have Sheed now who also defends him well.

Last season when they were dominating the rest of the league we didn't have that much trouble with them. We won convincingly the only game we played when both teams were healthy I think.

[ManUp]

I think howard will have problems with the combo of perk, KG and Sheed, he will either have to battle with perk or be drawn out of the paint by KG and sheed. I think we have a better front court to combat him this year then last where he basically just had to battle perk and then jump over BBD

TP for the excellent point.

I've been saying this all through the summer.  For some reason, Orlando and Cleveland were making moves to gear up for each other instead of trying to match up with Boston.  This may turn out to be one of the biggest pair of GM blunders perpetrated in a single off season in the history of the league.

Exaggerate much? 

The Magic feel they're better than us... They're wrong, but of course they're entitled to their opinions. The Cavs feel that they could beat the Celtics in seven, again wrong, but they're entitled to their opinions.

The Magic were built in hopes of beating LA, which they still can't. The Cavs were built in hopes of beating the Magic which now they really can't.

The Cavs have gotten worse through the addition of Shaq and not getting a new coach who atleast competent on the offensive end. The magic have gotten better, but with the addition of Sheed we are even better equipped to handle Howard. The Magic have definitely gotten better they're just downplaying matchups where we have the advantage.

 We're very good at defending the pick and roll. We probably won't have to double as much leaving shooters open. We have 7 foot jump shooters who must be respected pulling Howard out of the paint. Things aren't going to be pretty for the Magic when we face them.