Orlando = Last Year's Cavs?

[PosImpos]

i feel good about this series for some reason...not dreading nearly as much as i did the cavs

I think we're all coming off a bit of a high.  Winning the Cavs series seemed like a long shot, and the Cavs were the #1 overall seed, so now everything seems like it could be easier by comparison.

I think the Celtics will need to have an amazing series to make it to the Finals, but I definitely believe it can happen.

[gpap]

Something just came to my mind today...

didnt the Cavaliers swept the Pistons then the Hawks last year and then lose to the Magic in 6 games?

so whats the hype? The Celtics just prove everyone wrong...we beat the Heat in 5 when people thought we need 7...

then came the Cavs who EVERYONE thinks the Cs would lose in 4 or 6...until lebron's elbow, someone thought still the Cavs but in 7...ok now we win in 6

now the experts have us lose within 5-6 games...hmmm...does the media hate the Celtics =\

In my opinion I feared the Cavs more than the Magics...i expect to see this level of play in the Magic series as well...i say celtics in 6

Very well said and I agree. Am I ridiculous in thinking we are going to win banner 18 this June now that we eliminated Cleveland?

[twinbree]

I don't think it was so much an over-confidence issue last year with the Cavs as it was a problem of running into a really bad match-up on offense. Even if the Cavs had gone to 7 in the first 2 rounds they'd still have had trouble with Orlando. The signs were there in the regular season.

In the same vein, we've shown we give Orlando trouble when we are focused and our defense(which has picked up in the playoffs) is clicking. Them breezing to the ECF doesn't change that. They are definitely beatable if we execute and stick with what works.

[FallGuy]

It's a nice thought but this Magic team is nothing like the Cavs of 09.I think the Magic are the best team left in the playoffs. Except for the Celtics, who may not be beatable by any team in a 7-game series right now.

However, this is going to be the toughest opponent for Boston to beat, for all the reasons we've been talking about the last few days. We don't have ANY matchups where we wipe out the other team, like we did with Rondo-Williams and KG-Jamison. And Doc will not be coaching against a child this series (Oh Mike Brown - how we'll miss you!)

 Of course, they have no matchups where they'll kill us either, and I think our bench is being underrated. And I have minimal respect for Vince Carter, who I think can be taken out of his game with hard fouls and physical play. And until he wins the big one - to me Dwight Howard is suspect, mentally.

But.. Orlando has been WIPING OUT teams for the last couple of months. They're 27-3 in their last 30 (with twenty wins by double-figure margins) and have won 14 in a row. They're killing everyone; it's not just the playoffs.

If we come out of this series healthy, whoever we play in the finals is gonna seem soft compared to this Magic team.

Of course, I'm still picking Boston in 6.

[PosImpos]

But.. Orlando has been WIPING OUT teams for the last couple of months. They're 27-3 in their last 30 (with twenty wins by double-figure margins) and have won 14 in a row. They're killing everyone; it's not just the playoffs.

Weren't the Heat on a crazy hot streak heading into the post-season?  Wins at the end of the season mean as much as losses at the end of the season, in my opinion.  Very few of the teams are really trying anymore at that point.  

The Magic swept the Bobcats, but the Bobcats had the defense for the playoffs, but not the offense.  Plus, they had deer-in-headlights syndrome since it was the franchise's first playoff appearance.  I don't count that as a huge accomplishment.

Then the Magic went on to sweep the Hawks in historic fashion, but while I think the Magic played great in that series, I really feel it had more to do with their opponent's attitude than the Magic's greatness.  The Hawks were a 53 win team; granted, they match up very badly with the Magic, but if they had been trying at all or disciplined in any way, they could have at least made a couple of those games close.  The Jazz match up terribly with the Lakers but they at least made a couple games interesting.

The Magic haven't really been tested yet.  The Celtics have spent two rounds guarding the two best players in the league, and just defeated the #1 overall seed.  Although I think the Celtics' win over the Cavs had something to do with the Cavs own disarray and chemistry issues, the Celtics still did a masterful job.  

I respect the Magic as a very good, disciplined team, but I don't think they are considerably better than we are right now.  Indeed, I think the Celtics may be better.  After all, with KG returning to '08 form and Rondo playing like a future HoFer, all we need is Ray and Paul to be on their game and I think this series is ours for the taking.  The Magic don't have that kind of talent on their roster, as deep as they are.

[FallGuy]

But.. Orlando has been WIPING OUT teams for the last couple of months. They're 27-3 in their last 30 (with twenty wins by double-figure margins) and have won 14 in a row. They're killing everyone; it's not just the playoffs.

Weren't the Heat on a crazy hot streak heading into the post-season?  Wins at the end of the season mean as much as losses at the end of the season, in my opinion.  Very few of the teams are really trying anymore at that point.  

The Magic swept the Bobcats, but the Bobcats had the defense for the playoffs, but not the offense.  Plus, they had deer-in-headlights syndrome since it was the franchise's first playoff appearance.  I don't count that as a huge accomplishment.

Then the Magic went on to sweep the Hawks in historic fashion, but while I think the Magic played great in that series, I really feel it had more to do with their opponent's attitude than the Magic's greatness.  The Hawks were a 53 win team; granted, they match up very badly with the Magic, but if they had been trying at all or disciplined in any way, they could have at least made a couple of those games close.  The Jazz match up terribly with the Lakers but they at least made a couple games interesting.

The Magic haven't really been tested yet.  The Celtics have spent two rounds guarding the two best players in the league, and just defeated the #1 overall seed.  Although I think the Celtics' win over the Cavs had something to do with the Cavs own disarray and chemistry issues, the Celtics still did a masterful job.  

I respect the Magic as a very good, disciplined team, but I don't think they are considerably better than we are right now.  Indeed, I think the Celtics may be better.  After all, with KG returning to '08 form and Rondo playing like a future HoFer, all we need is Ray and Paul to be on their game and I think this series is ours for the taking.  The Magic don't have that kind of talent on their roster, as deep as they are.

We don't disagree much. I think both teams are playing excellent basketball. The matchups are pretty even at almost every position. It should be a really good series. Can't wait.

[manl_lui]

both team are excellent teams...in my opinion if we werent battling injuries, the top 3 teams would definitely be Cavs, Celtics and Magics on the top 3 East teams...Hawks are good but i still think the Celtics would've have 55+ more wins if they were battling injuries

im not particularly worried about this series cuz KG is ALMOST back to 08' form, Perkin yes hes a little hurt but i still think his presence can give dwight some trouble...throw in rasheed and big baby then howard will have some problem, in my opinion BBD cant guard dwight so he'll have to be the one that fouls...Perk and Sheed both can guard dwight so dwight will be quite busy...he won't be averaging 12 rpg now with all these big men tossed at him...KG is almost back to 08 form so he's not going to have lewis out of his sight

Allen will outrun barnes and Rondo and Jameer will have a battle...only thing is Pierce vs VC...but then again TA has done an excellent job on Wade and Lebron so i dont see a reason why he wont do well against VC...now the other question is do we throw in Nate or Marquis...

i would throw in marquis cuz he can cause mismatches for jameer and JJ Redick

besides the defense and rebounding...3 point is also important in my opinion, this team just owned the Hawks in the 4th game...16 3s...we will need to lock them down in the perimeter...