Orlando s our real opponent for all the marbles

[gustusias]

Orlando is going to be exremely tough. They are very, very deep.To me they are better than the Lakers, whose bench is only one player deep really. (By the way Dallas beat them tonight and beat them handily.)Take a look at Orlando's roster! Yikes! Young, fast, athletic, tough, tall. Take a look.They are very, very scarey on paper at least for now, but by season's end we will know more.

[Bahku]

Orlando is going to be exremely tough. They are very, very deep.To me they are better than the Lakers, whose bench is only one player deep really. (By the way Dallas beat them tonight and beat them handily.)Take a look at Orlando's roster! Yikes! Young, fast, athletic, tough, tall. Take a look.They are very, very scarey on paper at least for now, but by season's end we will know more.

I'll agree they are very young and strong, and a good bench ... but they don't scare me at all ... nobody is going to stop this Celtics team if it stays healthy. We are the deepest team in the NBA, and the most consistent and team-oriented ... the Magic don't worry me. (But good post, TP)

[BASS_THUMPER]

! Yikes! Young, fast, athletic, tough, tall.

hmmmm....you said nuthin bout scorer's...

[celticinorlando]

all about defense

[the_Bird]

Meh, "on paper" is meaningless; let's see how the pieces look together. 

[Roy Hobbs]

I think it's way, way too early to discount either Cleveland or Los Angeles.  Orlando is one of the five "legit contenders" in the NBA in my book, certainly, but I'm not sure that they're head-and-shoulders above the Cavs, Lakers, and Spurs.

[celticinorlando]

IF boston stays healthy and in combo with the 2 expiring contracts and giddens.....they will be very tough to beat...imagine going out in FEB and getting another SF or big for tony and scal...and then have scal resign after he is cut...

[snively]

Great looking team on paper.  I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do when I catch a game.  Don't think I've ever seen so many shooters on one team.  They will continue to be a match-up nightmare. 

Our KG/Sheed frontline will give them a taste of their own medicine however.  With Howard out of the paint, their defense will really take a hit.  It helps that Sheed is one of the best Howard defenders in the game.

[wdleehi]

I keep wondering how Orl would match up with Cle.



Yes, they can not defend the pick and roll.


But with Lewis at PF (where the Celtics have KG and/or Wallace), can they defend the twin tower linup any better?


Clev could post up Lewis every time with either Big Z or Shaq.  Foul, double or easy close shot. 

[ToppersBsktball10]

I'm sorry, but 1 loss for the Lakers doesn't mean much, especially right now. 2 for Cleveland is no big deal either. Orlando's good, but they're not on the Celtic's level. The Cavs miss Delonte. Does anyone really think that Anthony Parker's a starting two guard in the NBA?

[Fafnir]

I keep wondering how Orl would match up with Cle.



Yes, they can not defend the pick and roll.


But with Lewis at PF (where the Celtics have KG and/or Wallace), can they defend the twin tower linup any better?


Clev could post up Lewis every time with either Big Z or Shaq.  Foul, double or easy close shot. 

The Cavs would be destroyed in transition though. Not to mention that Big Z wouldn't be able to post up Rashard for to long, he'd get tired.

Worst case scenario, Orlando brings in Gortat.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I keep wondering how Orl would match up with Cle.



Yes, they can not defend the pick and roll.


But with Lewis at PF (where the Celtics have KG and/or Wallace), can they defend the twin tower linup any better?


Clev could post up Lewis every time with either Big Z or Shaq.  Foul, double or easy close shot. 

The Cavs would be destroyed in transition though. Not to mention that Big Z wouldn't be able to post up Rashard for to long, he'd get tired.

Worst case scenario, Orlando brings in Gortat.

Problem with us and the Cavs, is that we don't run as often as we should, so that advantage of overall speed becomes a bit negligible. As it stands, our advantage with the Cavs is in using our pick and roll with our bigs spreading the floor. The Cavs' bigs just can't keep up with us.

[wdleehi]

I keep wondering how Orl would match up with Cle.



Yes, they can not defend the pick and roll.


But with Lewis at PF (where the Celtics have KG and/or Wallace), can they defend the twin tower linup any better?


Clev could post up Lewis every time with either Big Z or Shaq.  Foul, double or easy close shot. 

The Cavs would be destroyed in transition though. Not to mention that Big Z wouldn't be able to post up Rashard for to long, he'd get tired.

Worst case scenario, Orlando brings in Gortat.

Cavs bigs could control the boards allowing less fast breaks.  And by shooting high percentage shots, they also cut down on fast break chances.


Finally, over a 7 game series, the size and strength of the twin towers could really do a number on Lewis's legs; effecting his speed and outside shot.

If they go with Gortat, they have effectively removed that pick and roll that they can not defend.

[wdleehi]

I keep wondering how Orl would match up with Cle.



Yes, they can not defend the pick and roll.


But with Lewis at PF (where the Celtics have KG and/or Wallace), can they defend the twin tower linup any better?


Clev could post up Lewis every time with either Big Z or Shaq.  Foul, double or easy close shot. 

The Cavs would be destroyed in transition though. Not to mention that Big Z wouldn't be able to post up Rashard for to long, he'd get tired.

Worst case scenario, Orlando brings in Gortat.

Problem with us and the Cavs, is that we don't run as often as we should, so that advantage of overall speed becomes a bit negligible. As it stands, our advantage with the Cavs is in using our pick and roll with our bigs spreading the floor. The Cavs' bigs just can't keep up with us.

And having to true big men that can defend Cs and step outside is a death blow to the current Cavs. 

[P2]

Out of the Spurs, Lakers, Cavs and Magic, Orlando scares me the least.