Orlando s our real opponent for all the marbles

[Rondo_is_better]

This seems a little premature. This is something I'll decide on at the end of the regular season once Bynum is injured again (100% guaranteed) and Vince Carter is out with a bad back (85% guaranteed). 

[BudweiserCeltic]

This seems a little premature. This is something I'll decide on at the end of the regular season once Bynum is injured again (100% guaranteed) and Vince Carter is out with a bad back (85% guaranteed). 

Considering our situation last year, I will keep quiet on this issues... I don't want to draw the attention of the Injury Gods.

[nickagneta]

Teams that I think are most going to challenge the C's for the title:

1. The Fakers - the have Kobe, Gasol, Artest and Odom and by the playoffs they will adjust to the big bull's eye on their back for being the champion and will also adjust to Andrew Bynum being injured or defensively inept by then. They are just the best of the rest

2. The Cleveland LeBrons - they are a ton better than their adjusted period of play getting used to each other is showing. Shaq will find his role, Delonte will return and become the PG they need, and a trade will be made that helps them out. They are still very dangerous.

3. The Dwight Howard Arms Race - Howard is a beast and if he can work on some offensive moves that don't require attempting to break the backboard, this will be a dangerous team. Why? Because I have this strange feeling that Vince Carter might fit in better than most people think.

4. The Denver Ink Shop - say what you want about this team but Anthony is starting to get that outscoring an opponent won't win him a ring. He has to become more than that and I think Chauncey Billups is rubbing off on him. With those two and a group of tremendous role players, they are deep, big, and very good. Last year was not an aberration.

5. The TD Bank South - when the rest of the players that surround Duncan decide to show up and play this year, they are going to be very, very good. I love DeJuan Blair and they stole him in the second round. He might get ROY run eventually. Parker, Ginobelli, McDyess and Duncan are too good to not be feared if all stay healthy.

6. Miami Wade County - when, not if but when, Riley can send the rotting carcass of Jermiane O'Neal out of town for someone better, they could become the team no one wants to play in the East playoffs.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'd keep an eye on the Wizards. And I think Detroit can be better than most expect.

[Rondo_is_better]

Teams that I think are most going to challenge the C's for the title:

1. The Fakers - the have Kobe, Gasol, Artest and Odom and by the playoffs they will adjust to the big bull's eye on their back for being the champion and will also adjust to Andrew Bynum being injured or defensively inept by then. They are just the best of the rest

2. The Cleveland LeBrons - they are a ton better than their adjusted period of play getting used to each other is showing. Shaq will find his role, Delonte will return and become the PG they need, and a trade will be made that helps them out. They are still very dangerous.

3. The Dwight Howard Arms Race - Howard is a beast and if he can work on some offensive moves that don't require attempting to break the backboard, this will be a dangerous team. Why? Because I have this strange feeling that Vince Carter might fit in better than most people think.

4. The Denver Ink Shop - say what you want about this team but Anthony is starting to get that outscoring an opponent won't win him a ring. He has to become more than that and I think Chauncey Billups is rubbing off on him. With those two and a group of tremendous role players, they are deep, big, and very good. Last year was not an aberration.

5. The TD Bank South - when the rest of the players that surround Duncan decide to show up and play this year, they are going to be very, very good. I love DeJuan Blair and they stole him in the second round. He might get ROY run eventually. Parker, Ginobelli, McDyess and Duncan are too good to not be feared if all stay healthy.

6. Miami Wade County - when, not if but when, Riley can send the rotting carcass of Jermiane O'Neal out of town for someone better, they could become the team no one wants to play in the East playoffs.

Hahahah TP for "the Denver Ink Shop"

[RAcker]

I'm not completely sold on anybody yet except us.  However, Orlando has looked very good in their first couple.  I'll wait until they pass a road test or two before declaring them scary.  FYI...the Nets ARE NOT a road test.

[snively]

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

You gotta watch them P2.  I'm watching their game agains the Nets and they look very, very tough.  Nelson and Carter can both shoot, drive and pass. Rashard Lewis can do the same at the 3 or 4.  Pietrus can shoot and defend off the bench at the wing.  Ryan Anderson and Matt Barnes can shoot and do a few little things at the 3/4.  Bass can scrap and do a Powe impersonation off the bench. And Howard dominates the boards and the paint at the 5, with Gortat coming off the bench to keep bringing the pain.  Toss in Jason Williams and JJ Redick as decent options off the bench for Nelson and you've got a deep and dangerous team that can keep the pressure on all game long.

I think they'll cause the Cavs even more problems than last year.  I think they'll cause the Spurs a lot of problems too.  I think they'll murder most of the middling teams as well; there's just no margin for error when you have that kind of defensive beast in the middle and a horde of shooter/scorers playing loose and exploiting match-ups.  

They have just two problems in my opinion: the Lakers and the Celtics.  Both teams have tremendous frontcourt rotations and specifically scoring 4s who can punish the likes of Lewis, Anderson, Bass and Barnes on the block and facing up.  They also have elite or at least good mid-range scorers in Kobe, Pau, Artest, Pierce, Ray, KG and even Marquis Daniels who  can get theirs against the Magic's defensive philosophy of denying the 3 and letting Howard smother the paint.  Finally both teams have solid options for defending Howard and limiting his rebounding in Bynum and Perk/Sheed, or shooting options to drag Howard out of the paint in Odom/Sheed.  

Two other teams that could cause the Magic headaches are Portland (for the same reasons as LA/Boston) and Toronto.  I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Toronto/Orlando match-up.

[P2]

You can toss together a bunch of players with good values at certain areas of the game, but it isn't guaranteed that it'll work out. Yes, they look very intriguing on paper, but so do the Bulls.

But bottom line, they will not win against us, because they're not as poised and don't have the same dedication (because ours is unbeatable) and hunger for a title (another title, of course). Yes, you can say they want it, but nobody wants it more than the Celtics, and this will translate into our game. Go C's!!!

[Brickowski]

They have no chance with Vince Carter.

[BudweiserCeltic]

They have no chance with Vince Carter.

Well, he's injured now... does that give them a chance?

[Chris]

They have no chance with Vince Carter.

I disagree.  Carter has always been a very good "finisher", who can make his own shot, and hit real clutch shots.  So if he is healthy come playoff time (and I admit, that is a big "if"), then they will be a force.

Of course if the C's are healthy, I don't think there is a team that can run with them.  If healthy (and I consider them healthy right now BTW, I am not holding out for KG to get any better), I truly believe this C's team may be in the running for the greatest team ever constructed.

[Brickowski]

They have no chance with Vince Carter.

Well, he's injured now... does that give them a chance?

Actually yes, because Pietrus has gotten really good.  He's much better defensively than Carter.  Unfortuntely for the Magic, the injury to Carter didn't look that serious.

[j804]

Thing im wondering is how would KG or Sheed match up against Howard? prob not so good, [dang] baby where is he when we need him

[Brickowski]

Thing im wondering is how would KG or Sheed match up against Howard? prob not so good, [dang] baby where is he when we need him

Perkins matches up just fine against Howard, assuming the officials call the game fairly.

[snively]

Thing im wondering is how would KG or Sheed match up against Howard? prob not so good, [dang] baby where is he when we need him

Sheed is dreaded by Magic fans precisely for his ability to guard Dwight Howard as well as his ability to stretch out their defense.  Consider that Dwight's Magic were 5-22 against Sheed's Pistons, including an 0-3 sweep last season and a 1-8 playoff record.