So the Magic are basically a mid tier team now, right?

[Eja117]

So the Magic are basically a mid tier team now, right?

I mean do you fear them over say the Thunder or the Hawks?  I don't think so.

If I'm them I'm trying to trade Jameer Nelson and anything else other than D Howard for Derron Williams and I'm making the Melo and Rip Hamilton calls right now.

They need to realize nobody good in the history of the Magic is going to walk through their door. Actually he walks through ours.

[bruinsandceltics]

I don't know about mid-tier, but they are without a doubt not a top tier team.

[lon3lytoaster]

I've never really considered them a real contender and if you're not a real contender, you gotta be mid-tier, right?

[Roy H.]

The Magic are the 4th best team in the East, and probably the 7th best team in the NBA.  If they get hot, they could go on a run in the playoffs, but as of right now they're behind the Celts, Heat, Bulls, Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs.

[Eja117]

Their body language tonight said "This rivalry has run its course."

[Eja117]

The Magic are the 4th best team in the East, and probably the 7th best team in the NBA.  If they get hot, they could go on a run in the playoffs, but as of right now they're behind the Celts, Heat, Bulls, Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs.

Maybe but it seems like there is a really really big difference between 6 and 7 there.

[Eja117]

It just seems like nobody will ever ever ever look back at this time and say "That was a pretty good team. Not great, but good"

There are teams like that. This isn't one of them

[Neurotic Guy]

3 for 24 from 3.  They didn't shoot well today and are a very dangerous tam when they do.  Can they play their game for 4 out of 7 games -- I don't know, but I wouldn't count them out.  DH is great and he has a decent supporting cast. Fear? Yes -- but I fear every team.

[Jon]

Well I really don't think they're on our level.  Some idiot on ESPN said last week that Orlando "had the Celtics' number" because of the Christmas Day loss.  Of course that ignored that Rondo and Perk didn't play that game and that we won the second game. 

And with this game, we don't have Shaq or Delonte. 

If we face them in the playoffs (which we likely won't if things stay as they are now--I see them losing to Miami), I expect things to go worse for them than last year. 

[barefacedmonk]

Live by the 3...die by the 3.

Their shots didn't fall tonight...would have been a different result if they had...but I don't see them winning against us, Bulls or the Heat in a 7 games series. They are too reliant on Dwight's defense and the 3 pointers. BTW, Charles Barkley would have called this thread turrible...that guy has a man crush on Dwight.

[EJPLAYA]

The thing that I saw today that sums it all up is that with 2 min to go and down 12 pts the Magic packed it in and quit. How many times do you see a team come back from that type of deficit and make it a game in the last few seconds with some hard effort?! That showed me everything I need to know about them. They are soft and quitters. You don't win a championship with that mentality and lack of heart. Their coach let them get away with it too. Miami is our only challenge in the East.

[barefacedmonk]

The thing that I saw today that sums it all up is that with 2 min to go and down 12 pts the Magic packed it in and quit. How many times do you see a team come back from that type of deficit and make it a game in the last few seconds with some hard effort?! That showed me everything I need to know about them. They are soft and quitters. You don't win a championship with that mentality and lack of heart. Their coach let them get away with it too. Miami is our only challenge in the East.

A very good point...I agree with you.

[greg683x]

im startin to get nervous about Chicago too, almost as much as Miami.  Chicago's young and atheltic, plays good defense.

[Eja117]

The thing that I saw today that sums it all up is that with 2 min to go and down 12 pts the Magic packed it in and quit. How many times do you see a team come back from that type of deficit and make it a game in the last few seconds with some hard effort?! That showed me everything I need to know about them. They are soft and quitters. You don't win a championship with that mentality and lack of heart. Their coach let them get away with it too. Miami is our only challenge in the East.

I don't think Lebron even quit that bad

[Mulla]

The thing that I saw today that sums it all up is that with 2 min to go and down 12 pts the Magic packed it in and quit. How many times do you see a team come back from that type of deficit and make it a game in the last few seconds with some hard effort?! That showed me everything I need to know about them. They are soft and quitters. You don't win a championship with that mentality and lack of heart. Their coach let them get away with it too. Miami is our only challenge in the East.

I don't think Lebron even quit that bad

TP.

I'd still fear Orlando over Atlanta. As for getting someone like Deron Williams in, it might just not be fast enough with Howard's impeding FA. Any legitimacy to the thought of him going to - real fear - LA?