We have won 9 in a row at home and are 10-1 since we traded Steve Francis on our home floor. Who did we beat you ask? We beat Pistons, Mavericks, Cavaliers(beating is an understatement in 29 pt win). Now if only we can start to win on the road. We are 2-9 on the road, but we have won 2 out of our last 3 road games. We've won 7 out of our last 8 overall and we are on a complete tear. It's too little, too late, but you can't help but look at our future and smile about it. This reminds me of the Miami Dolphins of last year, they ended the season strong while having no legit shot at the playoffs and they are hyped up big time for this year. I need to get some shades, because the future is bright. (lame joke I know )
Playoffs? Who knows, Philadeph is struggling, and Chicago can fall. if Orlando can beat San Antonio and Miami...then its possible.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting j0se:</div><div class="quote_post">Playoffs? Who knows, Philadeph is struggling, and Chicago can fall. if Orlando can beat San Antonio and Miami...then its possible.</div> Maybe they can beat those teams. I mean its the last season stretch with new guys and most are fresh since they were bench warmers. The Pistons,Mavs, Cavs, and probably Miami and SA are tired from road trips and all these games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting j0se:</div><div class="quote_post">Playoffs? Who knows, Philadeph is struggling, and Chicago can fall. if Orlando can beat San Antonio and Miami...then its possible.</div> No way we make the playoffs this year. Next year we should be a middle seed as long as we keep basically the same team and don't have a major shakeup.
All I know is that Magic fans are freaking out with the wins over Mavs, Cavs, Pistons, and Heat but you guys gotta understand, those teams aren't playing 100%. They are letting their starters rest playing fun, etc. They aren't gonna strain themselves when there is like 5 games left and playoffs are near. Also the Detroit game was a fluke, Ben Wallace refused to enter, Rip had to go to a funeral, and Rasheed left with back problems. Those teams aren't going to play hustle ball when they already have clinched playoff spots.... Its the last season stretch they are tired, beat, and play easy. The Magic are trying to get playoffs spots, fighting til their last breathe etc. while the opposing team isn't.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Wade played 41 mins and Shaq played 36......</div> You gotta actually watch the game to understand. Those guys weren't playing hard. Also minutes can decieve you. Someone can get garbage minutes and it will be listed as 20 minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">You gotta actually watch the game to understand. Those guys weren't playing hard. Also minutes can decieve you. Someone can get garbage minutes and it will be listed as 20 minutes.</div> I watched the game and these guys were playing hard. Wade chipped in 26 points and he didn't come out until about 4 minutes were left in the game. Shaq was also playing a lot and the Heat didn't go easy on us.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">I watched the game and these guys were playing hard. Wade chipped in 26 points and he didn't come out until about 4 minutes were left in the game. Shaq was also playing a lot and the Heat didn't go easy on us.</div> I didn't think they were playing as hard compared to their other preformances. Do you guys really think the Magic can be a playoff team next season? Not a 1st round wipe....I kinda think thats what you Magic fans are thinking since the wins over Detroit,Miami, and Cavs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't think they were playing as hard compared to their other preformances. Do you guys really think the Magic can be a playoff team next season? Not a 1st round wipe....I kinda think thats what you Magic fans are thinking since the wins over Detroit,Miami, and Cavs.</div> They're 3 games back, and Chicago, Indiana, Boston, and Philadephia are slumping streaky teams. If everyone, LIKE YOU SAID isn't going to give us 100%, wouldn't you just be saying Orlando will go undefeated the rest of the way if Orlando continues to take advantage of teams being "effortless"? Just stop, I watched the whole game, Miami was struggling.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting j0se:</div><div class="quote_post">They're 3 games back, and Chicago, Indiana, Boston, and Philadephia are slumping streaky teams. If everyone, LIKE YOU SAID isn't going to give us 100%, wouldn't you just be saying Orlando will go undefeated the rest of the way if Orlando continues to take advantage of teams being "effortless"? Just stop, I watched the whole game, Miami was struggling.</div> I highly doubt Miami was struggling also I was talking about next year with the Magic.....I mean if you guys honestly think that they can beat those teams consecutively then your dead wrong. Magic will make playoffs next year but will be out first round, maybe second. I was saying they weren't giving 100% because they already have clinched playoff spots. I mean how are you gonna say "omg this team is da best now" and yet they can't even beat the Bobcats and Hawks? The biggest reason Orlando beat Detroit anyway was because they were missing alot of key starters. I think if Zo was there today even at their half-ass playing the Miami would beat the Magic.
I think you are underrating the potential of the Magic for next year. We are doing all of this with 3 key players not being with the rest of the team for the first 2/3rds of the year. With another full offseason development Dwight is going to be really really good next year and Darko will get into shape and who knows what he can do. Same with Jameer and Hedo. We will have a good team next year, not sure about competing, but I think we could get out of the 1st round. (I know a lot can change in a year, but from what it's look at right now) Team WILL not lose on purpose at this stage, which is what you are making it seem. They want to continue to win, they played all their good players for the majority of the game and Shaq/Wade had good games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you are underrating the potential of the Magic for next year. We are doing all of this with 3 key players not being with the rest of the team for the first 2/3rds of the year. With another full offseason development Dwight is going to be really really good next year and Darko will get into shape and who knows what he can do. Same with Jameer and Hedo. We will have a good team next year, not sure about competing, but I think we could get out of the 1st round. (I know a lot can change in a year, but from what it's look at right now.</div> Oh hell no I never disagreed. I said they will make the playoffs but will wipe first round maybe get to second. I never said they are going to do worse I'm just saying that Magic fans are overrating the potential.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh hell no I never disagreed. I said they will make the playoffs but will wipe first round maybe get to second. I never said they are going to do worse I'm just saying that Magic fans are overrating the potential.</div> I don't think that any of us are talking championship contenders. I think the majority of us would be satisfied with making the playoffs next year and if we get past the 1st round, it will be an added bonus. I think most of us know that after next year is when we should start to become an elite team(with the capspace and this years lotto pick)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">I highly doubt Miami was struggling also I was talking about next year with the Magic.....I mean if you guys honestly think that they can beat those teams consecutively then your dead wrong. Magic will make playoffs next year but will be out first round, maybe second. I was saying they weren't giving 100% because they already have clinched playoff spots. I mean how are you gonna say "omg this team is da best now" and yet they can't even beat the Bobcats and Hawks? The biggest reason Orlando beat Detroit anyway was because they were missing alot of key starters. I think if Zo was there today even at their half-ass playing the Miami would beat the Magic.</div> ...you didn't watch the game then. Miami was trying their best to get back in the game. Stop the excuses.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">"omg this team is da best now" and yet they can't even beat the Bobcats and Hawks? </div> just because they lost to the bobcats and hawks dont mean anything. the hawks have proven to be a dangerous team at times and cant be taken lightly with joe johnson and josh smith. the bobcats are the bobcats and last i checked, last season they upsetted miami. so, that mean miami sucks, right? i by no means am saying the magic will make the playoffs, but anyhow, wins against the mav, cavs, pistons, and heat are pretty impressive
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post"> I was saying they weren't giving 100% because they already have clinched playoff spots. I mean how are you gonna say "omg this team is da best now" and yet they can't even beat the Bobcats and Hawks? </div> Has anyone on the board said "omg this team is da best"? I don't think any of us are like that. We are just enjoying the ride, because we haven't been thinking playoffs this late in the season for the last 2 years. We are excited for next year and could potentially be a playoff team(and a team that maybe could advance)
None of us think that we are the best but we are all pretty positive about our team's future. Realistically, we won't be legit contenders for AT LEAST a couple of seasons. We need to wait for our youth to gain experience and play up to their potential for that to ever happen. But are could we be a playoff team as early as next year? Yes. We have finished this season very strong and I believe we can grab either the sixth, seventh or eighth seed next season. As Marc Stein said in his Power Rankings this week, "Chicago and Philly have been so meek in their so-called race for No. 8 that Magic -- now on a 12-4 run after winning at Miami -- deserve it no matter where they finish." It's not just the Magic fans that think highly of this team. If your team had a bunch of talented players all in their early 20's, lots of cap room, and a nice string of wins against top notch teams, wouldn't you be excited too? We're not the best but the Magic fans are just excited because there is a possibilty this team can be really good and take us deep in the playoffs in a couple of years - something that hasn't been done since the pinstripe days with Shaq and Penny. As far as us being a great team at home, I think that is a good sign for our young team. The fact that we have barely lost at home with all of our new guys coming in shows that we have finally become a consistent team. Gone are the days when Francis and Hill would have great games one night and then play terribly the next. Overall, our team has shown that they can win games and not let things like streaks, coaching problems or unfamiliar faces get in the way of that. I'm very proud of our young guys and I'm pumped about this squad of players that Otis Smith has done a great job assembling.
Im pretty sure all the teams we beat tried to win. No one has home court throughout the playoffs locked up yet, so why give up games. As for Rip not being there thats fine, we basically missed one player every game this year. Im sorry, but the pistons have been the LUCKIEST team in the league the past couple years with them not having any major injuries. Every team has went through it, expect them. Before you start bashing on the magic, look at the leads and how we beat some of these teams. Miami not trying? Im sure they wanted to lose a home game. They came back at the end, but couldnt do it. This team is playing the second best basketball in the league, behind the Nets. 9-1 in their last 10... Thats crazy for a team full of 20 year olds.
