Pat Riley: "The surprise is going to be Orlando" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic fans might be surprised to learn that one of the people the team has impressed with its rebuilding of the franchise is Heat President Pat Riley. He said his team should be contenders but certainly not the favorites in the East. "Detroit is the world champion. Indiana has been there. The surprise is going to be Orlando. I just have a feeling that team has a lot. They got size. They got quickness. They got offense. They are hungry now."</div> Link That says a lot coming from Pat Riley..
I agree with Riley. The Magic have a good team and have done a good job in the offseason to improve. I kinda envy their team cuz they have Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. Dwight Howard has shown that he can hang in the NBA so he will be able to contribute. Jameer Nelson isn't quite ready but will be good in a season or two. For now you have Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Grant Hill that can improve the team drastically if he can stay healthy. This team in a season or two will be contenders for a division title and going deep in the playoffs.
Yea, I agree with Riley too the Magic are the up and coming team they got a great core to build around. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato are all above average players except the rookies who still have yet to play a game. Jameer is going to put up #'s like he's been in the NBA for as long as anyone and Howard is going to explode sometime in the next few seasons.
Just looking at our roster has me very happy and I haven't been this excited for a season in so long. We are deep in every position and we have some young guys who can only get better and JD will actually play them! We have enough good players that you can switch them in and out if they have a bad game. Francis, Mobley, Dwight is going to be fun to watch on the break. I think that we will be around the 6-8 seed in the playoffs and possibly even make an upset.
That's what I've been saying ever since the draft. The Magic have experience, outside shooting, inside shooting, good passers, good penetrators and good rebounders and defenders. That makes a good team, and it's shocking to see some people not even picking them to make the playoffs.
It's hard to believe.. but I think Magic are going to be a huge upset... I say 4-6 seed.. but watch them go even lower and/or going deep in the playoffs. Go Magic!
[QUOTEING] TRIP [QUOTEING] ^^^true. You guys got most the heart of the 03-04 Rockets team, that made the playoffs and with a couple different bounces of the ball could have upset the "almighty" lakers, so yall got a pretty good trade plus #1 pick and college MVP. So if not an upset in the playoff standings you'll get 7 or 8 for sure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">Link That says a lot coming from Pat Riley..</div> I'm not sure if I like this. It's certainly nice to hear this but it could lead to negative output from our team. It definately is a lot easier to play as the "dog" than it is to be favored. We were dogs earlier on in the pre-season but now everyone is picking us for a mid-position playoff berth. This could lead to disappointment for a team with a lot of new faces, fragile team chemistry, and a new coach and GM.
