<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic center Dwight Howard didn't waste a beat when asked the question: Are you guys still a playoff team? "Yes, " Howard said. "No doubt in my mind." They certainly haven't been playing like one the past 24 games since a 13-4 start, going 9-15. The Magic are at the midway point of the season, and have 41 games left to prove whether they are worthy of their first postseason berth since 2003. Their offense is a mess, especially late in games. Injuries keep limiting them. And often, their defense goes to sleep. But these are the "dog days," of the season, according to Coach Brian Hill. "The novelty of the opening of the season has worn off. January and February are the hardest months." Be that as it may, the Magic are 22-19, and are riding a five-game losing streak heading into tonight's game against LeBron James and the Cavs. Grant Hill is expected to play, although he said he tore a tendon in his left pinky finger on his pleft hand. Guard Keyon Dooling, nursing a sore Achilles, is a game-time decision. Certainly, a repeat of their first half will get them back in the playoffs. Fourty-four victories might even get them a fifth seed in the namby-pamby East. But the Magic need to straighten out some of their problems, especially on offense, to avoid a collapse. "We're definitely a playoff team," small forward Hedo Turkoglu said. "We're just going through some things."</div> Source What do you guys think? I think we'll end up getting the sixth or seventh seed and then get eliminated in the first round by a team like Cleveland or Detroit.
The Magic are definitely a playoff team, even if they remain at .500 the east is so weak towards the bottom that they would probably make the playoffs. To me the Magic are simple going through a funk right now. They are a young team that is going through it's growing pains. Once they get Ariza back and get everyone re-focused they will be fine.
We are still a borderline playoff team, like I had been saying even when we were doing great. It was just a matter of time before we had a streak like we are having now. We'll bounce back and probably go about 500 the rest of the way and finish about with about 42-43 wins.
