<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We also beat Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, San Antonio in a span of 3 weeks. Weak teams?</div> I think you guys are being a bit biased. That was the end of the season stretch, whether they tried or not didn't really matter. Those teams were fried from putting 110% all year long. Your roster was rejuvinated toward the middle. To say your going to be able to beat those teams consistantly is just bullshit. Don't kid yourself. While I love the Magic and their players I don't see them being as dominant as most of you are putting off. Every team gets to that point where they are able to beat the higher end teams. Last year the Pistons lost to the Hawks and the Knicks. Does that mean they will be a superior team next year? Maybe a little but nothing to boast about. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Face it, you don't know a damn thing about the Magic because you see 4 games a year. Also, I like some of the Bobcats players-- but the team sucks.</div> Chuck you should face it. You watch like 4 games a year of the Bobcats if you think their team sucks, ESPECIALLY as much as they beat your team in the meetings they had last season. To say the Bobcats are scrubs is pretty dumb considering they have a lot of key players injured last season. Emeka and May were injured. Flip the coin and take Dwight and Darko and you'd be in bad shape as well. Bobcats have a decent bench. Magic have a good bench. But don't hate on the bobcats as much as all of you guys are. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why did you say Darko isn't good at defense?</div> As much as I hate this eager2belaid kid he has a point. Darko has shown some great defense but it has been against not so good players. Raef Lafrentz, Delonte West, Mike Sweetney, Eddy Curry, etc. Those people are scrubs to get blocks and show defense against. When he went against the big boys such as TD and KG he just flat out got destroyed. He could not contain them. Now don't hate on me, I am saying Darko has shown promise and good d. But he is nowhere near something to be talking about so highly. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh and for the "critically lost to bulls" comment, we actually couldnt make the playoff's as of b4 that game, so that wasnt even a big issue. So no you didnt do your homework. </div> Puh Please. So your basically saying the Magic didn't try against the Bulls because they had no more chance? Yeah okay.... I love the Magic but you guys need to cut down on some of this bias.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you guys are being a bit biased. That was the end of the season stretch, whether they tried or not didn't really matter. Those teams were fried from putting 110% all year long. Your roster was rejuvinated toward the middle. To say your going to be able to beat those teams consistantly is just bullshit. Don't kid yourself. While I love the Magic and their players I don't see them being as dominant as most of you are putting off. Every team gets to that point where they are able to beat the higher end teams. Last year the Pistons lost to the Hawks and the Knicks. Does that mean they will be a superior team next year? Maybe a little but nothing to boast about.</div> No one thinks we are contenders. We think we are good enough to make the playoffs though and not be the 2nd worst team in the league. We know we aren't at the level of the Pistons, Spurs, Mavs, Heat, etc. I haven't heard anyone say that we are contenders in this entire thread or that we will be able to beat those teams consistently. Not too sure where you got that. It just goes to show you how well we were playing at the end of the season last year to beat quality teams. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chuck you should face it. You watch like 4 games a year of the Bobcats if you think their team sucks, ESPECIALLY as much as they beat your team in the meetings they had last season. To say the Bobcats are scrubs is pretty dumb considering they have a lot of key players injured last season. Emeka and May were injured. Flip the coin and take Dwight and Darko and you'd be in bad shape as well. Bobcats have a decent bench. Magic have a good bench. But don't hate on the bobcats as much as all of you guys are.</div> The reason why we are hating on them is that their players have "proven" more than the Magic according to belaid. He is backing the Bobcats being better than us and we take it as a diss. I know the Bobcats will be much better than last year. I am expecting them to have their first 30-35 win season in franchise history. When a Bobcats fan is hating on our team like that and comparing his team that hasn't proven anything and saying that they will be better because they have proven more than we have. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As much as I hate this eager2belaid kid he has a point. Darko has shown some great defense but it has been against not so good players. Raef Lafrentz, Delonte West, Mike Sweetney, Eddy Curry, etc. Those people are scrubs to get blocks and show defense against. When he went against the big boys such as TD and KG he just flat out got destroyed. He could not contain them. Now don't hate on me, I am saying Darko has shown promise and good d. But he is nowhere near something to be talking about so highly.</div> Darko has come in off the bench. He hasn't faced guys like TD and KG. That was Dwight that got destroyed. He has played 21 mpg when he is totally out of shape, not with great chemistry, rusty, and practically his first NBA experience and put up over 2 bpg. He has maybe faced Duncan for 5-10 minutes and what can you tell about 5-10 mins when the guy has been sitting on a bench for 2 and a half years and playing against offensive powerhouse Ben Wallace in practice for those years? I hate all the hating on Darko. So at 20 years old, after sitting on a bench for 2.5 years, he's supposed to come in and shut down the big guys while only getting 21 mpg in his absolute first experience as an NBA player? I don't see where you can flat out say that "He has gotten completely destroyed by the big guys" when he hasn't really played them. That's Dwight taking his lumps at the big guys. Dwight's D isn't very good. He's got good help D, but 1 on 1 D is iffy at best. We see his potential and he has great instincts on the defensive end(thanks to watching and learning from Ben Wallace in practice for all of those years). That is where the hype is coming from. I don't think anyone is expecting him to make defensive all-first team this year or DPOY or anything. We're just expecting him to stay at his 2-2.5 bpg clip in more minutes and be a defensive force under the basket. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Puh Please. So your basically saying the Magic didn't try against the Bulls because they had no more chance? Yeah okay....</div> When did he say that? The guy said 3 times that we lost to the Bulls when the playoffs were on the line. The playoffs were not on the line. We definetely didn't lose on purpose, but after repeating that the playoffs were still on the line 3 times, we felt we had to correct him. Of course we didn't lose on purpose. The Bulls were the hottest team(other than us at that point) entering the playoffs and had the NBA champion Heat on the wire in the playofsf. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I love the Magic but you guys need to cut down on some of this bias.</div> It's not that much bias. You are just reading too much into it. So you believe the Bobcats will be better than us and that we will be the 2nd worst team in the NBA this year?
Gator your right neither team is proven. I just think the bobcats will win more games. And i think the nba will push for it because mj is in the front office we should stop arguiong your point was right. neither team will be good next year your right.It really dosent matter cause neither team is in the championship race. So why argue Gator has mad respect because he game me reasons and explanations. The rest of you are a little shaky. We werent arguing who was gonna win more but who was gonna lose less.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We know we aren't at the level of the Pistons, Spurs, Mavs, Heat, etc. I haven't heard anyone say that we are contenders in this entire thread or that we will be able to beat those teams consistently. </div> Maybe I read into your guys words too much but with you guys keep mentioning those wins, it seems like your trying to say we can beat those teams anyday. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It just goes to show you how well we were playing at the end of the season last year to beat quality teams. </div> Like I said the Knicks and Hawks were able to beat those same quality teams at one point last season. If the Hawks and Knicks fans keep boasting about those wins I'd take it more than what its worth, same feeling I'm getting off the Magic fans. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When did he say that?</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh and for the "critically lost to bulls" comment, we actually couldnt make the playoff's as of b4 that game, so that wasnt even a big issue. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We were out of the playoffs when Chicago beat us in April, anyway.</div> Again I'm probably just reading too much into it. Thats how I am. Most of you guys were saying "anyway", and taking an "eh" kind of attitude toward it, like its not like the Magic were trying anyway. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> So you believe the Bobcats will be better than us and that we will be the 2nd worst team in the NBA this year?</div> **** no! But I don't like the fact that you guys are hating on the Bobcats so bad like that. They won't be better than the Magic.....IF certain things happen then I might be saying otherwise. Based on the preformance of the Magic toward the end I can say they will be a good team next year. Will the Bobcats be better? Maybe....I honestly wouldn't count out G. Wallaces incredible defense, Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton and A LOT of other threats on their team. The Bobcats problem is they are wet behind the ears, so were the Magic. The Magic looked like experienced players down the stretch, and if the Bobcats reach that kind of breaking point as well during the season you can count on them being a "threat" to say the least. Its just the fact that you guys are downing the team when their biggest star player was out, as well as a "helper" type player. Flip the coin and take Dwight out the picture as well as one the Magic "helper" type player and they would be in bad shape, just like the Bobcats were. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Darko has come in off the bench. He hasn't faced guys like TD and KG. </div> Down the last season stretch I remember Darko going against KG and TD and just flat out getting schooled. Each time I think it was around 8-10 minutes. Not much time but still. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate all the hating on Darko.</div> The hate is coming from so many people over hyping the bastard. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> So at 20 years old, after sitting on a bench for 2.5 years, he's supposed to come in and shut down the big guys while only getting 21 mpg in his absolute first experience as an NBA player?</div> No but with all this hype I'm hearing on this site and multiple other Magic sites you'd think it. Also most of the time when I say you guys, sometime I mean Magic fans. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So why argue Gator has mad respect because he game me reasons and explanations. The rest of you are a little shaky.</div> Swish15 and Gator are the two members on this board I respect the most because they never resort to anything "shaky". They give reasons and explain rather than flame.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting eager2belaid:</div><div class="quote_post">Gator your right neither team is proven. I just think the bobcats will win more games. And i think the nba will push for it because mj is in the front office we should stop arguiong your point was right. neither team will be good next year your right.It really dosent matter cause neither team is in the championship race. So why argue Gator has mad respect because he game me reasons and explanations. The rest of you are a little shaky. We werent arguing who was gonna win more but who was gonna lose less.</div> Well I never said the Magic wouldn't be good. I highly expect us to get a 6-8 seed in the playoffs this year(and around a 41-41 record). We nearly made the playoffs last year when at one point we had a 20-40 record. I just want us to make the playoffs and give Dwight/Darko/Jameer some playoff experience, that will be the best for us. I wouldn't really care if we got eliminated in the 1st round as long as we got experience. I do like the way that the Bobcats are going in getting proven winners and people who truly care about basketball. They've drafted national champion Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton and Sean May, guys that know how to win(sorry none of the Gators left for the Bobcats to draft this year ). As well as Adam Morrison, who everyone knows has so much passion after he cried once his team got eliminated. They need an entire year with everyone healthy to gain chemistry, rather than just off and on injuries. I think they are 2-3 years from making a playoff run. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe I read into your guys words too much but with you guys keep mentioning those wins, it seems like your trying to say we can beat those teams anyday.</div> No, we are just showing that during that run we beat quality playoff caliber teams who were vying for playoff position, rather than just the teams that were fighting for a higher lotto pick, like a lot of you guys think. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Like I said the Knicks and Hawks were able to beat those same quality teams at one point last season. If the Hawks and Knicks fans keep boasting about those wins I'd take it more than what its worth, same feeling I'm getting off the Magic fans.</div> Did they all beat them in a 22 game stretch to end the season? Once Jameer got healthy and Darko/Arroyo/Ariza gained chemistry with the players, we looked very good. It was finally fun to watch the Magic play too. At the beginning of the season there wasn't much ball movement or anything to that extent, but at the end, plenty of ball movement and everyone had smiles on their faces. They all loved playing with each other. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Again I'm probably just reading too much into it. Thats how I am. Most of you guys were saying "anyway", and taking an "eh" kind of attitude toward it, like its not like the Magic were trying anyway. </div> He wrote it 3 lines making that loss seem like a really big deal, like it cost us the playoffs and I'm just saying that the loss wasn't really that big of a deal and it basically meant as much as any other loss. I'm not saying that we didn't try, because obviously we did, taking a good Bulls team to OT, but it wasn't the most significant loss of the season with everything on the line, like eager2belaid made it sound. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">**** no! But I don't like the fact that you guys are hating on the Bobcats so bad like that. They won't be better than the Magic.....IF certain things happen then I might be saying otherwise. Based on the preformance of the Magic toward the end I can say they will be a good team next year. Will the Bobcats be better? Maybe....I honestly wouldn't count out G. Wallaces incredible defense, Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton and A LOT of other threats on their team. The Bobcats problem is they are wet behind the ears, so were the Magic. The Magic looked like experienced players down the stretch, and if the Bobcats reach that kind of breaking point as well during the season you can count on them being a "threat" to say the least.</div> I could see the Magic being like the Bulls from last year and the Bobcats being like the Magic from last year. I mean this in that the Magic make the playoffs and show some promise in the playoffs, plus use the money to get a key piece. I can see the Bobcats make a late run at the end of the season to have a lot of promise for the 07-08 season. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Its just the fact that you guys are downing the team when their biggest star player was out, as well as a "helper" type player. Flip the coin and take Dwight out the picture as well as one the Magic "helper" type player and they would be in bad shape, just like the Bobcats were.</div> Please don't ever say that again. That's one thing that I don't ever want to imagine. I'm shaking trying not to imagine that. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Down the last season stretch I remember Darko going against KG and TD and just flat out getting schooled. Each time I think it was around 8-10 minutes. Not much time but still.</div> KG and TD school the best of them. Just because he played them in the first 2 months of basketball that he has really played in the last 3 years and got schooled shouldn't mean that he isn't hyped. I mean he got over 2 bpg in 21 mpg AFTER being out of shape, rusty, with no NBA experience. Now I believe he is working with Dwight this offseason and Dwight will get him into shape, so we expect him to make a bigger impact on defense. Also Dwight will be working on his low post moves, so who better to work with then a young guy who likely will be a dominating post presence in the future after practicing with multiple time DPOY winner? None of us are expecting him to be the best defender right now, but maybe in 2-3 years he could make an All-Defensive first team once he starts being able to anticipate the opposing players moves and stuff. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The hate is coming from so many people over hyping the bastard.</div> He was drafted over Carmelo, Bosh, and Wade for a reason..... Not saying he will ever get to their level, but the potential is still there. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> No but with all this hype I'm hearing on this site and multiple other Magic sites you'd think it. Also most of the time when I say you guys, sometime I mean Magic fans.</div> Every teams fans get carried away and make unreasonable expectations for the players before the offseason, that's what makes message boards fun in the offseason. Every team thinks that this is their year(well except the Knicks ) that they could either contend or make the playoffs, etc. It's just natural for people to have faith in their players during the offseason when nothing is going on. Do you expect Magic fans to say that they don't expect Darko to be good or Jameer Nelson will take a step backwards after this offseason? NO. We are all positive about our TEAM. Which is something that we haven't had for awhile, because Orlando finally has a basketball TEAM and not a 1 man show. Not only are they a team, they all enjoy playing with each other and are very fun to watch. So basically throughout that entire rambling paragraph I was trying to say that don't get too caught up in the predictions, it's just a fun way to pass the offseason. Also if your opinions differ from others, once the season comes around you can always pull out the "I told you so". <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Swish15 and Gator are the two members on this board I respect the most because they never resort to anything "shaky". They give reasons and explain rather than flame.</div> Thanks for the compliments.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Swish15 and Gator are the two members on this board I respect the most because they never resort to anything "shaky". They give reasons and explain rather than flame.</div> Cool beans.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Cool beans. </div> You have now moved off of his respected list with that post.
Reasons the magic are better than the Bobcats: Dwight is better than Emeka Jameer is better than Raymond Hedo is more experienced than Morison Darko or Battie are better than Brezek Bogans will be okay against Wallace I like both benches but I think the magic have slight advantage. I think ruling out either of these teams is silly though, I think both of these teams could make playoff runs.
I don't know if the Magic will make the playoffs, but I think they'll be much improved. Nelson and Howard are going to be a great duo for many years. Last season, in 1333 minutes the two were on the floor together, the Magic outscored opponents by 101.3 to 96.3 (+5.3 points per 48 minutes). Assuming they're on the floor 35+ minutes per game next season, and with solid role players like Turkoglu, Milicic, and Battie, they should be pretty good. I'd be worried about their depth at SG, though. Bogans might be an adequate replacement for Stevenson, but that doesn't mean he's any good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheGreatK-Bob:</div><div class="quote_post">Reasons the magic are better than the Bobcats: Dwight is better than Emeka</div> Maybe, only time will tell. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jameer is better than Raymond</div> Debatable at best. Felton showed a lot and I mean a lot of promise. I would say they were even. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hedo is more experienced than Morison</div> No duh..... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Darko or Battie are better than Brezek</div> Yeah but that doesn't mean Primoz is a push over. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bogans will be okay against Wallace</div> Wallace would destroy Bogans in every category except 3. Not to mention Wallace has the top 5 defense in the league today. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I like both benches but I think the magic have slight advantage. </div> Agreed. Magic's bench is mad deep. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think ruling out either of these teams is silly though, I think both of these teams could make playoff runs.</div> Agreed. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Every team thinks that this is their year(well except the Knicks ) </div> Ouch..... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Did they all beat them in a 22 game stretch to end the season? </div> No but they did it near mid season which I think means more. I think games down the stretch are forced. At that time most teams are burned out. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Once Jameer got healthy and Darko/Arroyo/Ariza gained chemistry with the players, we looked very good. It was finally fun to watch the Magic play too. At the beginning of the season there wasn't much ball movement or anything to that extent, but at the end, plenty of ball movement and everyone had smiles on their faces. They all loved playing with each other. </div> 2 words: Steve Francis. He was a cancer to the team effort.
Who doesn't think Dwight has proven better already? It's certainly still debatable but I think Dwight will win pretty easily in a straight debate. I think Jameer is better than Felton and I think it's obvious. I can't prove it, but he'll do it for me. Morrison will be better than Hedo, but give him a year to get into his NBA groove, at least for a bit Hedo will do well. Wallace wins, I was being silly. I don't think he'll kill us though. Bogans is good enough to stay in front of him. Primoz was on my fantasy team, there would be nights he'd go off an others when he'd literally do nothing. I expect slightly more consistancy and way more potential from Darko, and completely solid consistancy from Battie. Everything else I said stands.
