Quote:
Originally Posted by malcolmk14
No. As a GM you would have thought based on their play during the regular season that any team with an effective pick and roll and matchup issues such as Orlando could cause you trouble in the playoffs. Unless you're Danny Ferry, then you'd overlook it and stand pat. You would have addressed that need at the trade deadline with Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract. Also, they were vulnerable down low. It was no secret that they couldn't guard Dwight Howard.
Not that this trade helps their pick and roll defense at all, but it fixes the Dwight issue.
If they made this trade in February, along with dealing Wally for a good pick and roll defender, they would have won the title this year.
Sure, Shaq will be a factor. But this team's weakness is the pick and roll, so they're still a piece away.
|
I'm sure they figured that they could just give Howard his points and beat the rest of them. Heck even when the Magic beat the Raps it wasn't Howard who really killed them it was Nelson and Lewis and the Turk. But Howard is getting better and even with the refs giving him a queer assortment of fouls and techs he was a bigger factor than could have been forseen. Heck who didn't think it was a Cavs/LA final. Nobody pundit wise. So I think it's a 20/20 hindsight thing to say they should have made a move.