Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames4LifeFLA
I think the Magic are just as deep as the Lakers. If not, it's not a runaway like you make it sound. Their second unit, when the first unit is fully healthy, has Gortat, Anderson/Bass/Pietrus/Barnes, Williams and Redick. They went to the Finals last season with their all-star point guard injured for a majority of the season. They beat Boston and Cleveland, both without homecourt-advantage, when nobody thought they could. They've added size, strength and toughness upfront to a group that was the best defensive club last season.
They've been up and down this season, some stretches where they've looked really good and some games where they've looked pretty bad. I've either watched or attended every minute of every game this season. Orlando is a much better team than last year. That is for certain. When they play inside-out, and knock down their shots, they're blowing teams away. Most nights, they are playing this way. A major difference now is that they're not suprising anyone like last season- every team they play is giving them their A-plus effort to use the Magic as a measuring stick.
I think once we start to get into March and April, after sufficient time for them to continue to gel, they will be hitting on all cylinders.
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Lake start Magic
Fish Nelson
Kobe Carter
Artest Lewis
Gasol bass
Bynum Howard
Farmar Williams/Johnson
Brown Reddick
Odom Pietrus
Walton/Powell Anderson/Barnes
Mbenga Gortat/Foyle
The edge clearly goes to the Lakers. The second unit is better than some teams' first. Weigh PJ verse VGundy and it skews moreso towards the lakers.
Sure they added size up front, sure they are drawing the best from the toughest draws, but I just don't see Pietrus or anyone else stopping kobe. Do you? I see the matchup nearly favouring the Lakers at every position, save 1 and 5. Even then, they are close when all things are considered: nelson's injury history, howard's inability to create any offense for himself other than putbacks and a limited post-game.
I don't think VC is going to step it up when they need him to get to the hole when the offense is drying up in the playoffs. Do you think he will play tough VS Kobe? if he makes it that deep into the playoffs...
Bass, VC and Barnes are nice additions but not enough, IMO, to beat the lakers.
Their recent success withstanding, I could see them making it to the western finals vs the celts, but I just don't see them able to topple the lakers' org that has won many championships and know how to win in the League. Orl has never won a championship and their recent acquisitions are not enough to cancel out the exp factor.
If last years finals taught us anything, the lakers would win again in another walk.
Until then, prove it D12 and others.