Orlando Magic blast Charlotte Bobcats, get set for NBA Playoffs

[Zach]

I Called This Win Folks wrote:

<quoted text>No that's a good point Zach. And you are correct. I am just saying in terms of matchups and injuries the Magic must not overlook Philly..same thing with us Magic fans.

I agree with you in that sense. But the same can be said for any of the series. Just look back to Golden State and Dallas a few years back.

[I Called This Win Folks]

Zach wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you in that sense. But the same can be said for any of the series. Just look back to Golden State and Dallas a few years back.

True that. The Magic should treat Philly the same way as if they were facing Cleveland. If they do that and bring the intensity and focus they should be ok.

[Nozar]

Cleavland sweep Detriot
Celtics sweep Bulls
Magic win in 7
Heat win in 7

[Jon]

I Called This Win Folks wrote:

<quoted text>True that. The Magic should treat Philly the same way as if they were facing Cleveland. If they do that and bring the intensity and focus they should be ok.

Its the playoffs. If they dont bring that intensity, then they will be gone for sure. I think the fans will be hyped and the team will as well. I think we can go as far as Rafer takes us. Not having Jameer hurts now, but if rafer can play great, we can get to where we want to go.

[Roberthenry]

Folks ( as Jim would say )

The best thing to happen was this 5 game funk.
It made SVG rest the starters and play
the bench for some very needed extended time.
This last game really showed how sharp they have become thanks to this last few games.

Now we go into the series with well rested starters and a sharp bench.

I will call our first round
Magic 4 Philly 1

I see the bull take Boston to 7 games
Miami also goes 7 games against Atlanta

Cleveland in 5 against the Pistons

[avery is an idiot]

he just said the magic will be upset by the 76ers .i hope the magic can shove it up all their ashes. no respect

[Jeff]

This is the matchup I wanted to see. The magic should sweep this team and Dwight will dominate. I see 3 20 20 games in this series in the 4 magic wins. This will go 5 AT MOST. Philly just doesnt have anyone to compete with Howard inside. I really dont even see them winning a game, unless they steal one at home.

I think chicago will push the celtics to at least 6 games. Garnett just doesnt seem to be healthy and they need him down low against this bulls team. Otherwise the Bulls match up nicely and could steal a few games and possibly the series. It will be about the pace of the game. If its fast, chicago will benefit, if its slow half court, Boston will have the advantage. I cant wait, Playoff basketball is here!! Oh and before I forget I wanted to paste some links to show how important Jameer Nelson is to this team. I will look up what I found today and post it below.

[GlamourPuss]

I hope the first game is Sunday!!! GO MAGIC!!!!

[Jeff]

first game is on Sunday at 530pm.

[Jeff]

http://www.82games.com/0809/USORT13.HTM

Stats show the best 5 man units. Orlando ranked 7th and 11th with our starting squads from earlier in the year. No other teams starting 5 is ahead of ours when we had Jameer Nelson at PG.

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

Shows players clutch stats. Jameer Nelson ranked 15th in the NBA in clutch production with 51% shooting and an eyepopping 60% from 3 point land. Its a real shame we dont have him for the playoffs. I hope he returns to these type of numbers next year.

[Dr James Naismith]

Can we please sit JJ on the bench for the playoffs. It is just painful to watch him play. Even though his numbers last night looked reasonable though mediocre.

And it's not just me saying that.

ESPN's John Hollinger ranks players by PER - The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a player's per-minute productivity.

JJ ranks LAST, yes LAST, among all Orlando Magic player and is the only one with a single digit PER at 9.96.

You can find those ratings here:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/teams/hollinge...

The only reasons I can conclude any one wants him to play is because Otis Smith is forcing them (SVG) to justify his pick or they are racially biased.

[Jaxfann]

Good to see the defensive intensity last night. Bodes well for a good playoff run!!

[420greg]

Dr James Naismith wrote:

Smith is forcing them (SVG) to justify his pick or they are racially biased.

After Dwight JJ is the Magics top Merch seller. They have to give him minutes just to keep the merch moving.

[Dr James Naismith]

420greg wrote:

<quoted text>
After Dwight JJ is the Magics top Merch seller. They have to give him minutes just to keep the merch moving.

Well that adds some reason to play him, but are the purchases racially biased?

[LMAO]

I'd just like to say that it doesn't really matter what happens in the playoffs now.
Thanks to JJ the Magic have a spokesman that the public can understand and he is terribly good at public speaking and also in the work ethic he applied to become a main cog in the Magic lineup and lead the way in downright "hustle."

That and he also sells more jersies etc, than anyone but Dwight. No matter what happens I'm sure you all wish JJ luck in getting out of Orlando so he can have a much bigger roll with a team that has a coach who knows how to have the players set picks for the shooter. Like the Pistons do for Rip and so on....

Should the Magic be upset by Philly... which is NOT impossible it will have still been a super season. They have proved they are the 3rd best team in the East and about the 4th or 5th best out of the top West teams. That makes them the 7th or 8th best team in the league and that's quite an improvement over the last few years.

Although they have little or NO chance of being the champs, or even to be in the Finals they still are a better team than most pundits have been saying. Here's thanking them for a great year and hopefully they can stay in that top 8 for sometime to come.

I would admit now that I do have a feeling that the league powers want a Kobe/Lebron Finals. All season I have felt that it was ordained the Celts/Lakers were the case. I believe now that they have found out the Lakers/Cavs will bring in more gate and TV revenue than anyone else.

Here's hoping the Lakers dont fold, they do have the Best team and I only say that because i'm getting tired of Lebron commercials!

One more wish:
Dear Otis, Please trade
JJ this next year.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Your friend,
LMAO :)

[The Living Tribunal]

Nozar wrote:

Cleavland sweep Detriot
Celtics sweep Bulls
Magic win in 7
Heat win in 7

Hahaha, you're a moron. Magic in 7!!??
The only series that might go 7 games here is Miami vs. Atlanta. The others will be sweeps or 5 games at most. Magic, Cavs and Celtics defense is just too good for these other barely .500 teams. Philly won by 1 point in Cleveland with Lebron and Mo Williams sitting it out, how the heck are they going to deal with a healthy, hungry and focused Magic team? I'll be surprised if Philly even scores 100 points in any of the games. Magic 4-0. Next!!

[Dr James Naismith]

LMAO wrote:

I'd just like to say that it doesn't really matter what happens in the playoffs now.
Thanks to JJ the Magic have a spokesman that the public can understand and he is terribly good at public speaking and also in the work ethic he applied to become a main cog in the Magic lineup and lead the way in downright "hustle."
That and he also sells more jersies etc, than anyone but Dwight. No matter what happens I'm sure you all wish JJ luck in getting out of Orlando so he can have a much bigger roll with a team that has a coach who knows how to have the players set picks for the shooter. Like the Pistons do for Rip and so on....
Should the Magic be upset by Philly... which is NOT impossible it will have still been a super season. They have proved they are the 3rd best team in the East and about the 4th or 5th best out of the top West teams. That makes them the 7th or 8th best team in the league and that's quite an improvement over the last few years.
Although they have little or NO chance of being the champs, or even to be in the Finals they still are a better team than most pundits have been saying. Here's thanking them for a great year and hopefully they can stay in that top 8 for sometime to come.
I would admit now that I do have a feeling that the league powers want a Kobe/Lebron Finals. All season I have felt that it was ordained the Celts/Lakers were the case. I believe now that they have found out the Lakers/Cavs will bring in more gate and TV revenue than anyone else.
Here's hoping the Lakers dont fold, they do have the Best team and I only say that because i'm getting tired of Lebron commercials!
One more wish:
Dear Otis, Please trade
JJ this next year.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Your friend,
LMAO :)

Nice post LMAO ... and Ditto to that.

[x-xx--x-xxx-x]

Magic Fan Mark wrote:

I also want to take this last regular season game blog and thank Coach Van Gundy. I think Stan did a wonderful job in only his second season with the Magic. He has coached us to two 50+ game seasons (52 and 59).
I know there are times I second guess him and wish he would change a few things. But I still have to give Coach his props. He really has pushed this team at the right times this season and helped us to get to where we are.
Good job Coach!!!

I'm sure he didn't lose any sleep over your posts.

[x-xx--x-xxx-x]

The Living Tribunal wrote:

<quoted text>
Hahaha, you're a moron. Magic in 7!!??
The only series that might go 7 games here is Miami vs. Atlanta. The others will be sweeps or 5 games at most. Magic, Cavs and Celtics defense is just too good for these other barely .500 teams. Philly won by 1 point in Cleveland with Lebron and Mo Williams sitting it out, how the heck are they going to deal with a healthy, hungry and focused Magic team? I'll be surprised if Philly even scores 100 points in any of the games. Magic 4-0. Next!!

4-1 would be much better, I have tickets to our 3rd home game.

[LMAO]

Dr James Naismith wrote:

<quoted text>
Nice post LMAO ... and Ditto to that.

Thanks Doc.