Playoff Picture

LBPTarHeel27 · Post #1 » by **LBPTarHeel27** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:50 am

There are several people hoping that we can dodge Detroit in the playoffs, while others are hoping that we do in fact get to play them so that we can end the curse.

The finish to the season is definitely going to be something to watch and I had the itch to go look at just what is likely and what is not.

Who will we play?

I think it is pretty safe to say that we are going to play either Miami or Detroit...

Philly
Philly has lost 7 of its last 11 and has a 5 game Western Road Trip...even good teams from the East are happy to come out 3-2. Philly should be happy to come out 2-3 (Lakers, Warriors, Suns, Kings, Blazers). Then another 3 game road trip in the East. Games against Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte (2), Detroit (2), Minny, Cleveland (2), and Boston...all good teams/teams playing well. It will be a rough finish for Philly. Not to mention, they would have to overtake either the Heat, Pistons, or Hawks in order to grab that #6 spot. I say no go against them.

Atlanta
With the way Detroit looks poised to finish the season and how dangerous D-Wade can be this time of the season, I can easily see them slipping all the way down to #6 after holding the #4 spot for the majority of the season. They are 4 games ahead of Detroit and only 1 1/2 ahead of Miami. 11 of the last 17 games are at home, which is favorable for them...considering they are 21-7 at home and one of the best home teams in the league. If they can hang on to that #4 spot, they will be a tough matchup for whoever ends up 5. That being said, I think that either Detroit or Miami is bound to pass them, leaving the Hawks at 5 and out in the first round.

Detroit
The team that the majority of the board is fearing more and more by the day. With 8 games at home and 11 on the road the rest of the way, including games against Dallas, Houston, Miami (2), Lakers, Clevleand, Charlotte...it will not be an easy ride. How does AI handle the role off of the bench. That is the question that will "Answer" everything. Saddly I do not see Detroit LOSING the 6 spot, hopefully they can move up.

Miami
Miami seems to have a slightly more difficult finish than Detroit, leaving the door open for a great finish. Making things even more intriguing is the season finally in which they play Detroit. There is a great chance we will all be watching that game praying for Miami to win. 7 games at home and 11 on the road, including 2 road trips - games against Boston (2), Utah, Detroit (2), Orlando, Dallas, Charlotte, and Atlanta. I think that Miami is going to have a tough time finishing out the season. That is a pretty brutal schedule.

Conclusion
This is all obviously with the assumption that we finish #3 (which is almost a certainty to me, despite the standings right now).

#4 - Atlanta 47-35
#5 - Detroit 44-38
#6 - Miami 43-39

Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat

Nemesis21 · Post #2 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:02 am

IMO we can still steal the # 2 seed. I don't care if we get Pistons in first rd or not, if we do we need to end the curse. If we don't oh well.

Neon1 · Post #3 » by **Neon1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:06 am

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Hollinger has some generated Playoff Seeds that update after every game. It projects final records etc...It has us at #3 facing Miami at #6 and Detroit hopping over them for #5.

AdamTheGreek · Post #4 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:15 am

Long way to go, and Detroit could very well not make the playoffs.

Orange Ave. · Post #5 » by **Orange Ave.** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:17 am

Please be Miami. I'm with Neon, I'm for avoiding Detroit at all costs. It's not cowardly, its science.

Nemesis21 · Post #6 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:19 am

so if we get Miami in 1st rd, who will we get in 2nd rd C's or Cavs?

LBPTarHeel27 · Post #7 » by **LBPTarHeel27** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:22 am

That will be in my next segment...

"The Top 3"

AdamTheGreek · Post #8 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:31 am

I'm calling it now, we're facing Philly in the first round. Time to get some 10-year anniversary revenge:
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... h=playoffs
Plus, the fact that Chuck has cancer has me believing more that it will happen.
Also, we were the #3 and they were the #6 in that lockout year.

So all signs seem to be pointing at this happening since Philly is currently 7th (and they didn't get the 6th seed in '99 until the final game when they defeated the Pistons in OT):
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... 29&search=

glennathan · Post #9 » by **glennathan** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:40 am

AdamTheGreek wrote:I'm calling it now, we're facing Philly in the first round. Time to get some 10-year anniversary revenge:
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... h=playoffs
Plus, the fact that Chuck has cancer has me believing more that it will happen.
Also, we were the #3 and they were the #6 in that lockout year.

So all signs seem to be pointing at this happening since Philly is currently 7th (and they didn't get the 6th seed in '99 until the final game when they defeated the Pistons in OT):
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... 29&search=

I am confused on how this has anything to do with our playoff situation.

Neon1 · Post #10 » by **Neon1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:46 am

AdamTheGreek wrote:I'm calling it now, we're facing Philly in the first round. Time to get some 10-year anniversary revenge:
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... h=playoffs
Plus, the fact that Chuck has cancer has me believing more that it will happen.
Also, we were the #3 and they were the #6 in that lockout year.

So all signs seem to be pointing at this happening since Philly is currently 7th (and they didn't get the 6th seed in '99 until the final game when they defeated the Pistons in OT):
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... 29&search=

I have no idea what any of that has to do with ANYthing...but If your calling ORL vs 76ers i sure hope your right... :pray:

AdamTheGreek · Post #11 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:49 am

glennathan wrote:
AdamTheGreek wrote:I'm calling it now, we're facing Philly in the first round. Time to get some 10-year anniversary revenge:
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... h=playoffs
Plus, the fact that Chuck has cancer has me believing more that it will happen.
Also, we were the #3 and they were the #6 in that lockout year.

So all signs seem to be pointing at this happening since Philly is currently 7th (and they didn't get the 6th seed in '99 until the final game when they defeated the Pistons in OT):
http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/ma ... 29&search=

I am confused on how this has anything to do with our playoff situation.

He coached us that '99 series.

Nemesis21 · Post #12 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:13 am

so if we get Miami in 1st rd, who will we get in 2nd rd C's or Cavs?

AgEnT50 · Post #13 » by **AgEnT50** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:21 am

Nemesis21 wrote:so if we get Miami in 1st rd, who will we get in 2nd rd C's or Cavs?

it depends on seeding. . .

If we finish in 3rd & the heat 6th, we will play the winner of the 2nd & 7th seeds(ala Boston & Pistons/Bulls/Bucks). . .which will be the C's!

This is why we need to get the 2nd seed(atleast) so we can have the homecourt in the 2nd round against them

Post #14 » by **SOUL** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:50 am

Nemesis21 wrote:so if we get Miami in 1st rd, who might we get in 2nd rd C's or Cavs?

drsd · Post #15 » by **drsd** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:22 am

I would say it is near equal third is Orlando plays Detroit, Miami, or Philly.

MagicFan32 · Post #16 » by **MagicFan32** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:04 am

I just want Detroit to be the 5 seed and i'll take my chances, we can still get no.2!

LBPTarHeel27 · Post #17 » by **LBPTarHeel27** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:13 pm

Philly is getting WAY too much credit. They are not going to overtake Detroit or Miami.

G-Heel · Post #18 » by **G-Heel** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:48 pm

We're only 1 loss behind Boston, you guys think we'll gave a good chance to overtake them for 2nd seed?

Mannchild · Post #19 » by **Mannchild** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:24 pm

Magic will get 2nd seed in the east, book it.

EasternMagic · Post #20 » by **EasternMagic** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:42 pm

Best case scenario we play Philly or Miami in the first and Cav's in the second, I'm not really scared of the Cav's as of now.