How do the Wiz stack up in the south? PT1 Magic vs Wiz

[Kanyewest]

Here's there lineup through the first 10 games

PG- Nelson/Johnson
SG- Carter/Pietrus/Reddick
SF- Pietrus/Barnes
PF- Gortat/Anderson/Barnes
C- Howard/Gortat/Foyle

Looking at their schedule, Orlando could conceivably get off to a hot start in their fist 10 games anyways; something like 7-3 and 8-2 isn't out of the realm of possibility for them.

Phi
@NJ
@Tor
@Det
Pho
Det
@OKC
@Char
Cle
NJ

[LyricalRico]

^ Actually, Bass will likely be the starting PF.

[Kanyewest]

^ Actually, Bass will likely be the starting PF.

Whoops, forgot about him. They are deep.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Here's there lineup through the first 10 games

PG- Nelson/Johnson
SG- Carter/Pietrus/Reddick
SF- Pietrus/Barnes
PF- Gortat/Anderson/Barnes
C- Howard/Gortat/Foyle

Looking at their schedule, Orlando could conceivably get off to a hot start in their fist 10 games anyways; something like 7-3 and 8-2 isn't out of the realm of possibility for them.

Phi
@NJ
@Tor
@Det
Pho
Det
@OKC
@Char
Cle
NJ

I think they'll lose at Toronto, at Charlotte, and at either Detroit or OKC (my sleeper team). I believe they'll probably lose to Cleveland and they might have a tough time with Phoenix. Orlando could easily go 6-4 or 5-5 if the suspension holds.

SVG early on will get to play Bass, Anderson, and Gortat additional minutes, and it's going to make them call on Vince Carter early. He won't have any need to defer to fit in with Lewis not on the court.

Will Carter press and fold early on or will he come through?

How will Lewis integrate back with the team as a leader and will this affect his whole season? Next to Howard, he had an overwhelmingly positive effect when he was on the court. Now, without Turkoglu and with new teammates, the worst thing is that he'll not be playing to start the season.

[GilArenas88]

The Magic have got much more deeper this offseason with the additions of Bass, Barnes, etc. But remember Lewis makes them a hard team to match up because of his ability to draw 4's to the perimeter. With him gone that takes out a major match up advantage for them. So maybe the record predictions are a little too fair IMO for them at this point. Hey, but maybe Vince makes up for that, which he is quite capable off still, in stretches. Vince IMO is better, even still, then Turk, so he is a wild card.

[Kanyewest]

The Magic can also play Ryan Anderson at the 4 who is capable of knocking in the long ball. He struggled shooting from the field last season because of a shoulder injury but he can knock down the 3 as well if he's healthy.

[REDardWIZskin]

I don't think missing Lewis will have a huge impact on those first ten games there's been so much movement this off season that identities will have to be established for everyone which could take quite a few games depending on the team. I'm not one to wish bad luck on players but VC for what i can remember has had problems staying healthy and things like that tend to get worse as you get older. Just a thought

[nate33]

Why are we spending so much time analyzing the Magic? They're going to be real good and they're going to finish in the Top 3 in the East barring a major injury to Howard. End of discussion.

The only thing I care about is how we match up with them head-to-head. Chances are, we're going to face them in the playoffs sooner or later, and they'll have home court advantage. Can we beat them?

[closg00]

Why are we spending so much time analyzing the Magic? They're going to be real good and they're going to finish in the Top 3 in the East barring a major injury to Howard. End of discussion.

The only thing I care about is how we match up with them head-to-head. Chances are, we're going to face them in the playoffs sooner or later, and they'll have home court advantage. Can we beat them?

Lock it up and lets move-on, we haven't even done the Boston match-up yet.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Why are we spending so much time analyzing the Magic? They're going to be real good and they're going to finish in the Top 3 in the East barring a major injury to Howard. End of discussion.

The only thing I care about is how we match up with them head-to-head. Chances are, we're going to face them in the playoffs sooner or later, and they'll have home court advantage. Can we beat them?

Since you're wanting to get to the point: Yes.

The Wizards will have a pretty good chance beating them by the playoffs if the season goes the way I believe it will. Jamison and Butler, plus Blatche, McGee, and Oberto will be able to outplay Howard and extras. Lewis' start to the season is a bad omen for them. Turkoglu could come back to haunt the Magic, even in the playoffs, which Toronto WILL make. (Wizards/Raptors could be the 4/5 matchup IMO--a tough matchup, too).

Right now, Boston's the team I don't see Washington getting past. The Celtics could be better than ever if Garnett's healthy and Sheed focused.

In the playoffs can't see Washington beating Cleveland, either, if Shaq's not "the Big Disruptive Influence" for them. I don't like Washington's inability to do anything with James or Shaq.

[Kanyewest]

Why are we spending so much time analyzing the Magic? They're going to be real good and they're going to finish in the Top 3 in the East barring a major injury to Howard. End of discussion.

The only thing I care about is how we match up with them head-to-head. Chances are, we're going to face them in the playoffs sooner or later, and they'll have home court advantage. Can we beat them?

In order to determine if you can beat them, you have to determine how good they are. It's not rocket science.