RealGM

I can't see us giving away the 3th seed anymore and it also looks like Boston will stay on the 4th spot(division winner), so Atlanta and Orlando will probably battle it out who can play the Pacers or Celtics.

Atlanta 35-25

Mon 16 @ Toronto
Wed 18 vs Detroit
Fri 20 vs Boston
Sun 22 vs New York
Tue 24 vs L.A. Clippers
Thu 26 vs Dallas

Orlando 35-25

Mon 16 vs Philadelphia
Wed 18 @ Boston
Sat 21 @ Utah
Sun 22 @ Denver
Wed 25 vs Charlotte
Thu 26 @ Memphis

The Magic schedule looks tougher but the Hawks just lost a home game against the Raptors.
I wonder when/if Horford returns.

What I like about either matchup, is that it is less likely to have a lot of opponent fans in the Fieldhouse.

I don't think Horford is going to play this season or in the playoffs. If i am not mistaken, it's been reported maybe a couple of months ago.
With Dwight having a bulging dick, i'd like us to play Orlando.

Orlando plays Philly tonight. an Orlando win would go along way toward locking them into at least the 6th. we've got Philly twice ourselves and if Philly loses tonight and both games to us, the race between them and Milwaukee for 8 will really tighten up.

Gonna be another Bucks-type game tomorrow. Both teams on the tired end of things.

The magic got the better of us in the regular season, so if we end up playing them it'll be a tough series.

Hawks won't be walkovers either.

^^ True, but Dwight Howard's health is a concern at this point.

That team is also in disarray. I think Atlanta if Horford comes back and Philly would both give us tougher times. I really don't see the fraudulent 3-point shooting success to continue against us.

I'm not sure I share the same concern with Moose. I'm not sure that has anything to do with the game of basketball. Howard's bulging disc is going to be a big factor, though.

Orlando is just a heaping mess right now. You'll see them play in the playoffs as Cleveland did in the last year of Lebron's era there. Dwight will be blamed, and he will be moved in the offseason.

Howard or not, I'd rather play Orlando than Atlanta. I'd like to see NY be the 8 and play Chicago in round one, but we play Philly twice and if we win both that should give NY the 7 and might let Milwaukee climb to 8 by beating Philly on the final Wednesday.

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/04/19/magi ... ef:nbahpt1

This one says Howard is out for the season.

Most like out of Orlando as well, if their FO will finally get it.

Things are all falling into place now!

The Magic are very likely to keep the 6th seed (Knicks would have to go like 4/4 with the magic going 1/4 in remaining games to overtake them.)

So an easy first round for the Pacers, practically a warmup for the 2nd round.

If the Knicks and Melo keep clicking so well, it could be a crazy first round battle between them and the Heat, and the result could be a fresh, rested Pacers team coming off a sweep to face a worn out Heat (or even Knicks).

Our chances of making the ECF have never been better.

jowglenn wrote:If the Knicks and Melo keep clicking so well, it could be a crazy first round battle between them and the Heat, and the result could be a fresh, rested Pacers team coming off a sweep to face a worn out Heat (or even Knicks).

and the Boston(or Atlanta)/Chicago series in the second round could be something too. it isn't impossible for us to have home court all the way.

Pacer mania is about to begin folks

I'm ready.

Watch out for Orlando's front line of Big Baby, Daniel Orton and Earl Clark... wait who?

Ryan Anderson?

The Magic was an eye sore last game against the Nuggets. Without Dwight they play like a summer league team.

Moooose wrote:The Magic was an eye sore last game against the Nuggets. Without Dwight they play like a summer league team.

They are built to surround Dwight with shooters at every position. However, when you take away the dominant interior force (which they cannot replace), the defense can now body up ALL the shooters.

Yeah, we've had trouble against them with Dwight, and mostly it was their shooters getting hot.