OT-Magic fan here

[magicfan1989]

Hello all, Magic fan here.

As depressing and down I am about Orlando being down 0-2, I came here for some of your thoughts.

I wanted to get an outisde opinion because we Magic fans obviously have bias'd feelings to what is going on in our series.

Do you guys think Orlando will come back and make this a tough series? Does anybody think we can/will actually come back?

Thoughts. . . . . .?

[Pablo Escobar]

To be honest I thought you guys were going to kill the Celtics but you guys live and die by the 3 and right now it's not falling as much as it was the first 2 rounds, the problem is Dwight even though he is the best C in the game he isn't a reliable scorer down low, I think you guys should either run the pick n roll with Dwight or make Nelson just drive and kick, honestly why can't you come back like I said if your 3 starts to fall it's going to be a long night for the opposing team plus I hate the celtics hope you guys come back and destroy them, good luck man hopefully we have a rematch again I know you guys want a little payback lol

[hourockman]

Thoughts. . . . . .?

Bleak.

Problem is that you'll have to win 3 in a row now to have a legit shot of taking it, which would be difficult even for the Lakers to do. To do that, you have to make them tentative. They look like hunters and Orl look like prey out there. They clearly have a game plan they're comfortable with and feel that it'll win the series if they just relentlessly stick to it. You're gonna have to find a way to throw a wrench into that, take ahold of Mr. Momentum (sry, Stu Lantz ref). I don't know how that's possible with the in and out team you have, not a ton of diversity outside of Carter.

[Kilroy]

You need RLewis to step up... He's got to find ways to be a playmaker.

You need Vince to rise to the occasion and not choke at the last second. He needs to get focused and put up some numbers.

All in all, Orlando needs to find some Offense... Boston is shutting you down and making you play their game. I think if you guys can put a good run together and go up by double-digits, it would put Boston on their heels.

But all in all, if I had to put money on it, I'd bet on a sweep.

I think your team can beat Boston, but something about Orlando's demeanor is off. I think they all individually can't see an answer to what Boston is doing. They look like they're a little disjointed and playing like individuals.

And that leads to the last thing I think you guys need... Stan the Man's got to be the Man with the Plan... The Coaching staff has got to find a weakness, make an adjustment and sell it to the team to the point every single player believes in it and thinks if they just play the system, they'll win.

Good luck Orlando! At least push Boston to 7...

[Magicontinues]

Your done.

[chyau.00]

dwights been exposedd..he looks like a marcus camby / ben wallace out there.

not the superstar that everyone thought he was.

[Desiderium]

you're most likely going to get swept at this point. that's what happens when you play bad teams to get to the finals, you don't get battle tested.

[microfib4thewin]

I predicted Boston to win the series, what I didn't predict was Magic losing both games at home. The main issue at hand is Boston's defense vs Orlando's offense. We have seen what their defense can do against teams that play mostly in the half court. Once their defense is set it is very difficult to find any open looks. They double team well and rarely leaves a man open. The only way for Orlando to beat them is to force turnovers so they can get some fastbreaks going, but that hasn't happened as much as the Magic have liked.

Even though the final score was close for both games, I don't see how anyone can argue Boston didn't have control for the entire series. They stretched it out to a 20 point lead in game 1 only to do their traditional 4th quarter choke, game 2 it was a double digit lead which once again evaporated because KG is the only reliable frontcourt scorer who's getting too old to handle the scoring. I think Orlando can take 1 game, 2 at most, but a sweep is definitely a possibility.

[That Nicka]

If you can steal one in Boston (which I think is possible) then you go back to Orlando down 3-1. Get game 5 at home, then youre down 3-2. The toughest game will be game 6 in Boston which I dont think the Magic can pull off, but if they do manage to then momentum will definitely be on the Magic side with game 7 at home as well. It's possible but unlikely.

Since Dwight is being defended single coverage, imo it is up to Vince to break down the defense and create shots for the shooters

[joe.linnen]

you guys should've kept Hedo but still added Carter. Hedo ran the pick and roll well last season for you guys. I'm gonna need Carter, Nelson, and Lewis to knock down every shot they put up. you guys can go into Boston and steal 1 maybe 2 games there. I say go into their house and kick their ass

[fareweatherfan]

imho you were done when you essentially swapped Hedo for VC. but i'm rootin for you guys

[DEEP3CL]

The Magic problem is like my man Scandalouzzzz said, they haven't been battled tested in these playoffs. Every team left except the Magic had a couple of hiccups before reaching this point. The Lakers for example had to face a tough young and athletic Thunder team..........which was actually a blessing in disguise because it uncovered some defensive issue's we needed to clean up.

The Thunder were the best fast tempo team in the playoffs, they pushed the Lakers to actually have to "focus" on defense and clean up some rotation issue's we had.

The Jazz series tested the Lakers mental fortitude on being able to carry out the game plan and staying consistent. Which is why we saw a sweep.

See bottom line is you have to face some type of adverse moments in the playoffs, the Magic had a ride equivalent to going down a water slide.........smooth and quick. The Magic faced teams that had issues. Charlotte was just happy to make the playoffs and Atlanta has problems that affected them on the court. Joe Johnson's free agency and a lame duck coach in Woodson.

The Celtics are only leading this series because of two things, they're banging Dwight and have limited the rest of guys. Plus you had no answer for Peirce, he's killing you. And Rondo is the type of guard that wasn't going to back down to Nelson, who had it going in the 2 other series.

Rondo's defensive first attitude was the reason the Celtics had more than a good chance to win this series. The Magic offense is predicated on busting teams up from the 3 line. The Celtics have smothered your shooters and haven't allowed much to go on in the paint either.

They just have to take it one game at a time, winning Game 3 is critical for the Magic.

[dockingsched]

rashard lewis has to step up. dude can't avg 5.5 ppg and shoot 25% from the field and 12% from 3.

and its not like he's been in foul trouble and not been on the floor, he's played 41 and 43 minutes.

[The Skyhook]

You guys being down 0 - 2 is surprising. WHats even more surprising is that Boston is playing some of its best ball since 08. I didn't think they would have given the Magic this much problems. Dwight looks like a one dimensional player out there. Hes doing fine on D but his offense isn't making any impact. A lot of the guys said its because the 3 ain't falling which is true. Even if it starts falling it could be too late to get back into it.

[LApwnd]

I'm disappointed in Orl as well.....I hate Bos and I dont care if they win to revive the rivalary and give us a chance at revenge. Any semblence of success by them makes me want to vomit. With that said every Magic minus Howard needs to grow a sac and play better, Carter is an idiot guy drives to the basket only to shoot fadeaways, Lewis is absolutely worthless, can't defend, can't hit shots, can't take it to the hoop.

[magic1fan]

i am kind of mad at you guys right now. howard is the one guy outside of a laker uniform that i like. the celtics are bullies,and once they threw that first punch and connected it seems like your team just retreated. the only thing i can say is they say the better team wins a 7 game series and i still think you guys are the better team. boston hasn't been great at home either. you guys just need to take it one game at a time.

[Desiderium]

It's stupid mistakes you guys make down the road that is going to cost you a championship. Missing key free throws, not knowing when to call a timeout, the list goes on. Is rashard Lewis even playing for the magic or did he go fishing with the hawks?

[chefy]

execution on offense?


5.5 pg from rashard lewis is unacceptable.

[LApwnd]

execution on offense?


5.5 pg from rashard lewis is unacceptable.

dont see this changing, Lewis wont get any open shots and cant take KG off the dribble.

[DubaLakers]

They have to give a shi*, and they have to fight. If they do those two things no reason they can't win the series. I just don't think they have the makeup. Too many nice happy go lucky guys on the team.