Playoffs G1: Orlando Magic (7) @ Toronto Raptors (2) - The Second Dinosaur Extinction

[j_n]

The Raptors have a scary team with a ridiculous combination of defense, shooting, elite bench and playoff experience, plus a top 5 player in kawhi.

I hope we keep the games relatively competitive and not get swept, although even a sweep wouldn't be the end of the world all things considered.

Whatever happens I feel like this season was a huge success for this franchise, if we can win a game or two it would be gravy, I had zero expectations when the year started.

[Last Guardian]

I don't have a good feeling about it after the last game, it almost looked like they figured us out. We'll buckle under defensive pressure, then not play defense ourselves.

The only advantage...there is zero pressure on the Magic. We can play loose and free while they get to worry about actually winning 4 games.

[OrlandO]

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[OrlandO]

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[swarlesbarkley]

Let's not fool ourselfs, Raptors are massive favorites.
Leonard ( 87) and Ibaka ( 109 ) played more playoff games than whole Orlando Magic current roster, inluding GM Hammond combined. And that's not even joke,as you can see below:
Hammond never passed first round.
Ross played 31 games in PO
Mozgov played 40 PO games.
DJ 28.

Half of roster never played single min.

We can hope to maybe steal game 1 as game ones are always shaky ones for favorites and make series interesting, but it's hard to imagine knocking them down. That's why upsets are so rare. Actually most of upsets through history happend during best of 5 format and since best of 7 series started, almost all upsets had some major injury as key factor Bulls- Philly ( Rose ACL) , Spurs- Memphis ( Ginobli ) . Well there is always Dallas- Golden State thing, however, for whatever reason, Dallas prior to playing them in playoffs, lost to Warriors 5 times in a row.

Exstending series to 6 or even 7 games would be amzing.

Thanks for the reality check that no one needed.

You can't go from 7th seed, locking playoff spot in 81# game of a season, against 58 wins team and expect to pass . You damn sure can hope, but that's not realistic or objective goal to set.
Let's just enjoy playoff basketball and see how things go from there, instad hoping for miracles before tipoff?!

We've been comparable teams since the trade deadline, which might be more telling than the entire season or past playoff experience. Granted, Kawhi took a few games off so it throws off the numbers a bit. Toronto clearly should be favored, they have way more talent, but we've been playing at nearly elite-level basketball since the trade deadline so we could surprise.

I'm expecting Raps in 5, but hoping we push to 6 or 7 and even win the series.

[nymets1]

I know UCF don't have an NBA size court, but wouldn't it be cool if we tried playing 1 of our 3 home games in the playoff series at UCF? Play 2 home games at Amway center and 1 at UCF? I don't think they every do it, but I had the thought come up.

[CalOrl11]

My prediction:
TOR 1-0 ORL
TOR 2-0 ORL
TOR 2-1 ORL
TOR 3-1 ORL
TOR 3-2 ORL
TOR 4-2 ORL

[OrlandoMagic]

Chuck Norris has already single handedly disbanded Toronto as a Basketball team. We’re gearing up for round 2 already

[Duffman100]

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Isaac is big. Siakam just can't figure him out.

[ARandomStranger]

I know that it may seem awkward and I don't know how best to say it, but I think the difference will be coaching staff. People seem to forget that this is Nick Nurses' first time in the NBA playoffs. No matter how amazing he has been as a head coach during the regular season, Playoff basketball isn't just different for players, but it is for coaches as well. I think we have an edge in that regard with Steve at the helm and I'm going to sit here and say the Magic take it in 7. I know I will get flamed for it, but I just get this gut feeling that preparation for this game is going to be a key and I would rather have a coach with playoff experience than one who just entered the league this year.

More so than that the fact that all year long we have found ways to contain Leonard and Siakm, I know that people are talking of the "other gear", but the scary things for Raptor fans and even the Raptors themselves is the wild card that maybe by reaching the playoffs, that someone on our team could have another gear. You have to remember Leonard didn't really become a top 5 player overnight, but in the span of a series he became way more than what people thought he would be. Just saying...people rise to the challenge in weird ways and I just get this weird feeling in my gut...as a man who has watched Magic Basketball for going on 24 years...that something is going to happen.

[mattyBoi]

I know UCF don't have an NBA size court, but wouldn't it be cool if we tried playing 1 of our 3 home games in the playoff series at UCF? Play 2 home games at Amway center and 1 at UCF? I don't think they every do it, but I had the thought come up.

wut

[NBlue]

I don't have a good feeling about it after the last game, it almost looked like they figured us out. We'll buckle under defensive pressure, then not play defense ourselves.

The only advantage...there is zero pressure on the Magic. We can play loose and free while they get to worry about actually winning 4 games.

First -- I agree. They definitely had our defense schemed and completely exploited us. On the flip side they also showed Cliff & Company exactly how they intend to attack us and Cliff has some time to really prepare the squad for it. Basketball is all about adjustments and counter adjustments but at least the Magic know exactly what is coming at them. Whether they can stop it or not is a whole separate issue.

[Detective]

[SOUL]

I know UCF don't have an NBA size court, but wouldn't it be cool if we tried playing 1 of our 3 home games in the playoff series at UCF? Play 2 home games at Amway center and 1 at UCF? I don't think they every do it, but I had the thought come up.

wut

[basketballRob]

One thing I know for sure is Gasol will be huge.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[RookieStar]

One thing I know for sure is Gasol will be huge.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

Literally. Does Vuc have a problem matching up with Gasol?

[3ddman23]

Hope isaac is good to go for game 1. Would suck if we cant start the series fully healthy.

[J-Mezzy]

Boys 

I bought a suite for game 4 for my family and friends and man there was high demand.

I might be able to buy a suite for game 3. If I buy it, would u guys be interested in a realgm watch party? It would be cool to watch it with all of you guys. Tickets would be 150

But I would only buy it if I see some demand. Let me know

[nymets1]

I wonder how much does Terrence Ross being a former Toronto player affect him playing in Toronto, He should be the most comfortable magic player playing in Toronto. If you used to play for them, You shouldn't be intimated or affected by the crowd. I'll have my eye on him for those games in Toronto.

[Viper1500]

I predict that T-Ross will be the best magic player in this series. D-Scott tends to agree on NBA TV. Isiah Thomas thinks that Gordon will be the difference maker.