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If the Magic have the 25th ranged starters and 23rd ranked defense, then that means the Magic are speculated to win between 30-33 games by CBS analysts based on being the 24th best team in the NBA. They must really hate the Magic. Of course, the Knicks are 14th best offense. This means they are almost a top 10 team already leap frogging like 15 teams!!! That could make them the greatest turnaround team in NBA history. I think if the Magic traded away Vucevic now, they would have the worst offense in the entire NBA.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/ranking-all-30-nba-starting-lineups-hint-warriors-are-pretty-good/

Experts.

Again, cool story, CBS. I'm not as high on us as some others here, but that's ridiculous. We've added a great coach and while the Dipo trade may hurt us, it has given us an identity. Our frontcourt is versatile as all get out now and while we will probably struggle offensively at times, we still have 8 players who could potentially average in double figures (Ibaka, Vooch, Fournier, EP, Augustin, AG, Mario, Green)

They're not wrong that a lot rides on Gordon being a good fit at SF and Payton's shooting improving. Most of the pundits seem to think Gordon can't play SF. I disagree so I think he'll be fine there. Payton's shooting is a big concern, though I am optimistic that he'll take strides this year and be ok. Plus i'm optimistic for the changes Vogel brings.

Then again, i'm the eternal optimist.

Some big time questions on the offensive end for sure. But the front court has serious defensive ability. Can you imagine AG and the Anaconda Bros on the court together?

Apparently Utah will be a top 4 team this year. #5 starters, #1 bench. Did I miss where they signed Durant??

I'd bet any amount of money we won't be worse than last year but most writers won't take the time to think about the Magic outside of looking at our roster and pushing us to the bottom of their rankings so they can praise the Knicks for signing the corpse of Derick Rose and Joakim Noah. To them, we're like the Kings, we're just a middling small market non-playoff team.

This is, in my opinion, the most talented Magic squad and best Magic coach we've had since trading Dwight. I'm pumped about this next season and for the first time in a while I'm confident about proving the doubters wrong.

Minnesota at 12...

yeti_ wrote:Apparently Utah will be a top 4 team this year. #5 starters, #1 bench. Did I miss where they signed Durant??

The Jazz traded for George Hill and moved Raul Neto to the bench. This lineup with Neto last season was the eighth most effective lineup in basketball of units that played at least 300 minutes together.

There's the explanation

Although I think its kind of low again, they aren't entirely wrong there are just too many questions to make an accurate prediction.

Frank Vogel says he'll use Gordon like he used Paul George, and this seems risky

This is accurate. Just because he's planning to use him like Paul George doesn't mean it'll work.

If it works (and Payton's jump shot improves), then this ranking could be far too low.

Again, these are the same statements that are being made in this very board and another question mark. Is Payton's shot going to improve? The front office have a ton riding on the development and improvement of AG and Payton this season. Valid argument right here. They even admitted that the ranking may be far too low if Payton's jump shot improves.

If it doesn't, then the front office might need to make a move or two to balance the roster. Could Vucevic's days in Orlando be numbered?

Also accurate. If the AG/PG experiment doesn't work, and Paytons shot doesn't improve then the most tradable asset is Nik and he could be moved to balance out the roster.

I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. This team hasn't proven a damn thing and they aren't owed anything. They have to go out there and prove that they're better than their ranking. If their entire write up had been just a bunch of question marks It would've been just as accurate.

seriously guys don't envy the knicks. they had been overrating them for as long as I can remember and I feel like knicks themselves believe it. that's why they keep falling on their faces. it's not a blessing, it's a curse

Blue_and_Whte wrote:I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. This team hasn't proven a damn thing and they aren't owed anything. They have to go out there and prove that they're better than their ranking. If their entire write up had been just a bunch of question marks It would've been just as accurate.

The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

@ssholes are like off-season rankings. Everyone has 1, and they think there's don't stink!

OrlDave wrote:

Blue_and_Whte wrote:I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. This team hasn't proven a damn thing and they aren't owed anything. They have to go out there and prove that they're better than their ranking. If their entire write up had been just a bunch of question marks It would've been just as accurate.

The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

KingRobb02 wrote:

OrlDave wrote:

Blue_and_Whte wrote:I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. This team hasn't proven a damn thing and they aren't owed anything. They have to go out there and prove that they're better than their ranking. If their entire write up had been just a bunch of question marks It would've been just as accurate.

The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Define 'no one.' From what I can tell there are numerous posters on here, numerous media outlets, and even the team's own Head Coach who have acknowledged where the pitfalls of our team may lie.

npiper17 wrote:

KingRobb02 wrote:

OrlDave wrote:
The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Define 'no one.' From what I can tell there are numerous posters on here, numerous media outlets, and even the team's own Head Coach who have acknowledged where the pitfalls of our team may lie.

You know, you are way too literal sometimes. Okay, most posters here like to say we fixed our biggest weaknesses while not giving credence to the fact that we simply moved the problems to other areas.

KingRobb02 wrote:

npiper17 wrote:

KingRobb02 wrote:Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Define 'no one.' From what I can tell there are numerous posters on here, numerous media outlets, and even the team's own Head Coach who have acknowledged where the pitfalls of our team may lie.

You know, you are way too literal sometimes. Okay, most posters here like to say we fixed our biggest weaknesses while not giving credence to the fact that we simply moved the problems to other areas.

And you get pissed off when people challenge what you say. I guess we all have flaws.

As for your other point, I see it more as optimism / pessimism. Some posters are more optimistic than others. Some are more pessimistic. That's life.

KingRobb02 wrote:

OrlDave wrote:

Blue_and_Whte wrote:I have absolutely no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. This team hasn't proven a damn thing and they aren't owed anything. They have to go out there and prove that they're better than their ranking. If their entire write up had been just a bunch of question marks It would've been just as accurate.

The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Ah yeah forgot he had a "procedure". But it's July*, he has a couple months to heal.

*I meant the procedure was in July.

OrlDave wrote:

KingRobb02 wrote:

OrlDave wrote:
The text is fine, it's the number that's BS. We were 20th last year overall. One would expect us to be in that same vicinity this year or better as we fixed one of our major problems and improved our coach. Our bench, ostensibly improved as we replaced Jason Smith/AN with BB and Brandon Jennings with Meeks. Even if you dislike the Oladipo trade for it's long term issues, I don't think you can argue the starting lineup is worse THIS year by adding a defending stretch 4. So how are we averaging 24 in these lists?

Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Ah yeah forgot he had a "procedure". But it's July*, he has a couple months to heal.

*I meant the procedure was in July.

I was asking honestly.

KingRobb02 wrote:

OrlDave wrote:

KingRobb02 wrote:Well we fixed one problem and created others. No one seems to ackowledge that. People keep bringing up Meeks as if he will play a big role. When is his return date?

Ah yeah forgot he had a "procedure". But it's July*, he has a couple months to heal.

*I meant the procedure was in July.

I was asking honestly.

Roto world said he was out "indefinitely" which is short for "we don't know".