Are The Magic The Most Underrated Team In The NBA?

Angry Jimmy · Post #101 » by **Angry Jimmy** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 4:26 am

I say Hornets are way more underrated.

I was listening to ESPN 710 today in Los Angeles and they had the Lakers broadcast guy on talking about potential playoff matchups and contenders in the West.

He talked about how San Antonio was still number one until somebody beats them, then went on to mention how tough the Mavs and Suns will be in the playoffs. He then said Houston has elevated themselves to contenders with this winning streak. He also said Utah would be a tough matchup, and no one wants to face Golden State in the first round.

Never once though did he mention the team that has been in the top 3 out West all season, the New Orleans Hornets.

The team that currently sits, as I write this, just 1 game behind his Lakers, 3rd in the West.

This is pretty much everyone. Most so called experts don't even seem to know how well the 'Bees are playing this season.

I hear interview after interview about the West where they will mention the 7 other playoff teams as being contenders, and then dismiss the Hornets as if they are a .500 8th seed in the East.

The Hornets are 28-13 against the West, and 20-9 on the road. The only team in the NBA with a better road record in Boston at 20-8.

The struggled at home early in the season, but things have picked up there as well, as fans are finally pouring in to see this team, and their home record now sits at 22-10.

They have 11 games left against Western Conference teams and 10 against the East. If they go 14-7 in there final 21 games (which is below their current winning percentage) they will finish the season with 56 wins, and most likely a top 3 seed.

If the season ended today they would face Phoenix in the 1st round, a team they are 4-0 against this year.

Still no one even mentions them as having so much as an outside chance of making any noise come playoff time.

If that's not underrated, I don't know what is.

JD225 · Post #102 » by **JD225** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 4:43 am

No one is going to rank the Magic ahead of the Cavs and I'm not sure I see them as favorites in a series against Toronto just because of the matchups.

They have had a GREAT season, but like all young teams they need to win a playoff series convincingly to get the hype some of their fans think they deserve.

KiDdFrESh · Post #103 » by **KiDdFrESh** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 4:55 am

Most underrated teams in the league are hands down the Hornets and Rockets. Most overrated Dallas and Pheonix. Magic are right where they are suppose to be... a middle of the pact team in the oh so weak Eastern Conference. You could possible make an argument that they might be better than Cleveland and thats a huge maybe.

JT3000 · Post #104 » by **JT3000** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 6:26 am

I like how 40 wins in the West is OMGZ ELITEZERZZZ!!11111 while 40 wins in the East is "middle of the pack."

Again, the hypocrisy is astounding.

richboy wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

No a bully would be someone that beats up on the weak but when someone there own size comes around they back down. Right now seems like were in a mindset lets kill the Nets, 76ers, Heat, etc. Lets just play well against the upper elite teams in the league.

The Magic are winning the season series with the top seeds in the East. Your point is invalid.

lovehoops01 · Post #105 » by **lovehoops01** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 7:41 am

I do agree that the Hornets are getting pretty much the same treatment in the West as the Magic are getting in the East. People are saying, "Chris Paul is having a great season, but.....'' kind of like, "Dwight Howard is great, but....''

For both teams, it's like the analysts think they didn't win any games to get to the spot in their conference where they are. In the case of you comparing the Magic against the West teams, I think you are kind of missing the point. The main complaint, I think, was the Magic have the third-most wins in the East but they are given almost no chance of beating the teams with the fourth-, fifth- or maybe even sixth-best records in the East. They did have to get some wins -- including against the teams they are ahead of and even some they are behind -- to get to No. 3. I think that's the main complaint.

Post #106 » by **MagicMadness** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 5:37 pm

JT3000 wrote:I like how 40 wins in the West is OMGZ ELITEZERZZZ!!11111 while 40 wins in the East is "middle of the pack."

Again, the hypocrisy is astounding.

-= original quote snipped =-

The Magic are winning the season series with the top seeds in the East. Your point is invalid.

Because the West is SO much harder than the East, that's why...

Edit: And no, people aren't calling those teams "elite". But 40 wins in the West is far more impressive than 40 wins in the East.

Post #107 » by **bleu** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 5:42 pm

I've watched a lot of the Magic on NBALP and they honestly look like a really good team. I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the ECF this year.

MagicalMan · Post #108 » by **MagicalMan** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:31 pm

vainsake wrote:I've watched a lot of the Magic on NBALP and they honestly look like a really good team. I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the ECF this year.

shh, thats RealGM blasphemy.

PimpORL · Post #109 » by **PimpORL** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:34 pm

It's funny, because take out the 16-4 and we're still 3rd in the East ranking-wise. A lot of our losses were stupid ones against bad teams. Magic might not be the most underrated, but Cavs are definitely the most overrated.

NetsForce · Post #110 » by **NetsForce** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:36 pm

I'm lukewarm on the Magic one game they'll look great the next game they'll have you rolling on the floor laughing with the amount of ridiculously dumb threes they manage to get up (yeah Keith Bogans I'm calling you out!)...

PimpORL · Post #111 » by **PimpORL** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:38 pm

NetsForce wrote:I'm lukewarm on the Magic one game they'll look great the next game they'll have you rolling on the floor laughing with the amount of ridiculously dumb threes they manage to get up (yeah Keith Bogans I'm calling you out!)...

The ONLY one who takes ridiculously dumb threes is Keith Bogans.

PimpORL · Post #112 » by **PimpORL** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:40 pm

KiDdFrESh wrote:Most underrated teams in the league are hands down the Hornets and Rockets. Most overrated Dallas and Pheonix. Magic are right where they are suppose to be... a middle of the pact team in the oh so weak Eastern Conference. You could possible make an argument that they might be better than Cleveland and thats a huge maybe.

lol no.

celticfan42487 · Post #113 » by **celticfan42487** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:42 pm

Well as the third seed they'll have plenty of opportunity to prove there underated in the playoffs.

Bos in second round, probuly DET maybe CLE in ECF

Train Wreck · Post #114 » by **Train Wreck** » Sat Mar 8, 2008 10:21 pm

celticfan42487 wrote:Well as the third seed they'll have plenty of opportunity to prove there underated in the playoffs.

Bos in second round, probuly DET maybe CLE in ECF

Wouldn't it be Detroit in the 2nd and Bos/Cleveland in the ECF.....

richboy · Post #115 » by **richboy** » Sun Mar 9, 2008 1:10 am

JT3000 wrote:I like how 40 wins in the West is OMGZ ELITEZERZZZ!!11111 while 40 wins in the East is "middle of the pack."

Again, the hypocrisy is astounding.

-= original quote snipped =-

The Magic are winning the season series with the top seeds in the East. Your point is invalid.

Yet not even Magic fans consider them close to those teams. Most fans are expecting second round and out.

celticfan42487 · Post #116 » by **celticfan42487** » Sun Mar 9, 2008 2:22 am

Train Wreck wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Wouldn't it be Detroit in the 2nd and Bos/Cleveland in the ECF.....

yeah it would. I still have hopes for a CLE/DET series though instead. Almost makes me think BOS would be better off to lose the first seed just so they don't have to face LeBron in the second round and DET does before the ECF