Orlando is legit

TheToothFairy · Post #21 » by **TheToothFairy** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:52 am

That roster is Bad

Kudos to the Coach

I am sure the GM has mixed feelings about this...lol

DusterBuster · Post #22 » by **DusterBuster** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:54 am

They aren't legit, they're just mediocre like the rest of the NBA.

This NBA season has been marred with mediocrity so far. The amount of teams just hovering around that .500 has been pretty astonishing.

BD12 · Post #23 » by **BD12** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:54 am

TheToothFairy wrote:That roster is Bad

Kudos to the Coach

I am sure the GM has mixed feelings about this...lol

The roster is not bad. They have beaten quality teams too.

BD12 · Post #24 » by **BD12** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:55 am

DusterBuster wrote:They aren't legit, they're just mediocre like the rest of the NBA.

This NBA season has been marred with mediocrity so far. The amount of teams just hovering around that .500 has been pretty astonishing.

I can agree with that. By legit I didn't mean a "great" team but they're solid.

9abovetherim · Post #25 » by **9abovetherim** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:59 am

37 wins 11th in East.

J-Mezzy · Post #26 » by **J-Mezzy** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:02 am

I remember posting on the "Is the east playoff race over" thread a few weeks ago and writing not to count the Magic out yet. Most posters laughed when I said 35-40 wins were within reach. I stand by my statement. These guys play hard and give a full team effort every night out. I wouldn't be surprised if the squeezed in.

LEHGOCELTICS · Post #27 » by **LEHGOCELTICS** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:03 am

No, not really.

doct3r dr3 · Post #28 » by **doct3r dr3** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:04 am

we're definitely overachieving relative to preseason expectations. it occurred to me that COY talk is usually attendant with a team overachieving. anyone think jacque vaughn has a shot at COY, or is it mike woodson's to lose?

jernigan · Post #29 » by **jernigan** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:08 am

Beating my expectations to a pulp. I think they'll slip into the post season if they keep up this play.

sunskerr · Post #30 » by **sunskerr** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:13 am

They have Vucevic too. He's a young big whom is looking like a double-double threat.

cucad8 · Post #31 » by **cucad8** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:18 am

Bay Based wrote: I've definitely witnessed what the Magic have the potential of doing.

playing just enough mediocre players to hurt their chances at a worthwhile pick?

BD12 · Post #32 » by **BD12** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:21 am

cucad8 wrote:
Bay Based wrote: I've definitely witnessed what the Magic have the potential of doing.

playing just enough mediocre players to hurt their chances at a worthwhile pick?

If the 2013 draft really is underwhelming, dropping a few slots down the draft is no biggie.

Post #33 » by **Def Swami** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:22 am

cucad8 wrote:
Bay Based wrote: I've definitely witnessed what the Magic have the potential of doing.

playing just enough mediocre players to hurt their chances at a worthwhile pick?

It's really not a worthwhile pick.

cucad8 · Post #34 » by **cucad8** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:23 am

regardless of how underwhelming it is, higher is always better. Especially when you have little else to play for.

ManualRam · Post #35 » by **ManualRam** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:24 am

they're doing it wrong.
jacque vaughn is too good for his own good...or rather, the franchise's own good.

BD12 · Post #36 » by **BD12** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:26 am

cucad8 wrote:regardless of how underwhelming it is, higher is always better. Especially when you have little else to play for.

They have quite a few tradable assets too you know. While it is better to get a higher pick, not the end all be all since they have promising young players already anyway.

cucad8 · Post #37 » by **cucad8** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:29 am

BD12 wrote:
cucad8 wrote:regardless of how underwhelming it is, higher is always better. Especially when you have little else to play for.

They have quite a few tradable assets too you know.

and it's certainly not too late. I'm not trying to say they're making an attempt at an 8th seed. And also not saying the ONLY route is getting rid of everything and starting from scratch. But I don't see a huge need for guys like Nelson and JJ on the roster currently. And they can bring back value from other teams.
I just don't think scrapping and clawing to a potential 8th seed with a roster of nothing but role players is a good idea.

Cigamodnalro · Post #38 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:31 am

ManualRam wrote:they're doing it wrong.
jacque vaughn is too good for his own good...or rather, the franchise's own good.

Kind of sort of agree. I think that on a rebuilding team, the coach and the players need to do everything in their power to win basketball games and to cultivate a winning attitude and an expectation that the team show up and compete every night. Jacque and the personnel have certainly played their part thus far.

I think the General Manager, meanwhile, needs to do everything in his power to prevent his rebuilding team from winning TOO many games and from compromising future potential for present success. It's on Hennigan, now, to dilute the team's talent and pick up some future assets or youth along the way. Hennigan is half of the equation, and his ability to capitalize on veteran production at the trade deadline this year is especially necessary given how quickly this team is amassing wins.

RealGM poster "thelead" posted the following on the Magic forum, which I found interesting:

NBA Champions, their #1 and that player's draft pick:
1990 - Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas (#2 pick)
1991 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1992 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1993 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1994 - Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon (#1 pick)
1995 - Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon (#1 pick)
1996 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1997 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1998 - Chicago Bulls - Michael Jordan (#3 pick)
1999 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan (#1 pick)
2000 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq O'neal (#1 pick)
2001 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq O'neal (#1 pick)
2002 - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq O'neal (#1 pick)
2003 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan (#1 pick)
2004 - Detroit Pistons - Chauncey Billups (#3 pick)
2005 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan (#1 pick)
2006 - Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade (#5 pick)
2007 - San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan (#1 pick)
2008 - Boston Celtics - Kevin Garnett (#5 pick)
2009 - Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant (#13 pick who manipulated his way to LA)
2010 - Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant (#13 pick who manipulated his way to LA)
2011 - Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki (#9 pick)
2012 - Miami Heat - LeBron James (#1 pick)

No, 2013 doesn't look to be a great draft, or at least not a top-heavy one, but as cucad8 said above, higher IS better. This year, and especially in 2014.

BaunceyChillups · Post #39 » by **BaunceyChillups** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:53 am

I expect they'll do a late season tank after the deadline and go like 5-20

Without Redick the team's offense is pretty bad

ADRajX · Post #40 » by **ADRajX** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:40 am

(Unless they are out right tanking) I personally wouldn't be surprised if Orlando earned a 7-8th seed in the playoffs, barring any sort of trade (which could happen) that forces Orlando to tank even more.