Magic's bad luck w/playoff matchups

Edrock · Post #1 » by **Edrock** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:40 pm

Magic playoff matchups have been horribly bad luck against the Magic AS (After Shaq). Goin' back to every playoff appearance since then, Orlando's matched up very poorly against the opposing teams, even the one time the Magic had a higher seed. (lockout shortened season when they were upset by Philly as the 3rd seed).

So there's that series (loss)
-vs- CHA Hornets (loss)
-vs- DET (the infamous T-Mac Guarantee)
-vs- DET (last season)

And this season I have a sinking feeling we'll see ATL in the 1st round (whom they seem to matchup poorly against). The only consolation I can take away is that this season the Magic have bucked a lot of longstanding trends (winning in LA, winning in DET, etc.) so even if they do matchup poorly in the 1st round I hope they can do well. This squad seems to be mentally tougher than in years past, and I think that will help them compete a bit better in the playoffs... Thoughts?

dieselpower · Post #2 » by **dieselpower** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:54 pm

Edrock wrote:Magic playoff matchups have been horribly bad luck against the Magic AS (After Shaq). Goin' back to every playoff appearance since then, Orlando's matched up very poorly against the opposing teams, even the one time the Magic had a higher seed. (lockout shortened season when they were upset by Philly as the 3rd seed).

So there's that series (loss)
-vs- CHA Hornets (loss)
-vs- DET (the infamous T-Mac Guarantee)
-vs- DET (last season)

And this season I have a sinking feeling we'll see ATL in the 1st round (whom they seem to matchup poorly against). The only consolation I can take away is that this season the Magic have bucked a lot of longstanding trends (winning in LA, winning in DET, etc.) so even if they do matchup poorly in the 1st round I hope they can do well. This squad seems to be mentally tougher than in years past, and I think that will help them compete a bit better in the playoffs... Thoughts?

Yeah.

For me, as a fan, it's feels real good to make it to the 2nd round...

aleZ · Post #3 » by **aleZ** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:14 pm

Edrock wrote:even if they do matchup poorly in the 1st round I hope they can do well. This squad seems to be mentally tougher than in years past, and I think that will help them compete a bit better in the playoffs... Thoughts?

Toronto and Atlanta are like kryptonite to this team, better hope someone else is waiting in the first round cuz it won't be pretty. Yes, the Magic can beat anyone, but some teams (Atlanta for one) just have their number.

Oh well, the Raps always rise in the second half of the season, and the Hawks look like they're in freefall mode, Bibby or not. Hironically, the Magic may find one of the biggest hurdles in the first round.

Cigamodnalro · Post #4 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:24 pm

Hoping for the Nets. In the perfect world, the Bulls or someone would creep into the playoffs and then take off against the Pistons in Round 1 too.

Last Guardian · Post #5 » by **Last Guardian** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:34 pm

aleZ wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Toronto and Atlanta are like kryptonite to this team, better hope someone else is waiting in the first round cuz it won't be pretty. Yes, the Magic can beat anyone, but some teams (Atlanta for one) just have their number.

Oh well, the Raps always rise in the second half of the season, and the Hawks look like they're in freefall mode, Bibby or not. Hironically, the Magic may find one of the biggest hurdles in the first round.

Yea, the Raps always rise in the second half of the season. Always obviously meaning last season, because they sucked before that.

cwas2882 · Post #6 » by **cwas2882** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:50 pm

Edrock wrote:Magic playoff matchups have been horribly bad luck against the Magic AS (After Shaq). Goin' back to every playoff appearance since then, Orlando's matched up very poorly against the opposing teams, even the one time the Magic had a higher seed. (lockout shortened season when they were upset by Philly as the 3rd seed).

So there's that series (loss)
-vs- CHA Hornets (loss)
-vs- DET (the infamous T-Mac Guarantee)
-vs- DET (last season)

And this season I have a sinking feeling we'll see ATL in the 1st round (whom they seem to matchup poorly against). The only consolation I can take away is that this season the Magic have bucked a lot of longstanding trends (winning in LA, winning in DET, etc.) so even if they do matchup poorly in the 1st round I hope they can do well. This squad seems to be mentally tougher than in years past, and I think that will help them compete a bit better in the playoffs... Thoughts?

Don't forget Miami in 97

J-Mezzy · Post #7 » by **J-Mezzy** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:54 pm

The Hawks are too young an unexperienced to pose a threat regardless of our season struggles against them. Bibby and Johnson have experience, but other than that, they are young and would fall apart IMO

aleZ · Post #8 » by **aleZ** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:56 pm

Solid Snake wrote:Yea, the Raps always rise in the second half of the season. Always obviously meaning last season, because they sucked before that.

Sorry I didn't mean to write "always", maybe "lately" or "usually" is closer to your tastes? You know Snake, if you wanna be a smartass with me, you've found decent competition

mhectorgato · Post #9 » by **mhectorgato** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:01 pm

J-Mezzy wrote:The Hawks are too young an unexperienced to pose a threat regardless of our season struggles against them. Bibby and Johnson have experience, but other than that, they are young and would fall apart IMO

But this is the Hawk's year - they're going to be competing for the top spot in the SE division!!!

Well at least that's what many were saying before the season started.

NEM · Post #10 » by **NEM** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:07 pm

don't forget milwaukee before the charlotte series

drsd · Post #11 » by **drsd** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:10 pm

This year's Magic is the most confident in years. I expect a playoff series victory.

Post #12 » by **craig01** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:16 pm

drsd wrote:This year's Magic is the most confident in years. I expect a playoff series victory.

Ditto.

NEM · Post #13 » by **NEM** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:17 pm

hopefully you're right, im sick of losing in the first round

EasternMagic · Post #14 » by **EasternMagic** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:15 pm

as of right now we would play washington right? im not really worried about it im confident itll be either washington, atl, or maybe the nets, or the sixers and we will dominate them (not worried about atl) i worry about the second round when it comes.

Idunkonyou2 · Post #15 » by **Idunkonyou2** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:19 pm

Magic will win in the 1st round. The problem is, we will likely face the Pistons in the 2nd round.

magicmamma · Post #16 » by **magicmamma** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:40 pm

If there is anyone in we meet in the first round of the playoffs that we can't beat in a seven game series, it's not bad luck. It just says we aren't good enough for the second round.

Idunkonyou2 · Post #17 » by **Idunkonyou2** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:44 pm

magicmamma wrote:If there is anyone in we meet in the first round of the playoffs that we can't beat in a seven game series, it's not bad luck. It just says we aren't good enough for the second round.

Especially this year.

mattyBoi · Post #18 » by **mattyBoi** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:46 am

magicmamma wrote:If there is anyone in we meet in the first round of the playoffs that we can't beat in a seven game series, it's not bad luck. It just says we aren't good enough for the second round.

x2

happypedro12 · Post #19 » by **happypedro12** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:13 am

Honestly the only 2 teams that i DO NOT want to face are Toronto and NJ. I think we could beat ATL (but it would be a long series)

lovehoops01 · Post #20 » by **lovehoops01** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:46 am

magicmamma wrote:If there is anyone in we meet in the first round of the playoffs that we can't beat in a seven game series, it's not bad luck. It just says we aren't good enough for the second round.

Regardless, it will be part of them growing up as a team. It has to be important enough to them to play their hardest every game to make it come true. That has been my contention about this team all along. Sometimes, they are outmatched, but more times than not when they lose, they don't win because they don't focus hard enough on doing the little things it takes to win on that particular night. To me, it's why Van Gundy goes on those rants. He knows what they are capable of, but they don't always do what they are capable of and that infuriates him.