Paper Tigers

[happypedro12]

So I was reading the nba writers roundup today and I found that we're not even a real team pretty much. Despite having a better record than the cavs, and being the three seed, all the writers are positive that the only teams in the east worth mentioning are Detroit, Boston, Cleveland and Toronto. One writer says the Magic would be good if we didn't have a questionable PG situation. Another writer called us "paper tigers", all the while completely dismissing what we have accomplished as a team. It kinda pisses me off, but thats fine, let them sleep on us. When we go in and beat one of those "big three", we'll see whose laughing last.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=Roundtable-East

[happypedro12]

lol real quick, JA adande is the only one giving us any love:

J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Why not the Magic? If their 3-pointers are dropping and Dwight Howard is dominating inside, they're a good team. Hedo Turkoglu is a tough matchup, too, because he can shoot outside and take defenders off the dribble.



Orlando was the first team to beat Boston. It's 2-1 against the Celtics and 2-1 against the Pistons. People limit the Eastern Conference discussion to three teams, but don't forget the Magic have a better record than the Cavaliers.

[MagicMadness]

Not putting us in the same context as Boston and Detroit is completely acceptable; not putting us in the same context as Cleveland is understandable; mentioning Toronto but not Orlando? That one just doesn't seem right.

[macdalejax]

That's okay with me. Everyone was sleeping on Detroit and San Antonio during their rise to the top several years back. We have a very young team and look what we are accomplishing already. Just imagine what it will be like for us and the rest of the league over the next 5-10 years. Superman will just get better and better. Oh yeah, we also have one of the best coaches in the league in SVG. Exciting times to be a magic fan. After the misery of the last few years we are finally turning the corner.

[drsd]

It is my opinion that little separates Orlando, Toronto, and Cleveland. You could make a case that any of these three could knock off the big two come playoff time.

[mhectorgato]

So far we've not proven much to be considered more than a "paper tiger".

We've improved over last year - in record, coaching and player. But it don't mean a thing unless we get past round #1.

[EasternMagic]

lol real quick, JA adande is the only one giving us any love:

J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Why not the Magic? If their 3-pointers are dropping and Dwight Howard is dominating inside, they're a good team. Hedo Turkoglu is a tough matchup, too, because he can shoot outside and take defenders off the dribble.



Orlando was the first team to beat Boston. It's 2-1 against the Celtics and 2-1 against the Pistons. People limit the Eastern Conference discussion to three teams, but don't forget the Magic have a better record than the Cavaliers.

we are 2-2 vs the pistons... but notheless i love J.A. Adande, i watch around the horn and he always makes the most sense so im not surprised he said this.

[MagicMadness]

It is my opinion that little separates Orlando, Toronto, and Cleveland. You could make a case that any of these three could knock off the big two come playoff time.

I do believe Cleveland deserves higher mention that the Magic, though. Two seasons ago, they forced a game 7 against Detroit in the second round; last season, they advanced to the Finals. Until further notice, they are a notch above the Magic (who got swept in the first round last season).

We are enjoying a better regular season right now, but with LeBron, things tend to even out in the playoffs (having Wallace will definitely help come the playoffs as well).

[Cigamodnalro]

2. Dwight Howard. It's easy to overlook Orlando's 40 victories and dismiss the team as a paper tiger, but it isn't. And the main reason is Superman, whom no one in the Eastern Conference can contain. If he ever could shoot FTs at an 80 percent clip, he'd win an MVP award or two.

Looks like you might have taken things out of context a bit...

[happypedro12]

ESPN wrote:
2. Dwight Howard. It's easy to overlook Orlando's 40 victories and dismiss the team as a paper tiger, but it isn't. And the main reason is Superman, whom no one in the Eastern Conference can contain. If he ever could shoot FTs at an 80 percent clip, he'd win an MVP award or two.


Looks like you might have taken things out of context a bit...

Yea but that and the Adande quote were the only 2 that even mentioned the magic

[Shishnizzle]

I'm glad thier not riding our jock like they do the these other teams. They don't cover basketball. They cover the stars they want to shove down your throat. They need big markets to sell thier crap to. I prefer they don't like our team because as soon as they do. They will be the ones defining who we are as a team, and they really don't have alot of knowledge when it comes to the actuall game. I prefer to know my team by the way I define it, not espn. They take the fun out of the game and I would rather not be recognized.

[drsd]

I do believe Cleveland deserves higher mention that the Magic, though. Two seasons ago, they forced a game 7 against Detroit in the second round; last season, they advanced to the Finals. Until further notice, they are a notch above the Magic (who got swept in the first round last season).

We are enjoying a better regular season right now, but with LeBron, things tend to even out in the playoffs (having Wallace will definitely help come the playoffs as well).

I can see how you come to this idea. And I think most agree. But I do not see Cleveland as a team on equal footing to either Detroit (less depth) or Boston (less talent). Orlando is to me a more similar team. Both have a dominant figure. Some nice robins to a batman. Some depth. And big holes. That translates about equal to me.

[Shishnizzle]

I don't mind that they don't like us as a contender. They are probally right on that one. My problem is, they can't cover us without the disclaimer, "but I don't believe the Magic are for real". They don't even have to be talking playoffs. Almost every time they are discussing the Magic, you will get the disclaimer.

[happypedro12]

I don't mind that they don't like us as a contender. They are probally right on that one. My problem is, they can't cover us without the disclaimer, "but I don't believe the Magic are for real". They don't even have to be talking playoffs. Almost every time they are discussing the Magic, you will get the disclaimer.

I know exactly, i don't know what we have to do to get rid of that.........well yes i do. We gotta win the first round to take that label off of us

[Big A All Day]

We just gotta go out there and show the haters how its done. We are 10x better than we were last year. And i think signing Stan Van has the most 2 do with it. Give him his props-Best coach weve ever had. Also we playing good ball right now ( 6 out of last 7 Wins and last 2 blowouts JJ+Gorat time ) if we keep this good rythm going into the playoffs WE WILL MAKE THEM START 2 TALK.

[craig01]

Right now, I'd have to agree with the paper tiger label.

The only thing that changes that is success in the playoffs.

Personally, I think it's a great motivator come playoff time.

[MagicMadness]

I'm grateful for the paper tiger label.

It's a big step up for us this...decade.

[AdamTheGreek]

I love flying under-the-radar.
SVG needs to post the negative or nonacknowledged comments on the players' lockers to keep them motivated.

[lovehoops01]

I haven't read it yet. Were the Hornets paper tigers, too? Because so far, they have done even less than the Magic in terms of the playoffs.

[EasternMagic]

paper tiger sounds like a band name