Is it me or does anybody else feel the Magic beat themselves

[mhectorgato]

I think that had as much to do with the Pistons as it did with your players NOT STEPPING UP. Tay, Sheed and Dyess are all good defenders (with Dyess being the worst of the 3) and they got inside the Magic players heads. They took away what that trio does best. Many of those turnovers were forced by the magic players being kept off-balance. They played out of place a majority of the series and then when they did get a few of their normal possessions where they are usually comfortable or successful, they fumbled away passes, dribbled off their feet and rushed their decisions. I never felt like the Magic players got "comfortable in their roles" under the defensive adjustments the Pistons made to take them out of their comfort zones. The Magic looked rattled at most times and I think that had mostly to do with the Pistons.

I agree - that's why I've said there's truth in your posts.

Though you expect certain players to step it up. Lewis did a good job in our win, but not in other games.

Part of that is the inexperience of our guys verses your battle tested background.

[richboy]

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I predicted mid to upper 40s ( 46-48 ) and I was wrong.

We were 15.5% better than you predicted ... and you weren't wrong?

We really slowed down towards the end of the season. Had we kept up our focus, we could - probably should - have had 55 wins. Would you be wrong then?

I already answered the question with my reasoning.

If they won 55 games I would have still said the same thing. This was a unique season in the NBA. 12 teams were around 50 wins. If they had won 3 more games I would still say they were about the 12th best team and likely couldn't make the playoffs in the Western Conference. The Magic won more games than I expected. They were only slightly better than I expected.

I think the biggest question about our season is how good are we? We won 50 games but probably not a top 10 team. Matter of fact when you break down the Magic wins vs different level of competition you find there very compariable to the Sacramento Kings. Except the Kings played a lot more games against elite teams and the Magic played a lot more against Mediocre teams. We had 1 home win against the top 9 teams in the West. Now we just finish a series where the Pistons lost there best player yet was still in control of most of the action. The only home team to loose in the second round is us in a game without Billups.

If you ask me were an above average team but the gap between us and the elite is huge. I think we need an upgrade in the backcourt, a better bench, and a even more improved Dwight Howard just to get into the conversation.

[mhectorgato]

I already answered the question with my reasoning.

If your prediction didn't come about, then you were wrong (like I was) .. simple math: 53 > 47. Regardless of the reasons, we both - as were many others - were wrong.

If you ask me were an above average team but the gap between us and the elite is huge. I think we need an upgrade in the backcourt, a better bench, and a even more improved Dwight Howard just to get into the conversation.

You'll find no argument from me in that regard. I certainly don't want to stand still. This year's performance sets the bar for next season.

I've said we need a slasher at the 2, we're getting depth with our bigs - but another vet would be nice, and lastly a real PG backup.

[craig01]

Now the pressure is on Smith, and to back up what the he has chosen.

This team was not ready to contend this year NO MATTER WHO they could have tried to get.

People bashing Smith this year were premature. You must let his "plan" lay itself out.

This off season, everyone can take the gloves off if the Magic prove to be cap strapped.

I'll reserve judgment until later.

[Bucs80]

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Were the Cavs worth 100% effort last season?

Yeah, they didn't give the Cavs a serious look. But I think they were suprised to see that the Cavs wouldn't give up. Rasheed might have been the only guy pissed that they did lose the series. But Chauncey Billups losing that game 5 game. In the Post game, he had some R&B music in the back round in th interview and he looked like he was having a good time.

[ivDT]

inferior teams often do things to beat themselves.

[Rccanes2311]

No one on this board can seriously say the Magic are better. The Pistons have so much more depth and are more talented. Starting their better at pg,sg,sf is equal, pf i really don't know cause what the hell happened to lewis after his 30 pt game dude can go enjoy his money no heart at all. C wash I'm sorry but Sheed played better than Howard this series. Now lets not even go into depth. At PG their back is better than all our pg's. SG they have better depth. SF we win that because of lewis and hedo. PF we have no one who's even serviceable at the position. C I'll give us that just because its Howard and even though he didn't really show up except a couple of games this series.

[SoulJah]

excuses are made when the team loses in 7 games on the buzzer beater, when you lose to series 4-1 without the other team's best player for half the series, there is only one explanation..."detroit is a better and an elite team to magic"

and i'm sorry to say tayshaun prince, at least in this series was better than lewis and hedo because it was his defensive plays that won detroit the series. Prince made Hedo disappear for most of the game and Lewis, well lets just say he just cashed in a big cheque (or should I say just won a lottery).

[drsd]

inferior teams often do things to beat themselves.

Yes.

Let's take the Magic as an example. Orlando would have been a 60 win team this year if they lowered their TOs per game to below 12 per game AND got their FT percentage above 78%. The Magic lose games because of execution problems. Plain and simple!

For comparisons, the teams with TOs at or below 12 per game were Detroit, Toronto, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Dallas.

For comparisons, the teams with FT% above 78% were Dallas, Toronto, Sacramento, Phoenix, Washington, and LA Clippers.