Comments on: NBA Playoffs: Why the Magic can win it all and frustrate Cavs fans at the same time

By: Spicy_Tuna

Spicy_Tuna — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:34:52 +0000

Jace Hester, Like johnstamos said, the Cavs haven’t won a thing so no, it doesn’t take winning a title to gain respect. Sadly, it’s about money. Cavs & Lakers sell better than any other team so that’s what the media pushes and unfortunately most of the “Expert Analysts” you see on TV are former NBA players who don’t really analyze anything. Boxscore journalism and baseless bias is typical of them. Most recent example: Kenny Smith has the Hawks & Cavs in the ECF.
Kenny Smith thinks the Hawks perimeter players will shutdown Carter & Lewis. Magic went 3-1 vs the Hawks with a 17 pt victory (missing Jameer and Pietrus starting), a 32 point win (missing Vince Carter), an 18 point win (full strength Magic team) and a 2 point loss. The Hawks were at full strength all 4 games (2 b2b for the Magic and 2 b2b for the Hawks), shot below 40% in all 3 of their losses and shot 40.8% in their 2 point victory. Orlando won 3 games by an average of 22 points and lost 1 game by 2 points on an amazing play by Josh Smith.
I’m not saying Rashard & Vince haven’t struggled to score effeciently against ATL but Johnson & Smith have put up as bad if not worse offensive numbers (22 pts on 21 shots, 7pts on 9 shots, 17 on 17, 13 on 17 & 11 on 13). The thing is, every series for the Magic will be about Dwight Howard and not Vince or Rashard so how Kenny Smith doesn’t understand that or how he thinks Dwight/Gortat vs Horford/Zaza is a push is beyond me. Dwight in game 1: 22/17/4 in 41 minutes. Game 2: 12/7/4/3 in 23 minutes(32 pt blowout, Gortat saw 25 minutes in this game and grabbed 12 boards and 4 blocks) Game 3: 31/19/3 in 41 minutes. Game 4: 19/24/4 (2 steals) in 42 minutes. Those numbers are sickening.
Horford Game 1: 2/9/2. Game 2: 14/5/1 (6-7 shooting). Game 3: 4/4/1. Game 4: 12/11/2. Al hit his scoring average 0 times, his rebounding once and his block average 0 times.
I’m not saying the Hawks can’t upset the Magic if they meet in the 2nd round but to try and take a different angle on this matchup as Kenny Smith has done when clearly the Hawks have a Power Forward playing the C position against the most dominant C in the league is really weak of him and shows how bad the “Expert Analysts” are when considering that Kenny Smith is supposed to be one of the more knowledgeable ones (which he certainly isn’t). Entertaining? Absolutely. Insightful? Right…

By: johnstamos

johnstamos — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:38:28 +0000

The Cavs have never won a championship but still command respect. I think that in today’s media society, respect comes down to exposure. Lebron hasn’t played in weeks yet TV cameras and announcers always keep the focus on him. It doesn’t really have anything to do with team basketball when analysts make predictions more who is the best individual player and promote them as the eventual champs because win or lose its a great story. They finally make it and everybody was right and smart or they lose and nothing makes better press than an upset.

By: MagicPhan

MagicPhan — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:25:28 +0000

I was just listening so sports talk radio and the talking head was explaining why Cleveland will beat Orlando. It’s that bitter taste left in their mouths after losing to the Magic last year. Lest we forget that the Lakers won the championship final game in the Amway last season. And Howard and Nelson stayed on the floor to watch them celebrate on their court. You want bitter?
What Cleveland tasted was confectioner’s sugar compared to that. I won’t be surprised if the Magic take the ECF opener in Ohio.

By: Magician4

Magician4 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:56:18 +0000

I still remember some experts picking the Magic to finish 5th in the East behind the Celtics, Cavs, Hawks and Wizards (rolf!). It’s also a small market issue: it took the Spurs to win championship(s) to get respect from the so-called NBA analysts. The Magic can win it all, and I hope they will.

By: Jace Hester

Jace Hester — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:26:15 +0000

Awesome write up! All true but at the end of the day I think every team will respect the magic once they have actually gotten that first championship. It really establishes you as a franchise and what better way to get a franchise going than a championship in a brand new arena.