The Magic are all smoke and mirrors

[DaRizzle]

So I wanted to see how Orlando was doing a little more in depth than their record. I looked at who they beat and who they lost to with that 16-5 record of theirs. Its amazing how many crappy teams they have played so far. On top of that it seems almost any game they played against a halfway decent opponent they lost.

Wins:
Sac
Chi
Phil
Wash
OKC
Mavs (won by 2)
Char
Tor
Ind
Mil
Phil
Wash
Ind
Minn
OKC
LAC

Losses:
Atl
Mem
Por
Hou
Bos

I mean just look at the records of the teams they beat! Virtually all crap. The Mavs was their only halfway decent opponent they beat, and it was only by two! Any other decent team they lost to...and they also pulled off losing to MEM.

They have beaten ONE team with a winning record!!!

That 16-5 record isnt nearly as impressive when you break it down.

 

[THE HCP]

Nice work Rizz! We are going to kill them tonight!

 

[DaRizzle]

Nice work Rizz! We are going to kill them tonight!

I was leaning to saying ORL would beat you guys tonight but after seeing this Im having major 2nd thoughts

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I see your point Darizzle . . . but Dwight Howard is not smoke and mirrors . . . he is big, strong and can flat out ball.

Orlando has done what they needed to do with their early schedule and that was to win a majority of those games. I think that team is for real . . . but then again so are the Blazers.

 

[alex42083]

That really is a hell of a cupcake schedule, and they needed a 29-13 fourth-quarter to barely beat the Clips last night. They're still a good team, though. No Pietrus for awhile will hurt them, and they have no bench really.
I think we'll pull it off tonight and wear them down.

 

[THE HCP]

Maybe we can get D12 to SMOKE some chronic and then hit him in the head with a MIRROR!

 

[DaRizzle]

Maybe we can get D12 to SMOKE some chronic and then hit him in the head with a MIRROR!

lol..I was rather proud of the title I can up with...very fitting

 

[drexlersdad]

plus they have played 12 of 21 at home.

 

[DaRizzle]

I see your point Darizzle . . . but Dwight Howard is not smoke and mirrors . . . he is big, strong and can flat out ball.

Orlando has done what they needed to do with their early schedule and that was to win a majority of those games. I think that team is for real . . . but then again so are the Blazers.

I never said Dwight was not good, just the team...so far. I know I cant lay the blame on them for having an easy schedule but they have not proved anything. It could be that they have had such an easy schedule that when a good team came around they werent ready for it...like they were used to playing down to their opponents and then got a smack in the face when they realized they were playing a team that could actually compete.

 

[DaRizzle]

Maybe we can get D12 to SMOKE some chronic and then hit him in the head with a MIRROR!

Bowls on me when you come to LA!

 

[drexlersdad]

looking at some stats, this is off topic but damn, the cavs have an average margin of victory of ALMOST 20 the last ten games. crazy.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Philly, Toronto, and Indiana aren't bad wins at all, imo. And Dallas was a solid win. But you make a good point. They are also comin' to our house, and earlier, we went to THEIR house and beat them. We also did this w/o Greg Oden. And no matter the hate Greg gets, we are sooo much better with him on this team... our D is better, our O is better, the fact that we can always have a defensive presence in...

So all signs say that we SHOULD win. But this is why they play the game. Either way, Orlando didn't pick their schedule, and they did what they had to do. They won most of their games, and 4 of their 5 losses are to probably playoff teams.

I can't wait for this game. I'm happy we are back home. I want to see how the team responds after that raod trip. I love watching my Blazers play, and I want to watch Howard vs Oden and see how much work Oden still has to do (like we saw after Shaq).

Can't wait! Go Blazers!

*Good post DaRizzle, btw*

 

[MIXUM]

hope tonight somebody can call me out on this but saying the magic are smoke and mirrors will look really stupid after they hand us our first loss at home.

 

[DaRizzle]

Philly, Toronto, and Indiana aren't bad wins at all, imo.

FYI: They have a combined record of 24-36...not the worst ever, but not good at all

 

[MrJayremmie]

Yeah, but they aren't bad teams. I actually think 2 of those 3 will make the playoffs (probably Philly and Toronto) and Indy has beaten Boston and LA! LoL!

 

[DaRizzle]

Indy has beaten Boston and LA!

Im sooooo glad Ind beat Bos or I know I would be even getting more shit from some of you on that loss to them

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we match up with them well. They have some pretty good shooters and a low post star. If we can get Howard in foul trouble though, that would make things a lot easier.

 

[Shooter]

FYI: They have a combined record of 24-36...not the worst ever, but not good at all

Love your signature pic . . . I swear that's Joel Przybilla swimming with Jessica Alba. Go, Joel!

 

[DaRizzle]

Love your signature pic . . . I swear that's Joel Przybilla swimming with Jessica Alba. Go, Joel!

Thanks...but you are about a year late on that compliment

 

[hasoos]

I watched the game against the Clippers last night. The Magic won but the Clippers made a couple of runs at them. Also while Howard got 22, 22 and 6, he was being guarded by Zbo most of the night. That should about say it all.

 

[KingSpeed]

Was Orlando supposed to go 21-0 to be impressive? I think beating bad teams is the sign of being a great team.

 

[DaRizzle]

Was Orlando supposed to go 21-0 to be impressive? I think beating bad teams is the sign of being a great team.

You are missing the point

 

[Uther TheGardener]

no great teams win against good teams and crush bad teams

 

[Natebishop3]

hope tonight somebody can call me out on this but saying the magic are smoke and mirrors will look really stupid after they hand us our first loss at home.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=""></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[BalancedMan]

ESPN Fan Streak odds have us winning at 70%.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Those in LA are usually more acquainted with coke and mirrors.

 

[andalusian]

We won against them on their court without Oden (when we were the worst defensive team in the league) by 7 - with D-12 abusing us.

The Magic are not as good as their record, plain and simple.

 

[Nikolokolus]

This thread has all the makings of a DaRizzle trap; he sets up Orlando as a bogus team, and then if the Blazers don't hold serve on their home court he gets to come back in and talk shit, if we win it's because we were supposed to.

Well played sir, well played.

 

[DaRizzle]

This thread has all the makings of a DaRizzle trap; he sets up Orlando as a bogus team, and then if the Blazers don't hold serve on their home court he gets to come back in and talk shit, if we win it's because we were supposed to.

Well played sir, well played.

lol...you give me too much credit

 

[Minstrel]

Well, any game against a team starting Redick is a must-win, IMO. Redick and Bogans, I believe, is their backcourt. That's a backcourt that Roy should shred and Blake should have no defensive troubles against.

I like the idea of having Batum make things tough on Turkoglu. And while Howard is a major stud, Przybilla and Oden, combined, have been providing stud production and defense at the center position. Orlando has no answers for Aldridge, Fernandez or Outlaw.

The Blazers definitely seem like the better team, by quite a lot. But they still have to play well.