Poll: Predict the Number of Regular Season Wins for the Orlando Magic

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Diversions

Following the lead of two excellent Boston Celtics sites in the blogosphere, CelticsBlog & Celtics Hub, I wanted to conduct a quick poll with the 3QC community this morning to see what expectations Orlando Magic fans have for the upcoming year, with regards to the team's win total. If you haven't read already, ESPN.com projected the Magic to finish the 2009-2010 regular season with a 56-26 record. For those counting at home, that's three wins less than the past year's total.

Is that right? Is that wrong? Let your thoughts be known in the comments section.

Personally, I'd wait until Basketball Prospectus crunches the numbers and reveals its projection before starting a ruckus over how many wins Orlando should have.

But that's just me.

Poll

How many games will the Orlando Magic win during the 2009-2010 regular season?

50-53

4 votes

54-57

48 votes

58-61

180 votes

62-65

117 votes

349 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I am not joking

When I say I thought we could give a good push for the record @ 70 wins.
This was before Shard got suspended 3 games so I will lower my projection to 67 – 15
This isn’t crazy talk, if you look at our schedule besides multiple games with Cleveland and Boston We really have a soft setup this year. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2009/09/70-magic-games-to-air-on-sun-sports-and-fox-sports-florida.html
I couldnt count more than 15 losses no matter how hard I tried.

Thats me chilling with Nick Anderson

by The Magic made Lebron run off the court on Sep 4, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

* suspended 10 games

Thats me chilling with Nick Anderson

by The Magic made Lebron run off the court on Sep 4, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Whoa, is that Bob Vander Weide in the lower-left of that picture?

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Sep 4, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, yes it is.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Regular Season Wins

The number of wins is not what Magic fans should be thinking about. How many wins we get compared to Cleveland and Boston is more important.

Because of the suspension at the beginning of the season to Rashard Lewis and growing competition in the Eastern Conference, I think it is fair to say that Cleveland, Boston and Orlando will win fewer games this year. Of course, that does not mean we could eke out Boston or Cleveland for the No. 2 seed which is what really matters.

Philip,
The Curse of the Big Aristotle
http://bigaristotle.blogspot.com/

by philrsquared on Sep 4, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

I think Rashard's suspension with have little to no bearing on the end result of seedings.

The Magic are going to win nearly all the games without him, sans against the Cavaliers (still winnable).

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Why isn't there a 66+ option???

This team is capable of putting up an astronomical win total. And even if they don’t get 66 wins, it is certainly within the realm of possibility.

It's not a dunk unless your hand makes contact with the rim. Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, "Superman..."

by ben_gleicher on Sep 4, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

I wanted to hone in on projections.

.. and I personally don’t expect Orlando to win that many games, though I could easily be wrong.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

i'd say 63 or 64

although really, anything between 55-70 is possible, i guess.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Sep 4, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

Orlando Is not winning 70 games. No way

Do not try it. I will call you on it every time. No one likes the smell of S*it, especially Bull S*it

by BS Patrol on Sep 4, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

68-14

Say what you will. I too noticed no 66+ win projection, AS if this is not EVEN possible.

Do not try it. I will call you on it every time. No one likes the smell of S*it, especially Bull S*it

by BS Patrol on Sep 4, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

Orlando isn't winning 68 games, no way.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

by bandrewg08 on Sep 4, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting post,at least.

by Dzogi on Sep 5, 2009 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe this is wishfull thinking, but...

i really like the team we got so look for the Magic to set a franchise record!

by lugowsky on Sep 4, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

I second that

by pianolady on Sep 4, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Orlando can certainly set the franchise records for wins, sure.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Count me in.

by Dzogi on Sep 5, 2009 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

btw

i refuse to vote, just a little superstitious

by lugowsky on Sep 4, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Me too.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Sep 4, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

If we're built to win it all this season, I don't see why we shouldn't expect over 65 wins.

If we’re constantly correcting the pundits over who the superior team in the east is (Orlando or Boston in my opinion for a very close tossup), then we should be expecting to put down pretty much everyone else in the east, everyone int he west but LA, and maybe 10% shrinkage from whatever befalls us along the way. Based off my look at the schedule, I don’t see 70 wins out of the realm of possibility at all.

This is all of course barring injury or global destruction.

by farfromfl on Sep 4, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

I am inclined to think the same

But someone with much more knowledge than me stated That, No way that will happen.

I tend to listen to those who are better versed in a subject than I.

Do not try it. I will call you on it every time. No one likes the smell of S*it, especially Bull S*it

by BS Patrol on Sep 4, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Winning 70+ games is a near impossible task.

It takes an insane level of discipline to accomplish such a feat. There’s a reason why it’s only been done once, and that’s because you have to get up to play every single game. Can’t afford a single letdown.

Orlando is talented, but I have a hard time seeing the team win more than 65 games.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

Plus,there’s no need to put such an effort in it,and risk a lot doing that

by Dzogi on Sep 5, 2009 3:26 AM EDT up reply actions

68-70 wins is tough

For that to happen, Jameer has to be the same player for the whole season that he was for the first 45 games last year. That’s a definite question mark.

Vince Carter has to come in and anchor the offense as an all-star level scorer, distributor, and playmaker. People who are questioning Vince I think are sleeping but it’s still somewhat of a question how he fits in and what the the transition will be like getting there. He also will need to buy into SVG’s defensive program, which I expect he will do given the type of professional he is at this stage in his career, but again, still a question mark.

Brandon Bass needs to be everything the Magic have been missing in an athletic, physical power forward — one who can be a solid weakside rebounder and effective post defender/banger. I’m buying that, but still not a settled matter at all. Rashard can’t have any sort of drop off shooting wise and needs to continue to stay healthy. Pietrus needs to stay healthy and consistent. Barnes has to find a productive supporting role. Basically, a lot of things have to come together for the Magic to even have the chance at 70. And then on top of that, they can’t have any letdowns.

The ace in the hole though is Dwight Howard. If he takes the same sort of step developmentally that he’s made every year he’s been in the league, all bets are off. If that jump shot really starts to show up this year, it’s all over. I’m skeptical but certainly am not writing it off. We will see

by CaliFlorida on Sep 4, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

I'd put the over under at 63-64 wins for this team

They are talented and deep enough that a win total in the high 60’s is a realistic possibility if things go right. Anything under 60 is a huge disappointment for this roster.

by CaliFlorida on Sep 4, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a low-60's win total is an attainable goal for the Magic.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

The most important thing is the magic shoot for a first seed. Hard to do with Lewis out for 10 games, but not impossible. If the magic can stay even to within 2 games of cleveland and boston then we can
shoot for the moon. it’s not good to expect the team to look beyond the first 10 games. It’s not good to
create an expectation on the part of the fans to do it either. This is a great team with star power. Unfortunately we are spotting the league lewis for 10. Not the way I play my cards.

by domprime1 on Sep 4, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see how it's hard to do with Lewis out the first 10 games.

No disrespect to the other teams, but the only opponent that will test Orlando during that timeframe will be Cleveland. I’ll go ahead and chalk that up as a loss, given Rashard’s extreme importance in that matchup but even then, going 9-1 or 8-2 isn’t necessarily going to cost the Magic the #1 seed.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh and by the way

I think the Magic can win a championship with Dwight staying at the same level he’s at currently – i.e. last season. People always say Dwight needs to improve a little on offense for the Magic to have a shot at a championship. I couldn’t disagree more. As long as Dwight keeps rebounding, defending, blocking shots, and dunking on people at his current rate, the Magic are set at the 5. Anything beyond that is a luxury. With Dwight’s current level of production, it’s up to the rest of the roster to finish the job. And this roster looks fully capable of doing that.

by CaliFlorida on Sep 4, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

In General I agree. If Bass becomes the beast on the boards, then Howard can be more offensive. maybe up his average to 25 per game.

by domprime1 on Sep 4, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Just to further prove my rationale for not adding a 66+ wins option.

There have only been 10 teams in the NBA that have won 66 games or more; a difficult feat to accomplish.

That isn’t to say Orlando can’t do it, but it just doesn’t seem realistic to think about.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

WIth all you have presented I agree that 66 wins is indeed a Difficult task

Thanks for the research!

Do not try it. I will call you on it every time. No one likes the smell of S*it, especially Bull S*it

by BS Patrol on Sep 4, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not trying to damper expectations, but I am trying to keep things in perspective.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 4, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

You did it in a respectful and non condesending fashion.

Which invited me to take off the homer glasses and think clearly.

I hope we break 60. that would make me Happy.

Do not try it. I will call you on it every time. No one likes the smell of S*it, especially Bull S*it

by BS Patrol on Sep 4, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Certainly possible.

Like I said above, I think a low-60’s win total is absolutely attainable.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Sep 5, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

60+ wins looks like a lock …. assuming good health of course.

65+ wins is fair game. I actually think all three of the elite teams in the East will be above 60 and have a good shot at 65+ games, with Boston having a shot at 70 wins (they never take games off!!).

nbaroundtable

by NBR on Sep 6, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions