Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Ray Allen Fighting Age, Injury And His New Role

Why the East will remain the Magic's to lose.

It seems there's almost a natural law of mediocrity in the NBA. In situations where free agency creates opportunities for dynasties to be made, it never happens. Thirteen years ago when the Magic had room to sign Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady, what happened? A whole lot of mediocrity. It just didn't work.

Championship teams are not built by free agency acquisitions. And the circus of 2010 will prove no different. Here's why:

1) All Miami has done is bring in Chris Bosh. This is essentially the same Miami team, plus Bosh. But Bosh is not a complete player, nor is he accustomed to playing behind or even along with someone as dynamic as Dwyane Wade. Bosh's scoring numbers are inflated due to being the best scorer on a weak team. The fact that his rebounding, blocks and assist figures aren't considerably higher is pretty telling. He is no Pau Gasol.

2) The Knicks will continue to suck, even with Lebron. Okay, maybe not suck. But to an even greater extent, pairing Lebron with Amare Stoudemire does not a dynasty make. Like Bosh, Amare's numbers are inflated -- particularly his scoring, due to playing in Steve Nash's offense. Lebron's unselfishness should benefit Amare's scoring, but what about his other responsibilities on the low post (rebounding, blocks, assists)? Would this honestly be a more dynamic situation for Lebron than he had in Cleveland? And...

3) If Lebron stays in Cleveland, the city will implode and form an uninhabitable crater. Even if Lebron is able to lure Carlos Boozer (shouldn't be difficult) this is the same Cleveland Cavaliers team, plus Carlos Boozer. Boozer is a great player, sure. But does he alone bring more than JJ Hickson, Antawn Jamison and Anderson Verejao combined? Were the 2009/10 Cleveland Cavaliers not already a venerable NBA All Star team? Carlos Boozer simply doesn't do enough to change the game in Cleveland. Once the 2010 Playoffs roll around, and the Cavs are making their familiar early exit, this city will literally self-destruct. Better to let Lebron go now, and let Cleveland continue its slow (albeit comfortable) midwestern death.

Given that Orlando returns all of its key players, with Dwight Howard (hopefully) more focused on improving his offensive game, and Stan Van Gundy more willing to play a traditional lineup and maximize our potential in the low post, the Magic are going to contend for the Eastern Conference again in 2010/11. Whether or not they will have the pieces to take down a team like the Lakers remains to be seen.

But, as far as I can tell, they should have all the pieces to take down the rest of the East when the free agency dust settles.

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

Comment 17 comments  |  1 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Just one point about Boozer coming to Cleveland

I’m sure stranger things have happened, but I don’t think there is any way that Cleveland would welcome Boozer back. He’s the one that convinced the Cavs to release him out of his rookie contract and then to only sign on with the Jazz for a lot more money. There is still a lot of animosity from Cavs fans over that.

Even though the Hippopotamus lacks a stinger for a tail, a truly wise man would rather be sat on by a bee. ~ Banacek

by funny80sguy on Jul 7, 2010 11:10 AM EDT reply actions  

Cleveland is desperate though

That said I dont think Boozer is coming back. Why go to them when you’ve been courted by Miami and Chicago?

"To my Hustlers, heres some motivation: He who has begun is half done, why you waiting?"-NaS

Certified Kristin Kreuk obsessive.

by Wasabi Steak on Jul 7, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

No way Cleveland even thinks about bringing Boozer back.

I don’t see him going to Miami since Chris Bosh just signed there to join Dwyane Wade but I think Chicago is where he’ll go. I don’t see the Bulls getting LeBron and if that’s the case, they’ll be desperate enough to offer Boozer a ridiculous contract, only for them to shop him within a couple of years.

I'm a dude!

Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U

by GameManager on Jul 7, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Not if we replace Matt Barnes with MP

which is probably what we’re going to be doing unless SVG moves Rashard to SF (which will only work for short stretches). I’d still put a healthy Boston team ahead of us. A KG less Celts team took us to 7 and a healthy KG team took us out in 6.

"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"

by Warlando on Jul 7, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions  

I don't think Boston will be as good next year.

They’ll be another year older and if Ray Allen doesn’t come back which I don’t think he will, they’ll be down another piece.

I'm a dude!

Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U

by GameManager on Jul 7, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree with all this and I mentioned the same in the main Duhon post

All these free agent power teams are still lacking a supporting cast. And Boston is missing two guys who gave Dwight trouble.

"To my Hustlers, heres some motivation: He who has begun is half done, why you waiting?"-NaS

Certified Kristin Kreuk obsessive.

by Wasabi Steak on Jul 7, 2010 11:25 AM EDT reply actions  

@Warlando

I’m really not sure what Boston will look like in the post season. Last year I called Boston the dark horse to win the East before the playoffs even started, because so many things lined up to create a classic “last stand” situation. And they had the guts and talent to pull it off.

But that’s a one time thing. We won’t really know until the season is well under way, but I’m predicting Boston will fade this year.

And re: Boozer and resentment in the Cleveland front office? Child, please. If Lebron said he’d come back to the Cavs, so long as they put Danny Ferry back in the starting lineup, you bet Danny Ferry would be back in the lineup.

by Jtyler998 on Jul 7, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions  

Wow you down play the wade/bosh combo. They will be hard to beat.Name two players on our team better?

The celtics,heat and ny or clev will be stronger this year.The east just got deeper and as far as dwight getting better offensively not going to happen guys he is who he is. That has been clear for two years now.Its not a bad thing either cause dwight is great at what he does and that is play d and rebound.Dwight will never be the offensive threat some want him to be.Once again thats fine we have other guys that NEED to step up to do that i.e.carter,lewis and nelson.

by magicman775 on Jul 7, 2010 2:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Miami is going to have absolutely no depth.

Memphis had arguably one of the best starting lineups stat-wise in the league. Their problem was every single player on their bench was a stiff. Memphis faded badly by the end of the season because the starters were all near the top of minutes played.

by MagicMark on Jul 7, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Vstan_small
Rocket Plan
Small
Otis Smith, a fair comprehensive trial of all his trades.
Vstan_small
2012 NBA Draft Primer (★Magic Edition★)

Recent FanPosts

Small
Please not again...
Images_small
Dwightdreams: Superteam or Traditional Team
Small
Rumor - Dwight to Miami for Bosch/Wade
Avatar_small
Sign an Extension or be Traded ... Fallacy or Simplicity?
Small
IF you could build your own team? MR/MRS. GM
Small
Would this be a Beast in the East or not?
Images_small
Ryan Anderson: To Re-sign or Not
Orlando_magic_logoish_small
Deron Williams CAN sign a Max Deal with Orlando (Not a S&T)

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Contact Us

General Twitter feed

Evan Dunlap, Managing Editor / Press Contact

Tiny Blogroll

Rather than include our complete blogroll in this space, we've decided to link to it instead. That way, you won't have to do as much scrolling. Enjoy.


Managing Editor

Minimalistchalksquare_small Evan Dunlap

Contributing Writer

Primaryosb-logo_small Mike from Illinois