Time2GetSerious

Yes indeed! All part of the process. If someone told me two years ago that we would win nearly 50 games, win the division, and be in a game 7 in a first round series I would have signed up for that any day of the week!

Exactly! They are still very young. That is what makes this season a complete success and makes the future even more bright moving forward! We won the division. Almost won 50 games. Nearly finished in the top 4 in the Conference. And went 7 games in a first round series after being down 0-2. Plenty to look forward to!

This was still a great season in spite of the outcome. To come from where we were just a couple of years ago to now is incredible. Yes, it's a first-round loss but we stretched it to 7 games. It is all part of the process. Now we need to add some pieces for next season and continue to build and grow. And no question that Paolo has established himself as a star in this League. Franz needs to use this as motivation going into the off season. A point guard and a couple of 3-point snipers and we are a serious contender!

Boston is gonna destroy them! Not sour grapes. Just a reality.

The difference between Franz and Paolo is that PB drives to the rack looking for contact while Franz is trying to avoid the contact. FW only had 4 ft's while Paolo had 18 today!

In all the games we won we hit at least 12 3's. In all the games we lost we didn't. And I believe all 3 games where we did was at home. Essentially today's game was lost at the end of the first half when they cut an 18-point lead down to 10 before halftime.

To be fair to Franz Garland has been just as bad for them.

We have been outscored 57-28 since there was 4:17 left in the second quarter and we held an 18-pont lead. It's as if we just stopped playing for some reason.

Exactly!

The League would rather have a banged-up Cavs team being a sacrificial lamb for the Celtics to carve up to help assure that Celtics versus Knicks ECF's. However, the NBA wouldn't be that corrupt, would they? That would make it seem as though they are all about money. No, it can't be!

It's a shame if we do go on to lose. However, it was a great season and still a very successful one in my opinion. We definitely need to acquire a point guard for next season. That would be a big help. Boston will either sweep the Cavs or it will be five games maximum.

Ok Magic fans Breathe and Believe. They were due for a run and they made it. Now it's time to strap in and get it done. Franz needs to step up. Eventually MItchell will run out of gas.

And even more positivity here, if we didn't establish that big lead before they made their run then we could be down by like 15 or so now. That's how important that early lead was.

Yes. The adversity will help us to refocus and bring the intensity back. It is a game of runs. They made theirs. Just stay the course and go out and get it done.

It's all Mitchell for them. That's a positive for us. Keep holding the other guys down. Get back to Magic defense! Weather the storm and then strike back!

Kind of like Evan Fournier back in the day. He would be great one minute and then would do something boneheaded.

Agreed! I'm sure all of the coaches touched on that at the half. Need to come out of the gate and get this lead back to at least 15 or 16.

Cole is key to our success. When he's been on we win. Agree about Franz. Need him to help take some pressure off of Paolo!

You're right! I made the edit and changed it to Lets go!

They went on a 12-4 run in the last 4:17 of the half to cut an 18-point lead down to 10. Merrill is a concern for the second half. He always kills us. Don't know why he hasn't got more playing time in this series.

From a mental standpoint it would be great to half that kind of halftime lead. CAN NOT allow them to cut it to single digits. It's all about momentum!

Almost half of their points have come from the ft line. Mitchell has shot the same amount of ft's as our entire team!

Would be nice to have anywhere between a 15 and 20 point lead heading to halftime. Finish this half strong!

Lol. Shhhh! I posted it in the game 6 discussion. I knew all the pressure would be on Cleveland. In particular, Mitchell. I said he would struggle to reach 20 in game 7. Still got work to do though!

This is why NOBODY wants to face us in the playoffs. They will be in for a bigtime fight!