KillingInTheNameOf

Amen. Even Anderson fanboys can't deny he has revealed himself as a shrinking violet. In 12 playoff games, he's produced 6 GOOSE EGGS! Let that sink in... In 160 playoff minutes; 12-40 fg's, 6-22 3pt-fg's, 31 points In 70 playoff minutes this season; 3-11, 2-8, 8 points Add the fact he can't defend his man and others nothing in help D, I would take Shard in a wheel chair right now.

I have difficulty understanding this logic when I recognize the fact ATL wouldn't have even qualified for the playoffs in the West. Stick to match-up arguments, at least they are debatable.

Biggest adjustment was clearly extending the defense. That was as disruptive as I can recall the Magic D in a long time. Recommendation for Game #3: Stick Em for Brandon Bass. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another player who possessed a nyce shooting touch and hands of stone? Unsual combo.

Thank God somebody gets it. The stupidity required by those who suggest the team can't win when Dwight dominates and scores a gazillion points is mind numbing. He's not a perimeter player shooting a low percentage while forcing offense. He's the most efficient option this team has offensively. And further, those suggesting his teammates need to be more involved offensively to play hard defensively are both ignoring the obvious and making excuses. Without Dwight playing a near perfect first half, this team gets run off the floor. The notion the team should abandon what is working in an attempt to force feed players who aren't doing squat is ignorance defined. His teammates are weak defenders, period, and if they aren't motivated to bring what they do have, they don't deserve to be on the floor with Dwight, period, end of story. Do I believe that's the case? No, it's a convenient excuse for guys who routinely get abused defensively. On another note: Who's that dolt who claimed RA, Hedo, & JJ were limited vs. playoff competition? On another note II: Fortunately for the RA fan boys, my dedicated OMMB computer is operating on its death bed in safe mode right now with no hope of every receiving a password confirmation from Savage. Otherwise, new thread, IS Ryan Anderson an Epic Choker would be forthcoming...

He's not even the best defensive shooting guard on his team.

The only relevant comparision I think can be made to Orlando's previous finals run is the potentially favorable path to the Finals. That team doesn't get by a healthy Boston team and that teams prospects wouldn't be any more favorable vs. the 3 teams ahead of Orlando in the East today. They each play a style that consistently gave that groups fits. But, if all falls perfectly. Chicago has the potential to be the Cleveland team that while consistently better, had serious matchup issues with Orlando, and if Boston can get by Miami, they aren't the same w/o Perkins. The stretch 4 has never been the solution to winning it all, but I do think it gives this team its best chance to catch lightning in a bottle. I also think you are drastically undervaluing the impact Pietrus had in that run. JRich may be a better player, but he doesn't posses the ability to take Turks man defensively, and that team goes nowhere without that versatility. This team clearly lacks the defensive ability of that team, and while it remains plausible, and certainly is Orlando best chance, hoping RA & JRich catch fire in the playoffs enough to offset the teams defensive dropoff is far from a standard recipe for success.

Both players have severe flaws, which is why SVG yo-yo's between the 2 incessantly. Neither player has yet to earn his confidence, it's been a matter of which has exhausted his patience. The only constant in this 2 year dilemma is the player on the outside looking in inevitably appears to be the better option. Which speaks volumes. As does the fact one good game from either is all that's required to dramatically alter their status in comparision to the other. It's the ol back up QB mentality w/situation reminiscent of football team with two backup QB's and no quality starter. The best option appears to be different every game and there often never appears to be a best option. Flip a coin, cross fingers, pray, grasp at straws, rinse, & repeat. Just don't ask me to believe there's a new formula that will unlock something that hasn't already been seen or to embrace the microwave mentality required to believe one game alters anything more than the perception of reality. It's all been tried, pin your hopes on variance. Which is why I don't think there's any question RA is more important to Orlando's post season success. Like these 2 players, this team has severe flaws, and has to manufacture a way to compensate for them to achieve meaningful postseason success. Push tempo, circle the 3 point line, and don't leave any bullets in the chamber. The Magic are undoubtedly pinning their post season hopes on Dwight, getting hot at the right time, & riding a wave of momentum. They aren't outplaying elite teams consistently, they are pinning their hopes on variance. Is there any doubt RA is the player among these 2 who best compliments this boom/bust equation? In practice, RA proved rather limited as the starter this season, scores the bulk of his points in very limited minutes (which appears condusive to bench role), and has rarely increased his output with extended minutes. But, what is there to lose? We know he'll put up the shots, he just has to get hot 4 games a series. Not exactly a glowing endorsement, not even claiming he's the best of two weak options, but I think he gives this team a home run threat or a punchers chance if you will.

Results of today's games sucked. Miami rolled Boston & NY rallied to beat Indy. Really want Miami to face NY in first round, don't like to see them get any confidence vs. Boston, & would like to see Boston w/home court in that potential 2nd round matchup. Can ATL beat em tomorrow?

Everytime I almost get to the point of tolerating Anderson, he does something like THAT.

Beyond simple math that smacks you in the face, how does this theory persist after the Magic reached the Finals by going to Dwight in crunch time? More inexplicable than fans or media pundits continuing to perpetuate it, did the coaching staff get amnesia following that Finals run?

LOL, if so, send me a password verification so I don't require a dedicated computer to log on to TBN. Auto password retrieval and e-mail to Savage haven't resulted in my password being sent in scores of attempts over at least 7 months. On Topic: I've had this issue consistently for at least 6 months. If I go to TBN.com and receive the "page not found" message, I just google TBN forum index or TBN OM, and for some reason beyond my knowledge of the internet, I typically find a link that works. In the event I don't, it doesn't seem to bother me all that much, and is viewed by me as a sign from Alah I don't need to be playing on the internet. I don't recall ever not being able to access the site for more than half a day as a result of this problem however. I always thought this had more to do with the fact my computers are routed through an off-site server with a fort knox firewall. Didn't realize it was a TBN or common issue. I would add, this was far more problematic for me back in Nov/Dec/Jan timeframe. It's become far less of an issue the past couple months, as it apparently has become an issue for others. To clarify that. I typically still receive the "page not found" when attempting to access TNB.com. I very rarely receive the same message when attempting to access the forum directly through "truebluenation.com/forum/index.php?/forum/21...forum/" or "truebluenation.com/forum/" for some reason. During the more problematic timeframe, all 3 were hit or miss, & missed together with much higher frequency.

Exactly. I defy anybody to show me a single big men who's ever run the floor as hard and as consistently as Dwight...on the defensive end. This was classic though

Otis has a future in politics for sure

We could settle this real easily be holding DRose out of Saturday's game. Love DRose, but as many have said, true MVP of Bulls is Thibideau, and he's surged to easy COTY honors since All-Star break imo.

Hi-Top is absolutely correct. This equation should be interpreted as follows as written. 48 ----- (9+3)= 2

I'm not taking the ATL series for granted, but the key to beating the Bulls imo will be Orlando's perimeter players showing up/producing offensively. When Orlando gets production offensive from the perimeter vs. Chicago, they are a threat to run them completely off the floor. When they don't, their offense bogs down much the same way it has in the past vs. Boston & Detroit in the playoffs.

I don't think the Magic are a better team. The records, rosters, & sustained quality of play support that. The Bulls are clearly better at 3 of 5 positions. But, I do believe it's a favorable matchup for Orlando, especially in comparision to Boston & Miami. Chicago is a weak perimeter shooting team and Dwight disrupts their natural offense. I don't recall who provided the stat, whether it was Guokus or a national guy like Hubie or JVG, but they said that DRose scores 49% of his points in the paint, that drops to like 25% vs. the Magic. That's indicative of the matchup problem Orlando is for Chicago defensively. I'll add to OP, Phily has played Boston tough all season, & NY has looked good in their matchups with Miami. Those are the desired 1st round matchups from my perspective.

Missed game, why didn't JRich play? Night off/rest?

If Boston beats Chicago tomorrow, I would want Orlando to tank that Bulls game anyway, and there's no way SVG would. So, Dwight get a nice mini-vacation before the playoffs, and I'd seriously consider extending it if I were SVG.

I clink on the link...then asked myself, do I care what this guy has to say about b-ball? Perhaps if he had analysis of the potential government shutdown I would have been more inclined to read, but probably not.

The play of Duhon or more accurately, the decline of Duhon has been disappointing to me. This is a guy who has garnered All-NBA defense consideration in the past, was a personal favorite of coaches like Skiles & coach K, was an unprecedented team captain as a rookie, & while never a strong offensive player, has always been a respectable 3 point shooter. Yet, he hasn't even looked serviceable this season. Blow by waiting to happen defensively, inept offensively, & often struggles to even dribble the ball into the front court and get the Magic into sets. His play fell completely off the cliff this season. No question Arenas has been better as the back-up. At his worst, he plays on par with Duhon, and he's occassionally played better. But, I don't think Otis will ever be able to justify a 20 million dollar backup point guard who is still a consistent liability.

Arenas' last knee surgery came in Sept 2008! He had the entire 08/09 season to recover. He had 2/3's+ of last season & all offseason to recover after being suspended, after being able to test it for 32 games. Most players who successfully make a full recovery from knee surgery do so in year two. I thought it was plausible he would return to full health this season after essentially missing his year two, even if that was short of his abilities pre-injury. But, lets face reality. How many players make a meaningful recovery 3 seasons after their knee surgery? When in their late 20's? I could have bought a Kidd like resurgence this past off-season, I'm not buying it now, and the most optimistic prognosis I think anybody could make based on the history of other players is highly unlikely. Injury riddled T-Mac has had knee surgery since Arenas. He's not the player he was, but he's not dragging his leg around either. Maybe Arenas will defy logic and prove you right in year 4, but I'm not holding my breath, & I'm guessing his upside is current version T-Mac.

I think we can only hope relief comes from the CBA that allows RDV to erase his contract from the cap and RDV is willing to swallow 60 mill. How Otis survives that however, would require a special type of faith in him from RDV. But, Otis isn't dumb, he had to know he was tying himself to Arenas when the deal was made. Here's a radical idea. Hire Calipari. He's itching for another crack at the NBA, which is probably a bigger indication he wants out of UK before a violation storm hits than anything, but he'd probably jump at the chance. Do I think he's a better coach than SVG? No. Do I think SVG deserves to be fired? No. But, Cal is THE coach with the connect to the new power broker in the NBA. If you can't beat em, get down in the mud, & join em. World Wide Wes is a leach, but he a lot of players ear, and we might as well get him steering them our way. Hell, I'd offer him the GM job if he'd take it, but that would probably require a massive pay cut on his end. In addition to "recruiting", Cal would change the identity of this team, and get them playing a more athletic brand of ball that compliments Dwight's strengths. Radical? Desperate? No question, but that might be what's needed real soon, and I'd rather be proactive in attempting to keep Dwight here even if it means scapegoating SVG.

Even if Dwight stays, RDV is going to have to pull off miracles, plural, to put this roster on par with the elite teams in the league. Which has to be obvious to him as well and is why fans should be concerned about his future w/Orlando. Let's be honest, you're Dwight, 25 years old. You're about to miss out on winning a MVP because the team around you isn't good enough to support your individual claim to the MVP. A year from now you'll be 26, entering the prime of your career. What's the pitch to stay? Jameer is turning 31 next season, 2 more seasons of Hedo & Arenas, cap space in 2014/2015 when you're turning 29? I don't know how, but this roster needs to be blown up this offseason, and rebuilt with players that it's at least plausible Dwight could win a title with over the next 3 seasons. A complete change in identity might be a step in the right direction as well.

I don't like to criticize Otis's trades...I'm compelled to...because...they...sucked! It's not lost on me the Magic have posted the exact same record x 2 since the trades as that which inspired the trades. Improvement or a different flavor of mediocrity surrounding greatness? Who knows what Otis could have done better if he had acted proactively this past offseason, waited, or even acted last deadline when it was already obvious Shard & VC had stalled. Worst case, I would have much rather waited beyond this season than tie up all that cap space w/Hedo & Arenas for the next 3 years. It's not like the trades made Orlando any less of a long shot to win the championship. We do know Gerald Wallace was traded in a salary dump & OJ Mayo could have been had dirt cheap. Would I rather have those 2 than Hedo & Arenas? Yup & Otis would likely even have had Gortat as a trade asset after doing so considering what those 2 were dealt for, would have been dealt for in OJ's case. I hate the composition of this roster right now and I'm really frustrated by this franchises long term prospects. An epic playoff run is remotely possible thanks to the ascension of Chicago, but even that will likely just encourage Otis to stand pat with this group, and find himself in the same spot 25 games into next season w/Dwight's impending FA looming over the team. My opinion, Otis has had a disasterous year as GM, and the only way to attempt to salvage this mess is wholesale changes this offseason.