bballbabe

I saw positive things to build on. I really liked the leading passes that Matt had going with Dwight in the first half. It will help to mix it up with the way Dwight gets the ball because it will keep the defense off balance and play to Dwight's speed and agility and not try to overpower and move people by lowering the shoulder. The speed on their bench killed, and the chucking show was not fun to watch. There is work to do, especially on D, but i saw bright spots so i am hopeful. It's clear that Stan doesn't trust Bass, but on that possession that Gortat missed a couple of putbacks and Barnes missed that short putback, i couldn't help thinking that Bass would have almost broke the rim dunking that. What he would have done defensively, though is another story.

Too many passive players. Not enough aggressive players willing to get to the basket and the FT line.

It doesn't surprise me that those comments would come from Matt. He has played through some crappy stuff in his past, and i can see how he cannot understand what's going on here. He probably came here thinking like many of the fans, and now his comments echo many of the fans frustrations. It was Dwight's comments after that game that got my attention. In particular, this: quote: It's effort. Every game we're being outworked on both ends. We have to get ourselves going and it starts with me being the leader. I have to get myself going. We're all frustrated with the way we're playing. But we can't play well when we're frustrated. We got to play free. If I'm frustrated, it falls on the rest of my teammates. It has an effect on the whole team." Isn't there a way to learn to play through emotion, or learn not to be distracted by emotion when you are performing? Isn't there some sports psychology or techniques that can address this mentality? Some people let anger or fear or whatever distract them, but others use it and feed off of it and it makes them work harder. I think you can teach this, but the person has to recognize that it's a flawed way of thinking.

It's one game, and i am not worried at all. I agree with the sentiment that the refs favor the more aggressive team, and Detroit definitely determined how the game was going to be played from the beginning. I guess i am old school, and don't know why the Magic let the way the game is called determine the way they play. So, you don't think that was a foul...ok. Show them what a foul is. I just hate that they leave the game (Dwight and Gortat) without leaving an impression. If you know they will call it, then foul the guy. Keep playing your game and keep being aggressive, and going hard for the ball, and denying position with authority. This is the thing i don't like. I don't see any reason to email the NBA and go overboard about the refs. They know what they did. Maybe a win over a contender for that franchise will cause a few more people to scrape up some cash to come to some games in that area, which from what i understand is seriously struggling. I don't know, but i'm not throwing a fit about it because the team did not play well.

Hmm. It will be interesting to see what happens. His pattern is it works in the beginning and then if anything goes bad or unexpectedly then he starts his antics. I don't think he will go against Lehype because i think he doesn't want that press backlash. If he badmouths anyone, it will be the role players like Mo if he promises and doesn't deliver again, or the coach for not having a good enough plan. Lebron supporting Brown and Shaq coming in and turning anti-Brown could be the issue that could attack their chemistry and mess up that team. Whether or not that could happen in just one season is what remains to be seen.

Otis talks to hobos now? You can't ignore the hobos. Especially the moldy ones. this is good.

Well poo. We really picked a bad time to play a horrible game. It was slightly worse than the Boston game after 4 days off from a long road trip back in January. I don't know why we don't shoot worth crap when we have days off, but i don't see that happening again. That was just unreal. Stan has his work cut out for him in finding ways to get around their trees in the paint, and slowing down Kobe. Dwight handled them pretty well in the first 18 minutes of the game, but Gasol/Odom/Bynum is going to be an issue for the entire series. Jameer wasn't bad, but i think his presence was not helpful for the amount of minutes he got. His most dangerous weapon was his shooting, and if he doesn't have that (and i don't see that returning longrange) then I don't see why you would play him big minutes. Still, we usually make good adjustments, and i expect game 2 to be much better.

Anyone watching the Pep Rally gathering downtown on Channel 13? Takes me back to high school, ha ha. Go Magic!!!!!!!!!

^^^ Is that the pic that Cleveland fans were complaining about when they say the players were mocking the CLE pre-game picture taking thing? LOL. That is too much. We don't usually do well with long layoffs, but i hope that playing for the ring will change that trend. My head says they will take the first one and we will win the second, but i hope i am wrong and we win both.

I don't get this thread. Kobe is better, especially right now because that's the player the Magic are getting ready to face, and who our team needs to prepare for. I could give a flying flip about Lebron's status at this point, because he is simpy going to be watching and don't understand why we would be discussing it.

quote: Originally posted by Nessloch: quote: Originally posted by no_ma'am:what the eff guys? The game thread for the game we won the ECF and there isn't even 500 posts. You should all be ashamed. I think everybody was celebrating last night ;-) I know I was! Yep, me too. Great game, and great time to be a Magic fan. Dwight was phenomenal and Stan IS the MOP...Master of Pwnage! Just 4 more, Magic...

The refs did what they have been doing all series, but we still were in position to win. Dwight had 3 fouls with around 2 minutes left in the third qtr, and i said to my friends "We should get Gortat in there now so Dwight doesn't get another stupid foul...in fact he could rest 'til the 9 min mark and..." BEEEEEEP...whistle on Dwight, and he got his 4th. Had Stan made that substitution, we may have had D-12 down the stretch. The free throws were pathetic, and Rafer was just awful. Just not a good effort overall, but i feel decent about it because we still could have won with our C game.

The Cavs fans think the rules are: You cannot touch Lebron. You cannot look at Lebron. Lebron must be given a lane as big as the red sea being parted for the children of Israel. If not, a foul will be called. Cavs players are allowed to overturn calls. Cavs players are allowed to play dodgeball in between plays. If they throw the ball at you, just duck...it's all in good fun, not a tech. No one other than Cavs players can box out or establish position in the post. This is Lebron's world. I would be mad too, if i thought that's the way it should go all of the time.

quote: Originally posted by Kramer: quote: Originally posted by KillingInTheNameOf: quote: Originally posted by Nell2ThaIzzay:Well, even LeBron is calling it a cheap shot. Can we petition the NBA to suspend AJ for a game? Hell, I think he deserves a series long suspension... It would be swell. Lee would probably pick up the back-up point guard duties leaving more minutes for Pietrus to play and lord knows that the Lee-Mickeal backcourt has been nothing but effective all postseason Ha. I thought that same thing earlier. Real talk though, that elbow was as intentional as the one Delonte got on Rashard the last game. I really did not know the Cavs whined this much. Someone, either Mo or Bron or AV or Delonte, argued with the refs after dang near every play. They really are frustrated aren't they. lolz

The magic have to try and match their intensity, because i know it will be at an all time high. It will be a hostile environment, but i hope they can pull it out. My head says they will win in a close one, but i think we could steal it. Let's break their hearts Magic!!!!!