Statement game - Orlando hosts the Cavs

by Jeff at the BBC on Feb 21, 2010 12:12 AM CST in Roster Moves

If you're on this page, you don't need to be told. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in Orlando today to take on the Magic. It's a huge game, and ABC is giving it their full attention (unlike TNT Thursday night, which actually did a split-screen of the Cavs/Denver in OT with the tipoff of the Boston/Lakers game....really)

Today's game should have the new-look Cavaliers in full force. Mo Willams and Delonte West are now fully recovered from their injuries, and Antawn Jamison has had a full day off to practice and read the playbook. Things should go much smoother than they did in the previous two games.

But on the other side of the aisle, the Magic will be the same team that they were in our two earlier meetings (both won by Cleveland, each by 9 points). But the real question is....why are they the same team?

Orlando made no serious attempts to add to their squad at the trading deadline, seemingly content with the team they are right now.

Yes, the Magic are an elite team, and they are the defending Eastern Conference Champions. But I do not believe that they are the same elite team as last year when they closed out the Celtics and Cavaliers in back-to-back series wins. Losing Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee weakened Orlando, and Vince Carter does not appear to fill the gap left behind.

As the trade deadline approached, I watched patiently as the Cavaliers made their trade offers. Being the best in the league wasn't enough for Danny Ferry, and he wanted to fill any potential holes in the lineup. But why didn't Orlando? Do the Magic think that this lineup can repeat the East and overcome the Lake Show this time around?

Of course, Magic fans will tell you that they're fine the way they are, but things are different in the 2009-2010 season than they were last year.

Opponent	08/09	09/10
Cleveland	2-1	0-2
LA Lakers	2-0	0-1
Denver	1-1	0-1

These are the three teams the Magic are most likely to face in very late May/early June, and the difference has dramatically shifted. The only three teams with better records than the Magic, and Orlando has lost all four meetings this year so far.

If Orlando falls today against the Cavaliers, expect to hear some rumblings down south. My first thought would be "why didn't they at least TRY to make some moves before the deadline?"

At 1pm today, we'll know more.

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But on the other side of the aisle, the Magic will be the same team that they were in our two earlier meetings (both won by Cleveland, each by 9 points). But the real question is….why are they the same team?

Orlando made no serious attempts to add to their squad at the trading deadline, seemingly content with the team they are right now.

Do you know Orlando’s player salaries situation? They have about $4.5-$5 million in expiring contracts spread across three players. Not exactly going to get you much in the trade market right? Financially, they are probably at or about at the limit of payroll they can manage.

So I find this jab at the Magic to be fairly weak. The Magic, like other top teams (Lakers for example) didn’t have much wiggle room to be viable “buyers” in this trade market.

The other point that could be made is that the Magic are still a real good team. They are defensively still one of the best teams in the league, and as we saw against another good defensive team, Charlotte, the Cavs as they have been playing lately can struggle if they aren’t doing well offensively.

The Magic aren’t as good as they were last year, but they are good enough to sneak a series win from a team or two from the list you have above (Cle, LA, Den), and there wasn’t much of a chance to improve the team at the deadline because they lacked expiring contracts of value to trade. They are the same team today, because given the circumstances, it was the best decision for them. Now if you want to blast their GM for not allowing for flexibility you could do that, but I think that would be a stretch.

by hans on Feb 21, 2010 9:47 AM CST reply actions

OK

The other point that could be made is that the Magic are still a real good team.

Look again. I referred to them as an elite team.

The Magic aren’t as good as they were last year, but they are good enough to sneak a series win from a team or two from the list you have above (Cle, LA, Den)

If you’re content to go from being in the Finals one year to being “good enough to sneak a series win” the next season, then fine.

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by Jeff at the BBC on Feb 21, 2010 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

What exactly do you propose they should have done?

I find calling out for a team to make changes for the sake of making changes is moronic. Now if you offer some things they could have done then at least we can discuss that.

by hans on Feb 21, 2010 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

they also had a 7M trade “credit” from the Turk+Lee+Alston for Carter three team deal to use

by cavslandrocks on Feb 21, 2010 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

Good catch, I forgot about that credit.

by hans on Feb 21, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

The "Statement"

that needs to be made is this:..“We’re going to pound the ball inside until Dwight and Gortat are both glued to the bench”..If both of these guys are in early foul trouble, the Cavs can do pretty much whatever they please on offense, and play straight up man defense on the 3 point bombers

by cavslandrocks on Feb 21, 2010 10:07 AM CST reply actions

Why didn't the Cavs play Moon?

he would’ve been better defensively against Carter. Just bad decision by Brown.

by inquisitiveman on Feb 21, 2010 2:58 PM CST reply actions

Both Moon and Darnell should have seen time…it would have saved Shaq for the entire fourth quarter…Inactive list should have been..Green, Telfair, Powe

by cavslandrocks on Feb 21, 2010 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Please relay to coach Brown that Moon

would’ve been better defensively against Carter. Also, has he not gotten enough playing time overall? I didn’t see the game vs. Denver or Charlotte, but if he didnt get enough pt, they need to start looking for him to play more. He is a good defensive player at 6’8".

by inquisitiveman on Feb 21, 2010 8:17 PM CST up reply actions

It's quite simple really

Orlando’s owner said NO! But all in all, the Magic put a lot of money into going all the way, and they are at the peak of what they are willing to pay for the attempt. I am guessing if Howard was in Lebron’s situation in O-Town(free agent to be), you may have seen a push for something. But all in all, the Magic made their bed in the offseason and are willing to to play the cards they were dealt. I see no shame in that. Not everyone can keep up with the Cavs all star team!

by Eric9321 on Feb 22, 2010 12:30 PM CST reply actions