Orlando is definately a team we can't take lightly. You mention "contain Superman". Easier said than done. He's such a strong player, kinda hard to contain. Orlando's supporting cast can kill teams who try doubling up on Howard. Jameer Nelson has been in a shooting trance. All he sees is net. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can fill up the net in bunches. They are 6'10" guys who play like they're 6'7" - but in this case thats not a good thing. Hedo can play the 2, 3, or 4. Rashard can easily play the 3 or 4 without any preference. But, they play Hedo at 3 and Lewis at the 4. Tony Battie is a defensive nuisance in the middle backing up Howard. That 7 foot euro Gortat is starting to become a pain for opposing teams. Courtney Lee their 2 guard is only gonna get better and better. The kid's got talent. Keith Bogans is a scrapper at 2 who can get hot sometimes shooting. Nice veteran PG in Anthony Johnson. Pietrus is almost ready to step back in the starting 2 guard role since being injured. He's a very active defender who can stroke the 3 ball.

Yep, they're in our rear-view mirror and BEWARE: "Objects are closer than they appear"

Orlando reall.y is a tough team. Aside from Dwight Howard, they are still a deep team, and Nelson has been amazing this season (one of my top 3 for MIP). One of the previous posters summed up nicely what their team is capable of, but the thing that scares me the most is their coach, Stan Van Gundy. The guy is a monster, and he never lets up on his team. He has no problems calling out his players, and it almost always works.

The thing is, Dwight Howard still  isn't all that great offensively. He's a youngster, and is still developing his game. On the defensive end, though, he is a terror. He is one of the best rebounders in the game, and his ability to change shots is second to none.

I personally refuse to take any team for granted, especially this one. They only have two more losses than we do, and they are flying under the radar, so they are even more dangerous. Assuming we have a free ride to the ECF is not a good idea, because there are several good teams in the east this season that are capable of crapping on our parade.

If Orlando and Cleveland keep their core teams together for the next few years, I fully expect them to form a rivalry similar to the Chicago-New York one of the 90's. Those teams played some of the most entertaining games ever, and they have something in common with a Orlando-Cleveland rivalry: New York had one of the best big men in the game in Patrick Ewing, and a great supporting cast; Orlando has one of the best big men in the game in Dwight Howard and a great supporting cast. Chicago had the best all-around player in Michael Jordan and a great supporting cast; Cleveland has the best all-around player in Lebron James and a great supporting cast. I hope the teams stay together, because this could be interesting...

Dec 27, 2008 -- 11:40AM, Gregosaurus Rex wrote:

Orlando reall.y is a tough team. Aside from Dwight Howard, they are still a deep team, and Nelson has been amazing this season (one of my top 3 for MIP). One of the previous posters summed up nicely what their team is capable of, but the thing that scares me the most is their coach, Stan Van Gundy. The guy is a monster, and he never lets up on his team. He has no problems calling out his players, and it almost always works.

 

The thing is, Dwight Howard still  isn't all that great offensively. He's a youngster, and is still developing his game. On the defensive end, though, he is a terror. He is one of the best rebounders in the game, and his ability to change shots is second to none.

 

I personally refuse to take any team for granted, especially this one. They only have two more losses than we do, and they are flying under the radar, so they are even more dangerous. Assuming we have a free ride to the ECF is not a good idea, because there are several good teams in the east this season that are capable of crapping on our parade.

 

If Orlando and Cleveland keep their core teams together for the next few years, I fully expect them to form a rivalry similar to the Chicago-New York one of the 90's. Those teams played some of the most entertaining games ever, and they have something in common with a Orlando-Cleveland rivalry: New York had one of the best big men in the game in Patrick Ewing, and a great supporting cast; Orlando has one of the best big men in the game in Dwight Howard and a great supporting cast. Chicago had the best all-around player in Michael Jordan and a great supporting cast; Cleveland has the best all-around player in Lebron James and a great supporting cast. I hope the teams stay together, because this could be interesting...

I like your Stan Van Gundy being tough on his players. His 'tough love' style is working over there. Very true about Dwight Howard's offensive game needing work. Imagine he averages 20 ppg with power inside scoring via dunks, a lot of those from O rebounds. His mid-range game is non-existent. And the NY/Chicago - ORL/Cleveland analogy was good. Ewing/Jordan - Howard/LeBron. Good comparisons!

Good post. Very good post.

Ooo there's Orlando in the rearview mirror, so let's back up and run them over, and drive on our happy way to a championship.

They were pretty good last year, and even better this season.

We can take em in a B07 if it come to that though I think.