Easton Conference Playoff Preview

Well not to much longer and we will be talking about the NBA playoffs, so today I thought we would look at the Eastern Conference and what we can expect. Right now the Chicago Bulls have locked down the number one seed with Boston and Miami at two. Boston does hold the tie-breakers if it ends in a tie. Orlando is fourth followed by Atlanta. Let us look at how this plays out in the end.

Without a doubt the Bulls are playing the best basketball of the Top 5, but the playoffs are much different than the regular season. In reality any of the Top five teams could make it to thew NBA Finals. I still like the Celtics to make it through the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are not battle tested and Boston has been through the playoff wars before. Miami is the x-factor in all of this. They have the talent to come out of this conference as well. In the end though I think it will be Boston. Even though the Celtics seem to be struggling a little they have the Big Three that have been battled tested before.

Bulls Get 39 Points From Derrick Rose To Hold Off Magic 102-99

The Orlando Magic played without their superstar Dwight Howard and it showed especially on the defensive end of it. The Bulls shot over 60 percent and Derrick Rose led them to a 102-99 victory. Magic guard Jameer Nelson hit a shot at the buzzer, but it came to late and the Magic fell to the Bulls.

This was a very important game for the Orlando Magic as they needed to prove they could play with a team like the Bulls without their superstar. They did and came up just a little short. The problem for the Magic is when Howard is in the game they never seem to get this kind of effort from everyone. Overall, Stan Van Gundy has to be happy with this performance, but I am sure he will have some complaints like he always does.

Is Dwight Howard Headed Out Of Orlando?

Dwight Howard will have a tough decision when 2012 gets here. Will he stay with the Orlando Magic or we he test the free agency waters. Many people feel he will test the waters and I really cannot blame him one bit. The Magic continue to surround him with players it seems who do not have the desire to win a championship like Howard. Most of his teammates stand around and do nothing, but collect a check.

Howard is getting tired of it and went off on his teammates the other day. You really cannot blame him as he is tired of losing especially since he has a very talented team. Howard is getting frustrated and when that happens a player wants out. Unless Orlando makes some changes for the better look for Superman to fly right out of Orlando.

Orlando Magic Need To Learn How To Play D-E-F-E-N-S-E

The Orlando Magic are up to their own tricks again not realizing that you cannot outscore every team that you play. Getting it done on the defensive end is something that they must learn to do. I think trading for a defensive stopper should be in the Magic future. Until they do that they will just be a team that gets into the playoffs only to lose.

Dwight Howard is really the only defensive stopper they have, but when he gets into foul trouble that is all they have. Brining someone in may be the only choice that they have. I really do not see anyone on their bench that can get the job done. Unless Orlando gets better defensively it will be another fast exit out of the playoffs. Dwight Howard maybe getting tired of it and him signing long-term may be effected as well. Get Howard some defensive help is the answer to the Magic problems.

Orlando Crushes Cleveland Make Statement To James And Cavs

Lebron James cannot recall when he has ever looked up at a scoreboard and seen a team he was on was losing by 40 points. Well last night was a first for James who found himself and his Cleveland Cavaliers getting routed easily by Orlando by a score of 116-87. Watching the game Orlando was just quicker and made the shots when it counted. Lebron James did not shoot well and rest of the Cavaliers decided to take the night off this is what will happen to you. As James said it was embarrassing and that is probably the best way to describe it.

San Antonio 126 Final
Indiana 121

Miami 97 Final
Charlotte 92

Atlanta 92 Final
Boston 104

Cleveland 87 Final
Orlando 116

Portland 107 Final
Oklahoma City 72

Dallas 102 Final
Memphis 107

Minnesota 103 Final
Utah 102

Sacramento 111 Final
Phoenix 139

New Orleans 103 Final
Golden State 111

Houston 81 Final
LA Lakers 93

Toronto Shocks Magics In Orlando

Stan Van Gundy had warned his Orlando Magic players that not giving a full effort every game, even against teams with losing records, was bound to catch up with them and it did as Toronto beat Orlando by a score of 99-95 in Orlando. The Magic are a very talented team, but do have the problem of not coming to play every night and when you do that teams are going to beat you. This is one area where the Orlando Magic need a lot of work in. Until they figure this out they will be behind Cleveland and Boston as one of the elite teams.

Wednesday, April 1st

Toronto 99 Final
Orlando 95

Charlotte 109 Final
Boston 111 2OT

Detroit 98 Final
New Jersey 111

LA Lakers 104 Final
Milwaukee 98

Washington 107 Final
Memphis 112

Miami 96 Final
Dallas 98

Houston 109 Final
Phoenix 114

Sacramento 141 Final
Golden State 143 OT

New Orleans 104 Final
LA Clippers 98

Dwayne Wade Drops 50, But Orlando Routs Miami

You would think when a guy drops 50 points on your team the game would be very close, but that was not the case for the Miami Heat when they played the Orlando Magics Sunday Night. Dwayne Wade tossed in 50 points for the Miami Heat, but it was Orlando who came away with a easy 122-99 win over the Heat. Dwight Howard had 32 points and 17 rebounds for the Orlando Magic in the win. Rafer Alston who came over in a trade from the Houston Rockets have really made a big difference in Orlando who knows they will not get All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson back this year.

Sunday, February 22nd

Chicago 91 Final
Indiana 98

New York 100 Final
Toronto 111

Boston 128 Final
Phoenix 108

Charlotte 78 Final
Houston 99

Denver 117 Final
Milwaukee 120

Miami 99 Final
Orlando 122

LA Clippers 87 Final
Portland 116

LA Lakers 111 Final
Minnesota 108

Detroit 78 Final
Cleveland 99

Dwight Howard Lead Magics To Win In Overtime

Dwight Howard might have lost his slam dunk contest, but he has not lost his passion to lead the Orlando Magics into the playoffs that is for sure. Last night Howard scored 45 points grabbed 19 rebounds and added eight block shots to give Orlando a 107-102 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats in overtime. For Howard this year he has proven to be a leader that the Orlando magics have needed. With Jameer Nelson going down the Magics will need Howard to continue to be that leader on the court. The scary part about Dwight Howard is he is only going to get younger and will be around for a long time to come.


Tuesday, February 17th

Philadelphia 91 Final
Indiana 100

Charlotte 102 Final
Orlando 107 OT

Minnesota 103 Final
Washington 111

Milwaukee 92 Final
Detroit 86

San Antonio 107 Final
New York 112 OT

New Orleans 100 Final
Oklahoma City 98

New Jersey 88 Final
Houston 114

LA Clippers 100 Final
Phoenix 140

Memphis 99 Final
Utah 117

Atlanta 83 Final
LA Lakers 96

Magics Stay Hot Beat Bulls

The Orlando Magic seen there winning streak go by the wayside when they lost in Detroit, but that has not seem to slow them down one bit. In Chicago Rashard Lewis scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half as the Orlando cruised to a easy 113-94 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Magics also go good games from Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu as well to help them in the win. Right now Orlando is playing well and we have to wait and see if that plays out all season long.

Wednesday, December 31st

Orlando 113 Final
Chicago 94

New Jersey 75 Final
Detroit 83

Milwaukee 81 Final
Houston 85

Denver 114 Final
Toronto 107

Golden State 100 Final
Oklahoma City 107

Philadelphia 100 Final
LA Clippers 92