Are the Magic really a better team?

[Rios15]

Do you think the Magic actually improved this off-season, even if they let go of Hedo and Lee? Is Vince Carter the perfect replacement for Hedo Turkoglu who was a big part of their playoff run last season.

 

[RipCity32]

I don't think so..

*prepares for flaming*

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I think it depends on who you ask. The fans of contenders in the Eastern Conference, like the Cavaliers and the Celtics, will probably say no. Then you throw in the fans who blindly always assume their team is a contender, like the Pistons, who'll also say no. But then again I am a Magic fan, but I believe I'm being completely unbiased in my answer.

Anyways, I think they're a better team, but I can understand why people would think otherwise. Vince Carter is obviously a better player than Courtney Lee, but if he can't buy into the whole team factor, it's not going to work out. I think he'll buy in... the guy's been a loser his entire career, and I refuse to believe that he wouldn't be dying to turn that around. Besides, it's not like he'd have to take a lesser role; we're talking about him coming into a situation where he's going to get the same amount of touches on the ball Hedo did, which is a darn lot of touches. Plus the Magic improved plenty of other areas on their team in the offseason, but we'll see what happens. The Magic took a risk, as did a lot of already established teams, it's going to make this season very interesting.

 

[RipCity32]

YOUR SO RIGHT CC! PISTONS ARE TOTALLY CONTENDERS!

Your so full of <Censored>. You haven't been an active member here in how long, and your just assuming every Piston fan thinks we are contenders, when every single one of us knows playoffs might not even be certain.

Please tell me where I ever said we would contend this year, please.

 

[Pugz]

I think the Magic are better.

 

[Rios15]

I think the Magic are better.

Why? lol, Turkoglu came out in the clutch when the Magic needed, and was like a playmaking small forward, he lead the team on every possesion and he should bring that to the Raptors. The Raptors should surprise a lot because last season they lacked a good SG or SF. They got that this off-season with Turkoglu, and DeRozan. I don't see Carter replacing what Turkoglu did in Orlando honestly.

 

[Pugz]

Because I'm not sold on Hedo being the teams main player that all you guys think he was. Just like CC said as long as Vince keeps the team spirit they are better.

 

[cruzg24]

I think the Magic are a better team, people dont consider that Hedo was actually better the year before this past one and that his numbers actually went down last year. Carter was on a mediocre team with the Nets last year and Hedo had arguably the best C in the league. Just compare it that way, would Hedo put up the same numbers on the Nets as he did with the Magic. Hedo is a very nice player, but lets not forget Carter is coming back home. And that motivation has to account for something.....

 

[VC15]

Why? lol, Turkoglu came out in the clutch when the Magic needed, and was like a playmaking small forward, he lead the team on every possesion and he should bring that to the Raptors. The Raptors should surprise a lot because last season they lacked a good SG or SF. They got that this off-season with Turkoglu, and DeRozan. I don't see Carter replacing what Turkoglu did in Orlando honestly.

You would try and make this about the Craptors lol. Hedo and DeRozan aren't enough to even make you a playoff team.

On topic: The Magic are better as VC is going to Orlando where there was speculation that he wanted to go after his contract year, he has another shot at adding veteran leadership by playing for a young contender and that will count for something.

EDIT: However, the Celtics and Cavaliers are still better teams and are far more likely to get to the finals.

 

[$tunna]

I'm probably the only person that thinks this but I don't really think any of the Big 3 in the East got significantly better. I can't really see them getting any bigger in their win percentages. Cavs won 66 games last year and now that they have the 37 year old Shaq thats supposed to help them improve? I just don't see a large difference in the team because Shaq doesn't seem like someone that would change much against the other upper tier teams. The Celtics won 62 games and Sheed changes what? Sure Sheed is good but still I don't see much of a change when they face other top tier teams. The Magic lost Hedo and Courtney Lee (obviously) and I think that hurt them alot worse than they get credit for. VC is good but he's also an older player. (I respect the Brandon Bass move tho) Hedo was there in crunch time and I don't think VC could do the same type of clutch shooting like Hedo (It's possible but I doubt it). I think these teams just added big names to make their rosters look prettier. You really can't say the outcome of all these changes till the season starts (or playoffs) I guess.

 

[Rios15]

You would try and make this about the Craptors lol. Hedo and DeRozan aren't enough to even make you a playoff team.

On topic: The Magic are better as VC is going to Orlando where there was speculation that he wanted to go after his contract year, he has another shot at adding veteran leadership by playing for a young contender and that will count for something.

EDIT: However, the Celtics and Cavaliers are still better teams and are far more likely to get to the finals.

How is what we did this off-season not going to help us make the playoffs? You must be some Toronto hater because you always seem to hate on Toronto teams. We added Jarret Jack, just like with TJ Ford, Jack has the same amount of ability as Ford, and could bring what we saw two years ago with Calderon and TJ, this time, Jack, and Calderon. We added back Rasho, who will be big off the bench, and was a huge factor to our team 2-3 years ago. We added Marco Bellinelli, basically another Jason Kapono but better, he's a real good shooter. DeRozan is more than ready to start, once he develops a shot, he could be just as good as VC, and without the personality to. Bosh is happy, he wanted to contend this year, he asked Hedo to come to Toronto and he did, we can run the pick and roll with Hedo, and Bosh this year. So explain your reasoning why this team wont make the playoffs? I'm just laughing at the fact that you think the Bobcats are a playoff team this year.

 

[uwp]

I'm probably the only person that thinks this but I don't really think any of the Big 3 in the East got significantly better. I can't really see them getting any bigger in their win percentages. Cavs won 66 games last year and now that they have the 37 year old Shaq thats supposed to help them improve? I just don't see a large difference in the team because Shaq doesn't seem like someone that would change much against the other upper tier teams. The Celtics won 62 games and Sheed changes what? Sure Sheed is good but still I don't see much of a change when they face other top tier teams. The Magic lost Hedo and Courtney Lee (obviously) and I think that hurt them alot worse than they get credit for. VC is good but he's also an older player. (I respect the Brandon Bass move tho) Hedo was there in crunch time and I don't think VC could do the same type of clutch shooting like Hedo (It's possible but I doubt it). I think these teams just added big names to make their rosters look prettier. You really can't say the outcome of all these changes till the season starts (or playoffs) I guess.

A 37 Year old Shaq is an upgrade over Ben Wallace and Big-Z. Rasheed helps the bench and provides a legit backup for Kevin Garnett. I agree that they are significant moves, but they do help out the team. Sure they may be older, but much wiser and talented than the year before.

 

[Pugz]

The top teams(Boston, Cleveland, Orlando) did get better, and Toronto got a lot better.

 

[Rios15]

The top teams(Boston, Cleveland, Orlando) did get better, and Toronto got a lot better.

Bosh is going to have to resign or Hedo's contract is going to suck big time, the reason Colangelo did all this in one off-season was to show Bosh we can compete, and we finally addressed our weak pot, we got a stronger bench, and we finally got our SF, SG upgraded. I hated Parker, and Moon. Parker took too many 3's, and Moon was all athleticism, nothing else. DeRozan has a bright future, people projected him to be the next Kobe, which I'm sure they did with Mayo, but I can't wait to see him play, if he's as good as VC without the personality, I'll be happy.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

How is what we did this off-season not going to help us make the playoffs? You must be some Toronto hater because you always seem to hate on Toronto teams. We added Jarret Jack, just like with TJ Ford, Jack has the same amount of ability as Ford, and could bring what we saw two years ago with Calderon and TJ, this time, Jack, and Calderon. We added back Rasho, who will be big off the bench, and was a huge factor to our team 2-3 years ago. We added Marco Bellinelli, basically another Jason Kapono but better, he's a real good shooter. DeRozan is more than ready to start, once he develops a shot, he could be just as good as VC, and without the personality to. Bosh is happy, he wanted to contend this year, he asked Hedo to come to Toronto and he did, we can run the pick and roll with Hedo, and Bosh this year. So explain your reasoning why this team wont make the playoffs? I'm just laughing at the fact that you think the Bobcats are a playoff team this year.

I'm LOLing so hard right now. "Rasho Nesterovic will be big off our bench"... "Marco Belinelli: Basically Jason Kapono but better"... "DeRozan will be just as good as VC". How do you come up with such hilarious material?

 

[elcheato]

I'm probably the only person that thinks this but I don't really think any of the Big 3 in the East got significantly better. I can't really see them getting any bigger in their win percentages. Cavs won 66 games last year and now that they have the 37 year old Shaq thats supposed to help them improve? I just don't see a large difference in the team because Shaq doesn't seem like someone that would change much against the other upper tier teams. The Celtics won 62 games and Sheed changes what? Sure Sheed is good but still I don't see much of a change when they face other top tier teams. The Magic lost Hedo and Courtney Lee (obviously) and I think that hurt them alot worse than they get credit for. VC is good but he's also an older player. (I respect the Brandon Bass move tho) Hedo was there in crunch time and I don't think VC could do the same type of clutch shooting like Hedo (It's possible but I doubt it). I think these teams just added big names to make their rosters look prettier. You really can't say the outcome of all these changes till the season starts (or playoffs) I guess.

Did the Hawks improve the most to make them #1?

 

[Rios15]

I'm LOLing so hard right now. "Rasho Nesterovic will be big off our bench"... "Marco Belinelli: Basically Jason Kapono but better"... "DeRozan will be just as good as VC". How do you come up with such hilarious material?

Did i say DeRozan will be just as good? I said he could be just as good, he's at least an upgrade over Parker for now, Rasho will definitely be big off the bench, he got 5-6 rebounds a game off the bench with the raptors, and pacers. Marco Bellinelli is better than Jason Kapono easily, has the same shot. So your telling me the Magic got better or are the same team as last year, and the Raptors didn't get better? We also added Jarret Jack, Amir Johson, Reggie Evans, Sonny Weems, and Antoine Wright. That's a pretty solid bench if you ask me, especially with Marco, who can start too.

 

[$tunna]

Did the Hawks improve the most to make them #1?

Naw I wouldn't say we got better than the Big 3 but I'd say we got further from the people below us

 

[The Young One]

Sonny weems and antoine wright are asscheeks. And all reggie is good for is 6 fouls a game. Thanks for giving us the shooter we need in kapono btw. But I do believe the raptors are a playoff team and all of the big 3 in the east got better.

 

[$tunna]

A 37 Year old Shaq is an upgrade over Ben Wallace and Big-Z. Rasheed helps the bench and provides a legit backup for Kevin Garnett. I agree that they are significant moves, but they do help out the team. Sure they may be older, but much wiser and talented than the year before.

I'm just saying that they get looked at as if they improved WAY more than they really did.