Orlando vs. Atlanta

[nazsquad]

Do any of you feel any better knowing that Orlando is blowing out Atlanta at halftime.
Yes we got swept, but I think we gave Orlando a decent series. We frustrated them and played good defense. Too bad we didn't win Game 3, because I truly believe the series would have been totally different.
I hope we make some improvements in the off-season, but we will be back!

[ziggy]

I think Atlanta is in even a worse situation than the cats were against the Hawks, because they don't have the horde of large bodies to throw against Dwight Howard.

I expect him to go off this series.

[nazsquad]

I agree. Orlando is just a good team, they have a lot of weapons. Dwight basically already is having a better series against ATL than he did all 4 games against us haha.

Its amazing that we limited him all 4 games. That shows a lot of on our part.

[110oldeast]

Orlando is a pick your poison team. That's what happens when you can roll out a bunch of wing shooters to surround a legit post man or penetrating guard.

The reason we limited Dwight was b/c we did 2 things:

1) We doubled him when he had the ball on offense

2) We got him in foul trouble

If we had played him straight up and limited everything from the perimeter, I think you have a better chance of beating them. He would've gotten 30-40, but I think we could have had a better chance.

It also really makes me hate that we didn't get over the hump to get the Hawks in the first around. They're one of the few teams with perimeter shooting as weak as ours. They're athletic, but athleticism without perimeter shooting doesn't last the deeper you get in the playoffs. It's not enough to have pgs who can knock down the 3s. You need some pure knockdown, kickout shooters on the wing to plug in the deeper you get in the playoffs.

That's what makes teams like Orlando so hard to defend. It's why Boston when healthy is tough. When we get free cap space, as much as a post presence, we need some wing shooting.

Otherwise you become a consistent RUNNING team. You don't have athletes and so so shooting and play predominantly halfcourt ball. Either you get more shooters or you run.


I agree. Orlando is just a good team, they have a lot of weapons. Dwight basically already is having a better series against ATL than he did all 4 games against us haha.

Its amazing that we limited him all 4 games. That shows a lot of on our part.

[nazsquad]

Orlando is just one of those teams that we don't play well against. Obviously the Hawks would have been an ideal match-up. We are basically the same team, but I believe we have a little more fire power than the Hawks.

With that being said. We had a good chance to win in 3 of the playoff games but didn't finish well. We will have more experience next year.

[Orlando Juice]

I have no doubt Charlotte would've beaten Atlanta had they matched up. The Hawks have a ton of talent, but haven't been able to put it together for whatever reason. It's likely Woodson, given that the Hawks iso on every other possession.

I mentioned earlier that the Charlotte series was tremendously beneficial to both the Bobcats and the Magic. We won't face a defense like that til probably next year when we match up:D

[jdsingar]

LOL well it looks like we can say we did better than the Hawks. As of this writing, the Hawks are up 87-47. I have never seen anything like that. That is embarassing, especially for a semifinal game. Talk about a statement from Orlando.

[110oldeast]

No doubt. It's why I hate all the idiotic kneejerk reactions, scapegoating, and video game GM'ing that has taken place since we lost.

Exactly who does Atlanta scapegoat and get rid of with their performance?

Orlando is just a tough matchup for everyone. It's funny, b/c in spite of the 4-0 series, it was more competitive than some would realize.



Orlando is just one of those teams that we don't play well against. Obviously the Hawks would have been an ideal match-up. We are basically the same team, but I believe we have a little more fire power than the Hawks.

With that being said. We had a good chance to win in 3 of the playoff games but didn't finish well. We will have more experience next year.

[BRNC]

The Hawks (IMO) are one of the most athletically gifted-lowBBIQ teams ever assembled...I give Kudos to Woody for getting them this far...

[BETCATS]

We may not have been able to stop the Orlando juggernaut, but at least we could contain it. It really adds some value to what our guys did in the first round. We would not allow this to happen to us. I am embarrased for all Hawk fans right now.

[110oldeast]

In the playoffs:

Shooters > Athletic individual players

Halfcourt offense requires perimeter shooters who knock it down on the wing. When Atlanta can't get out in transition, they can be shut down in the halfcourt. You can sag , clog the lane, and help off if a guy does beat his individual matchip.

It's been the same case every year they've gone to the playoffs. Marvin Williams (more of 16-20 ft shooter than 3 pt shooter) and Bibby (on the downside of the hill) are the closest thing they have to guys who you can kick it out to get a straight shot out of. The rest of the guys are scorers. Scorers are awesome, but you need SHOOTERS in the playoffs.

If you took Orlando's players and Atlanta's players and organized 1 on 1 games in positions 1-4 in 1st and 2nd string, Atlanta would likely win.

However, NBA basketball with the "zonesque" defense that is allowed is not a 1 on 1 game anymore. The team with the most shooters has the upperhand on the team with the 1 on 1 scorers.



I have no doubt Charlotte would've beaten Atlanta had they matched up. The Hawks have a ton of talent, but haven't been able to put it together for whatever reason. It's likely Woodson, given that the Hawks iso on every other possession.

I mentioned earlier that the Charlotte series was tremendously beneficial to both the Bobcats and the Magic. We won't face a defense like that til probably next year when we match up:D

[gforce33]

:g:
Hawks
25-77 32.5%
:)

[LiquidWayno]

they are getting humbleddddd

[gforce33]

LB laughs :cool:

[Marvel]

Not really.The Hawks have just come off a 7 game series- which shouldn't have happened but it's not like Orlando care.The Hawks made their bed but they don't wanna lie in it.

[CarolinaBlue704]

At least the Bobcats didn't get completely embarrassed.

[mj4life]

In the playoffs:



If you took Orlando's players and Atlanta's players and organized 1 on 1 games in positions 1-4 in 1st and 2nd string, Atlanta would likely win.

However, NBA basketball with the "zonesque" defense that is allowed is not a 1 on 1 game anymore. The team with the most shooters has the upperhand on the team with the 1 on 1 scorers.
that's one of the reasons they are so good, the nba changed it's rules a couple years ago to allow a soft form of zone defense which is why howard gets so many blocks and they don't get hurt cause he's a dominant rebounder

[SWedd523]

We lost 4 games to Orlando by a total of 39 points.

Atlanta has lost 1 game to Orlando by a total of 43 points.

[BigMike]

"I still played about the same amount of minutes," Howard said, chuckling, because he wasn't needed much in the fourth.
"The first round is over with."

Read: "So I dont have to put up with the F#@%ing Bobcats anymore"

[ND22]

114-74?

Now I don't feel so bad.

[DY_nasty]

Atlanta gets blown out in every single road opener that they're involved with. Check the stats, the closest that they've ever been in a playoff road opener was 18. This isn't surprising at all... Their point guard situation is worse than ours, and on top of that they didn't really bother defending Vince at all.

Woodson should've been fired 3 seasons ago.

[Demon DeaCat]

No doubt. It's why I hate all the idiotic kneejerk reactions, scapegoating, and video game GM'ing that has taken place since we lost.

Exactly who does Atlanta scapegoat and get rid of with their performance?

Orlando is just a tough matchup for everyone. It's funny, b/c in spite of the 4-0 series, it was more competitive than some would realize.

I totally agree that there were some overly critical, emotional posts during and after our series with Orl that perhaps should have been delayed for a few days after some perspective could be gained. Nevertheless, I think much of that discussion was/is very valid, despite how good Orl is. Our situation is different from Atlanta's in that we've got some personnel decisions that need to be made, and our financial situation likely won't afford us the luxury of maintaining the status quo (i.e. keeping both Felton and TT). Even though Orlando is a great team, I think it's totally fair to assess how each of those guys performed against the highest level of competition and use that performance as a basis for what the next step should be with respect to each of them.

[teej]

Our situation is different from Atlanta's in that we've got some personnel decisions that need to be made, and our financial situation likely won't afford us the luxury of maintaining the status quo (i.e. keeping both Felton and TT).

Same goes for Atlanta...:confused:

They have to decide on Woody, JJ, and Josh Childress maybe coming back. They're in worse shape than us.

[ziggy]

The Magic win this afternoon by 30.

anybody else feeling a lot better about how close the Bobcats were able to play Magic after seeing what they are doing to the Hawks?

[Marvel]

OK,i am feeling a lot better now after that game 3 whoop ass from Orlando.I thought the Hawks would win this one but it's clear Orlando are as good as they/we thought they were.Talk about DOMINATION.

[SWedd523]

The Hawks have lost these three games by ~30 points.




OH. MY. LAWD.

[ziggy]

The Hawks have lost these three games by ~30 points.




OH. MY. LAWD.

Apparently Orlando really is that damned good :g:

[spectre]

Apparently Orlando really is that damned good :g:

...and we really weren't that bad.

I have to give it to Orlando. I never thought they'd play this good in the post season.

[Muttley]

...and we really weren't that bad.

I have to give it to Orlando. I never thought they'd play this good in the post season.

I'd say we were pretty damned good! (relatively speaking)
Atlanta is just getting destroyed.

I think we helped Orlando a lot by forcing Gortat and the shooters to win games. Now that Atlanta can't minimize Howard's effect on the game, they're just getting pummled.

[Fred Williamson]

man, what could have been if we faced the Hawks or Cavs....

[RyanTheMagicFan]

If you guys had played the Hawks you would have taken them out in 5 or 6 and it really wouldn't have been even that close. They are an isolation offense team that fantastic defenses like yours just eat up.

I said it before you guys are one good low post scorer from an upper level Eastern Conference team. As a division rival I'm dreading seeing you guys land some one like Boozer or David Lee. Jordan I bet knows this though and will do whatever he can in the upcoming off-season. The Hawks are on the way down and both you and Miami are looking to add some more to their teams and move up.