In an article by our very own Orlando Sentinel today, they requested 11 national NBA "experts" to comment on the Eastern Conference teams, and how they thought teams would do. Listen I know these are all opinions. I know that we are primarily a Magic blog, but its just that sometimes the reasons these guys give as to why Orlando will do worse this season are just stupid.

They say..

The voters think Orlando will miss Hedo Turkoglu and will need time to adjust to a roster filled with new players.

"When I learned they were going after Vince, I thought it was to play him next to Hedo Turkoglu (the team MVP in my eyes), not replace him," said Ric Bucher, an NBA reporter and analyst for ESPN. "I was ready to anoint that team the best in the East. It's hard to see them having the same blazing start they had last year with all the changes. Let's put it this way: If this year's team does what last year's team did, it will be a bigger surprise than last year's team doing it, which was only the biggest shock in the league last year."

Really? Just because you lose one guy, your team is going to fail? Hedo is/was the MVP? Are you F'ing serious?

"Continuity tends to win championships," said Steve Kyler, the editor and publisher of HOOPSWORLD, who ranked the Celtics first in the East. "There is little doubt Orlando improved the talent level of the team, but can the new guys fit in as effectively as last year's team did? Can you capture magic twice?"

Ok, I'll give you that.

But with a team that kept their core, and only lost one player to add a lot more talent, wouldn't you think that that would make them better? Let's face it. Courtney Lee was a great defender and a really decent player but he was not irreplaceable. Pietrus did as good, of not better of a job at the beginning of the season before all the injuries. Then there's Hedo. Playmaker. Sure. Heart Attack Inducer. Definitely. How many times did he lower his head, ran to the point and threw his hands up as if he was getting punched in the nuts? How many times did he take a way too early 3 pointer, while being double teamed?

I'm not saying he won't be missed 100%. I am just saying that he wasn't that important for the team. Remember a certain All-Star PG will be back 100% too. That's two 100% references in one sentence...Maybe I should have gone with 110%...

"The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't lose anyone of significance off the team that won 66 games last season," said John Schuhmann, a writer for NBA.com who picked the Cavs as the East's best team. "They added Shaquille O'Neal and Anthony Parker, both of whom should help them match up better with Boston and Orlando, and they still have the best player in the world."

What about this one? Shouldn't you apply the same chemistry issues and questions to all the teams? Why is it that it only applies to the Magic?

The Magic added some good players with no history of being headcases. Cleveland added the biggest egomaniac in the league which will surely clash with Lebron and talk bad about the team, coaches, city, etc, when he sees that he's not getting the ball as much as he thinks he deserves to get it. Besides, he is older than dirt, and only a big toe injury to being worthless. Is he going to bitch when Dwight is the All-Star center in the east? Very likely.

Boston has Rasheed. Another aging vet, in a team that already has stock at the old people walker and crutches factory. They will be good, But can they be healthy for 95+ games? What about chemistry here? Do we really think Rasheed Wallace is going to sit quietly and not say anything to his new team mates?

I'm only saying that we have to be fair with all the teams. In the end all the "experts" have to agree that even if the Magic start slow, because of "chemistry" issues, the team will certainly get to the playoffs. Even if they start slow, let's say they go for 500 in the first 3 weeks because of "chemistry" issued, they have another 4 or 5 months to gel by the time they get to the playoffs. Being 3rd in the playoffs last year, got us the Eastern Championship. Having a one team player won't get you there consistently. Having a pool of aging older vets is very dangerous. Having the youngest and deepest and most talented team in the East, will get you the trophy. Last year, this year, and the next. That team is the Orlando Magic.

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