Orlando/Atlanta Series Preview

The Orlando Magic, obviously have high goals after failing to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in last year's NBA Finals. The Atlanta Hawks, on the other hand, were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Their goals seem a lot more easier to satisfy. Just a few seasons ago both teams struggled to make it to the postseason. But after several years of a building process and key moves to their roster, they have both become respectable teams. While they both share homes in the NBA Southeast's Division, they have no history of a rivalry. At least not yet. Th reason for me writing this preview is mainly for the fact that I want to document my bold prediction. I want to clear any air up about the Magic's success in last year's playoffs. They are not the same team that made last season's Finals. Jameer Nelson is healthy and is on a mission, They have no Rafer Alston. They have no Hedo Turkoglu. Vince Carter is not Hedo and Rashard Lewis is much easier to expose now that Hedo is gone and a lot less productive or deadly. The Hawks unnoticeably added 6th-man wonder Jamal Crawford to their core for virtually nothing more than rarely used guards. The Breakdown: This series will not come down to individual match ups. However there are X-Factors to the series. Watch the Josh Smith/Rashard Lewis face off, this will be crucial. When Lewis strikes you'll feel it and it'll hurt a lot. J-Smoove's main goal is try to limit Lewis's opportunities while providing extra offense that the Hawks may need down the stretch. If he can not do either then the Magic sure will capitalize. The bench play will also be an important key in the series. The Hawks need to outshine the Magic once the reserves check in the game. However, the main recipe for success of either team will be determined by big man play. Al Horford and Dwight Howard are both All-Star centers. Horford is a young asset to the Atlanta's future and has come on in game play since being named an All-Star but his impact on the court can be filled if absent. Dwight Howard though is too much of a presence to replace. If not on the court, the Magic can hold on for a short period but will eventually break down. Both are legit (not an understatement) defenders in this league but are very distinctive in their own repsective manner. Dwight is a beastful help defender while Horford is a "straight up guard you man down low in the post" type of blue collared player. It would be wise if Mike Woodson, the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, to get the ball to Horford early down low and to go to work on Howard in an attempt to get him into early foul trouble and have him going from x-factor to no factor. Stan Van Gundy, the head coach of the Orlando Magic, doesn't have the same luxury. We should see a rotation of guards a lot to try to slow down Joe Johnson and Crawford on the court.
This series should be fun and memorable. Maybe even a start to a new rivalry as the Magic try to accomplish a goal that they were unable to last year and with the Hawks trying to add to an agenda that may surprise a few fans. The Hawks in 6.