Orlando Poodles Bark Back

Practice hasn't even officially started yet and the Orlando Magic are already feeling disrespected. Even though the Magic are the defending Eastern Conference champions, it seems nobody is picking them to return to the Finals this year.

In fact, it was during their Finals matchup with the Lakers when Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce tweeted to his followers, "Looked like a German shepherd vs. a poodle. That’s OK the Rottweiler Celtics will be back in 2010."

Magic forward Rashard Lewis, during the team's Media Day Monday, took umbrage with Pierce's Twitter remark and went after Pierce not like a poodle but like a pitbull.When a reporter brought up the Orlando Poodles comment made by Pierce, Lewis emphasized the fact that Pierce made his remark on Twitter.

And you know what that means?

It means, Lewis said, Pierce was "at home" tweeting while the Magic were playing for the NBA championship. Said Magic point guard Jameer Nelson: "Nobody believes in us, but we believe in ourselves."

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Two years ago when the Hawks talked about a rivalry with the Celtics, KG and the Truth said, yeah, that's the one thing about rivalries, you don't have one until both teams have won something. I think Orlando's victory over us in the Eastern Conference Semis last year counts as winning something. I also doubt that Mr. Pierce would have called the Cavs "poodles," even if they would have lost to the Fakers in the Finals.

Ok, then. I think we have ourselves a rivalry.