Have We Underestimated the Poodles?

Bill (Miami)

So in Sheridan's Boston article, Pierce again ignores the Magic and says he is only circling games against the Lakers and Cavs to test their mettle. Is there some kind of bias against the Magic that even the other NBA players feel?

John Hollinger

Remember, Pierce also had that Tweet about Orlando playing like poodles during the Finals. Believe me, the guys in Orlando have noticed.

LINK

My guess is that most Celtics' fans agree with Pierce's assessment: Cleveland will be a tougher rival than Orlando. But is it a good assessment? Are the perceived threats prioritized correctly? Didn't the Orlando Magic just summarily dismiss the Cleveland Caviliers in six games? Isn't a healthy Jameer Nelson expected to return to the Magic's starting line-up? Haven't they added Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, and Brandon Bass while losing only Hedo Turkoglu? Didn't Dwight Howard go off for 40 in the decisive game against Cleveland?

Yes, the Cavs added Shaquille O'Neal to defend against Howard. They also added some nice complementary pieces in Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, and eventually Leon Powe. Will that be enough to get them past Orlando? I'm gonna say . . . no. Right now, the two teams square off again in a seven-gamer, and Orlando advances. Doesn't Paul Pierce see this?

He very well could.

Then why is he circling only games against the Cavs and the Lakers?

Easy.

We haven't beaten the Cavs in Cleveland since Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. On the Celtics Great To-Do-List hovering in the sky, beating Cleveland in Cleveland is at the top. They need a W in Cleveland as a point of self-validation. As for the Lakers, they swept the green last year and are now the reigning champs. Beating them is another point of self-validation for Doc and the boys.

The Magic might be better than both the Cavs and Lakers, but a injury-depleted Celtics roster of 7 guys beat the Magic in Orlando during the Eastern Conference semis last spring. Plus Orlando's performance in the NBA Finals had a "not ready for prime-time" feeling to it.

So while the Magic may prove themselves to be the best team in basketball when June 2010 rolls around, the Celtics already have self-validated against them, and Paul Pierce feels like Orlando still has more to prove than either the Cavs, the Lakers, or the green. I respect Orlando. But I agree with Paul Pierce's assessment, until Orlando steps up and proves us wrong.