| Magic need a win tonight to stay alive Authored by Howard Mass/RealGM - April 11, 2005 - 2:12 am
Last week, the Orlando Magic Front Office poll asked if you would prefer the Magic to make the playoffs or get a better draft choice. An overwhelming 84 (79 percent) of you choose the playoffs while only 23 (21 percent) wanted the Magic to get a better draft choice.
Here were some of the responses to my article last week.
“I think that missing the playoffs shouldn't even be considered a want. You have to want the playoffs no matter who we face. There's not that big a difference between the 12-14th and 15th picks in the draft.” MFO Columnist Jason Willis
“I am always in favor of trying to win every game possible, even if you are already out of the playoffs. How in the world can you plan as a team to lose, merely to move up a couple of spots in the draft to pick one lousy player? This also means playing Miami in the first round. Even if we get pounded, it will build character and hopefully leave the young guys hungry for more. It would still bring the guys closer together imo. Forget the draft....... the season is still upon us! Never give up.” MFO poster Spinedoc
“I think its critical that we make the playoffs. Fan expectations are that we should be there and I think wonder why we have not done better. .I am not saying the die hard fans like on here...we stay on top of it and know what is going down .but to the outside observer they wonder what is wrong with this team/organization. I think it will also help loosen the purse strings as well if we make them playoffs because of the revenue generated on even a series going to 4 to 5 games.” MFO poster ProfX
As for the 23 people who voted no, not one of them cared to respond. It shows that the fans of this team have a lot of pride and everyone of you should be proud of that.
Sadly, with only six games remaining in the regular season, the Magic’s chances of making the playoffs got extremely dim this past week with losses to Dallas, Chicago and Detroit.
Those six remaining games are going to be a difficult stretch and if they lose the first one, they are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Here they are:
Monday April 11 vs. Cleveland
Wednesday April 13 at Detroit
Friday April 15 at Chicago
Saturday April 16 at Milwaukee
Monday April 18 vs. Indiana
Wednesday April 20 vs. Miami
Now, I am not even going to post Philadelphia or Cleveland’s schedule as the Magic are a whopping FOUR games behind each team. This means if Cleveland wins tonight, the Magic are eliminated from playoff contention as they would lose tiebreakers to both teams.
So, do not even worry about the remaining schedule, tonight against Cleveland is all that matters for now.
If the Magic prevail, then you think about the remaining schedule.
It is simply DO or DIE tonight folks.
Hopefully, for the few that still believe including myself, it will not be the latter.
New Magic Poll
This week, the MFO poll would like to know your feeling about interim head coach Chris Jent. Do you want him to be retained as head coach or would you prefer the Magic bring in someone else?
Let me know your thoughts and I will post select comments in my column next week along with my thoughts on coach Jent.
Feedback
While I got to post my take, I want everyone else to have their say. So, please send me your thoughts and feedback about this and I will post select comments in my next column.
Even if you do not feel like writing up some comments, please take the poll on the left side of the page. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone's take here.
Finally, if you are interested in writing a piece of your own for this site, please contact me at the above address.
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