Magic @ Hawks game 4

[nadeau01_johnson48]

I think it's arguable that the Hawks--in this series--may have put together the most pathetic series in NBA Playoff history.

[selby56]

I think it's arguable that the Hawks--in this series--may have put together the most pathetic series in NBA Playoff history.

Hard to believe that during the regular season a lot of analysts were picking them to upset the Magic or Cavs to go to the Finals...

[garnett_21]

Out to a 21-point lead with about 6:30 to play...

[garnett_21]

Magic win 98-84, and win the series in a sweep. They outscored the Hawks by 101 points over the 4 games in the series - an average margain of victory of 25 1/4 points per game - two of those victories were by "only" 14 points a piece.

[WilyWestbrook0]

I think it's arguable that the Hawks--in this series--may have put together the most pathetic series in NBA Playoff history.

I agree, and statistically it was, according to the flash displayed at the end of the game on TNT - no team has ever been outscored by a greater margin in a series in playoff history.

Ouch...

[#50 Tyler Hansbrough]

Im glad Orlando won the series but I didnt think they would win it this easily!! Atlanta just flat out didnt show up all 4 games!!

side note Vince Carter with a game high 22 points!!! woohoo!!!

[WilyWestbrook0]

Love seeing Vince advance to the Eastern finals. He's always been one of my top 10 or 15 players.

[#50 Tyler Hansbrough]

Love seeing Vince advance to the Eastern finals. He's always been one of my top 10 or 15 players.

LOL!!! I want to see him win a ring!! Orlando is dominate right now

[garnett_21]

Orlando is doing much better this postseason than they did last...is that attributed to the adding of Vince instead of retaining Hedo?

[gatorboymike]

The Magic have done quite a bit of restructuring in the past year, and the guys they've been starting have found quite an effective way to play off of each other (so to speak). Compare the starting fives the Magic were using at this point last season and this season:

08-09
PG: Rafer Alston
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Rashard Lewis
C: Dwight Howard

09-10
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Matt Barnes
PF: Rashard Lewis
C: Dwight Howard

Last season, injuries shook up the lineup at many points, close to and even during the playoffs. This season, they've been using the same five starters for the last 5/8ths of the regular season, injury-free, and they've learned to work together as a single killing machine. On paper, they ended up with the same regular season record as they had last season, but observable reality tells us that not all 59-23s are created equal. Not to mention that they went down 2-1 against Philadelphia and 3-2 against Boston in the first two rounds, whereas the first two rounds this season could hardly have been more different. I've maintained since the All-Star break, and I continue to maintain, that the Magic have a better shot at winning a title this year than they did last year. Can they actually do it? We'll find out. But they have my full support and encouragement to get it done.

Oh yes, and probably the only person in the entire NBA who would be more relieved than Vince to finally get a ring is also on the Magic...Patrick Ewing. Sure, it would be as a coach and not a player, but a ring is a ring, right?