Orlando Magic Future Beasts of the East?

When LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers upset the Detroit Pistons to make the NBA Finals, analysts and fans alike jumped on the Cleveland bandwagon. The Cavs, the popular thinking went, were ready to dominate the East for years to come. 

The Cavs, the popular thinking went, were ready to dominate the East for years to come. But before we hand King James the crown, we might want to consult the Orlando Magic about it.

 

Believe it or not, Orlando went 2-1 against the Cavs in 2006-07' and they only lost by three points.

What's more, the Magic were 1-1 against the Spurs, joining the Heat as the only Eastern Conference playoff team to post a combined winning record against Cleveland and San Antonio. 

 

Even a cursory look at the Magic's roster reveals the makings of something special. The team is centered around Dwight Howard, who may be the best young big man in the NBA. And while skeptics criticize Howard's supporting cast, the truth is that there's plenty of talent in Orlando.

 

With his athleticism and defensive skills, Trevor Ariza might be a future star—especially if he can develop a jump shot. Jameer Nelson has his flaws, but is also a natural leader and could be a scoring threat in a new offensive system. J.J. Redick has the potential to become a deadly outside scoring threat a lesser Reggie Miller, even. Add Darko Milicic, who could well develop into a quality center, and you have a starting five to rival any in the East.

 

And don't forget: The Magic just added a winning coach in Stan Van Gundy, who should help his young players find their offensive niches while preaching the paramount importance of defense.

 

The Cavs, on the other hand, don't have much going for them besides LeBron James. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is 32. Larry Hughes can't be counted on. Drew Gooden is extremely inconsistent. And Anderson Varejao is a (restricted) free agent.

 

Orlando's roster is younger than Cleveland's and only getting better. And last year, head-to-head, they were the superior unit. 

 

To top it all off, Orlando has more than $10 million to spend this offseason. While teams like the Heat, the Nets, the Wizards, and the Pistons lose stars to free agency or old age, the Magic are primed to make the jump to the next level. 

 

In another season or so, Orlando should be able to compete with—if not dominate—any team in the conference.

 

So yes: Before you hand the East over to the James and Co., consider the underdogs. At the very least, the Magic look ready to put up a fight before they go bowing to the King.