NBA Playoffs: Team Comparisons: How Do the Orlando Magic Stack Up Vs. Celtics?

Interestingly, Boston seemingly had no regard for Orlando in their moves that were orchestrated this year at the trade deadline.

Despite having about the only player in the league capable of single covering Dwight Howard in Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics dealt Perkins away for combo forward Jeff Green. 

Green provides some nice scoring punch, but Boston is a defensive team and they could always manage to score enough to get victories, evidenced by having won the Eastern Conference for two of the last three seasons.  Danny Ainge may draw criticism for moving Semih Erden, Luke Harangody, Nate Robinson, and Kendrick Perkins—most importantly—but he was the one who brought Garnett and Ray Allen to town. 

Point Guard

Jameer Nelson & Gilbert Arenas vs. Rajon Rondo & Delonte West

Nelson and Arenas are both completely incapable of keeping pace with Rondo.

Rajon Rondo has led the league in assists this year and though his mid-range jumpshot is still suspect, he has to be considered the toast (along with Rudy Gay) of the 2006 draft, and he was drafted 21st overall…by Phoenix!

Rondo’s length, speed, and overall talent is going to overwhelm Nelson, and Arenas will barely be able to keep Rondo in front of him at all (if Stan Van Gundy is even adventurous enough to try such an endeavor).

Things don’t get much better when West comes off the bench due to his size and shooting ability.  He has also traditionally murdered the Magic.

It’s just one more pin in the cushion though, because the Magic have to be happy any time Rondo is on the bench.

Advantage:  Boston

Shooting Guard

Jason Richardson & J.J. Redick vs. Ray Allen & Von Wafer

Obviously Wafer is an unnecessary footnote in the matchup at shooting guard.  Allen still plays 36 minutes per night and really has shown no signs of slowing down. 

His 45.2 percent from three is actually 5 percent higher than his career average and he is now nearly 36 years old (he turns 36 July 20th).

Jason Richardson is an athletic player and good shooter, but he can’t really hold a candle to Allen.

J.J. Redick did an admirable job of guarding Ray Allen in the 2009 playoffs, and will see extended minutes.

Redick, like Allen, relies on screens to get open, and his experience in using them makes him that much more effective at beating them himself.

This is not to suggest he will shut Ray Allen down.  Allen is much more than a spot-up shooter and from time to time surprises the crowd with an exciting dunk.

Advantage:  Boston

Small Forward

Hedo Turkoglu & Quentin Richardson vs. Paul Pierce & Sasha Pavlovic

Like the situation with Allen, Paul Pierce plays the lion’s share of the minutes at small forward and leaves very little time for Pavlovic to see the court.  Pavlovic at one time in his career appeared to be a promising foreign prospect but has since showed few of the flashes that he did early in his career in Cleveland.

Pierce is as crafty as ever and Hedo is probably one of the better at guarding him.

Pierce is still going to hit a number of clutch shots and will catch Hedo off his feet or on his heels quite frequently, often as the result of a Pierce jab step or step back.

Hedo Turkoglu will do his usual act, and Richardson may come in to hit an occasional three, but in the end it will be Paul Pierce who will give Boston the edge at this position.

Advantage:  Boston

For the rest of this article, click here