2010 NBA Playoffs Prediction: Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Before the season began, it was pretty easy to predict that the Orlando Magic would end up with the two-seed behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Much less widely predicted was the ascension of the Charlotte Bobcats to their first ever playoff appearance.

Orlando Magic 2010 NBA Playoffs Preview

The Orlando Magic were able to lock up the two-seed in the East despite seeming less dominant than they did when they made the NBA Finals last year. Replacing Hedo Turkoglu with Vince Carter has not been the upgrade that the Magic expected. They also no longer match up as well against Cleveland with the Cavs adding Shaquille O'Neal in the offseason.

One of the healthiest teams in the NBA this season, the Magic have been able to repeat last year's strong performance by staying on the court. Dwight Howard's growing prowess on the offensive side of the court will be another major factor if the Magic hope to proceed deep into the 2010 NBA Playoffs. In addition, the Magic have the largest point differential in the league, although this is partially due to Cleveland's shrinking point differential since they decided to rest Lebron James and some of their other starters to have them ready for the playoffs.

The Magic won't have to face the Cavaliers, the team most likely to defeat the Magic in a seven-game series in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, until the Eastern Conference Finals. No other team in the East worries the Magic. Dwight Howard can dominate just about anyone, and the Magic's balanced mix of offense and defense should let them roll over teams like the Bobcats fairly easily.

Charlotte Bobcats 2010 NBA Playoffs Preview

The Charlotte Bobcats, behind defensive stalwart Gerald Wallace and early-season pickup Stephen Jackson, have come out of nowhere to claim their first playoff appearance. Their reward? They have to play the Magic, perhaps the only team better than them defensively. The Bobcats went 1-3 versus the Magic in the regular season.

In order to beat Orlando, everything will have to go right for Charlotte. On the defensive side, Gerald Wallace will have to be able to slow down Dwight Howard and the Bobcats will have to rebound as well as they can. In their lone win against Orlando, the Bobcats survived mainly because the Magic were out-rebounded and shot only 57.1% from the field. The Bobcats' offense is not the team's strength, and if they aren't able to stop the Magic from scoring, they'll have almost no chance of making up the deficit.

Magic vs. Bobcats Conclusion

The Bobcats' season definitely makes their future look bright, but they have no answer for Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and, if he's playing well, Vince Carter. Of all the first round match ups in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, only the Cavaliers vs. the Bulls seems like more of a lock for the higher seed to advance than the Magic defeating the Bobcats.

2010 NBA Playoffs Prediction: Magic defeat Bobcats, 4-1

Source(s):

All statistics retrieved from ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/matchup/_/teams/bobcats-magic