Beast of the East

The Orlando Magic may be the smartest of the three leading Eastern Conference teams. They decided that their big trades and acquisitions would be in the offseason, not at the trade deadline. After a rocky start, the Magic have decided to wisely wait for those moves to produce. Their patience not only exhibits confidence, but it also yells out a message. The Magic are acting like defending champs should: Like they’re the team to beat.

The other two Eastern Conference giants seemed to do the opposite. The Boston Celtics recently picked up Nate Robinson to give them more consistent point guard play. The move sent sharp shooter Eddie House to the New York Knicks. The acquisition also shows a concerted effort to make the team more energetic, perhaps to better compete with the younger Eastern Conference teams.

The Cleveland Cavaliers perhaps created the biggest splash. With the best record in basketball, they also may have the best player. Yet the Cavaliers are desperate. They’re past concerned. Put it this way, they’re in emergency mode.

The Cavaliers were full of activity as the trade deadline neared. They made offers to any, and every big-name player who would insure they beat the Magic this year.

Worried? Please believe it. They virtually need a guaranteed championship and then plenty of prayers to keep LeBron James from leaving the Cavaliers for a bigger market. Another playoff ousting at the hands of the Magic could tip the ship over.

According to experts, the Magic are not headed for a Finals return. Really? The Magic not only beat the Cavaliers last year, but the hobbled Garnett-less Celtics even took the Magic to seven games. The Cavaliers lost in six, and truly it could have been in five had James missed the 36-foot miracle three-pointer in Game 2 of the conference finals.

I’m not even sure the Cavaliers believe they will beat the Magic. Their significant roster changes indicate they are preparing for a playoff hurricane, with the Magic directly in the eye of the storm.

Was it a coincidence that the Cavaliers so readily signed an aged Shaq? Or did they need someone to match-up against Dwight Howard? With efficient rebounders in Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, and Zydrunaz IIgauskas, was there a need to seek an undersized power forward in Antwan Jamison? Or did they need a power forward to defend Rashard Lewis on the perimeter?

These questions linger, however one thing is for sure: The Eastern Conference champions will reign until they are dethroned. It seems as if the Cavaliers and the Celtics got the memo, now they just need to forward it to the “experts.”