Bobcats vs Magic Picks – Magic Will Advance Quickly
The Bobcats vs Magic first-round series pits two teams against each other who are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Bobcats are making their franchise playoff debut while the Magic are the reigning Eastern Conference champs. This will be a quick, one-sided series and a learning process for the Bobcats.
The Story
Online betting fans know how the NBA playoffs work. Home court advantage is key and the first round is usually where the big boys smack around those teams who are just happy to be there. The Bobcats are a decent team and they are going to continue to get better, but they are just happy to be there. A win or two against Orlando would pay huge dividends for their confidence, but they aren’t going to be winning this series unless some serious injuries come into play.
Bobcats vs Magic: Better Starters?
The Bobcats have a cute starting lineup, but the Magic blow them out of the water. The Magic have the advantage at almost every position with players like Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter.
Howard will be the biggest problem for the Bobcats, who are very thing in the front court. Theo Ratliff and Nazr Mohammed will have the job of containing him, which is a big problem. On the defensive end, the lack of a post presence for Charlotte means that Howard can patrol and block a lot of shots.
The Bobcats have a good concept of defense but with no answer for Howard, the Magic will pound it in and then live off of the three-point line.
Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace play with a lot of heart for Charlotte but they alone aren’t enough to carry – or even keep up – with the Magic.
Edge: MagicBobcats vs Magic: Better Bench?
The Bobcats have some bench depth but again, it is spotty in comparison to Orlando.
Tyson Chandler, Larry Hughes and Tyrus Thomas are decent backups but they don’t scare anyone. NBA betting fans know there’s a reason why Chandler and Thomas – and even D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson – are high draft picks that are coming off the bench and not starting.
Meanwhile, the Magic can role several good parts off the bench, such as J.J. Redick, Mikael Pietrus, Matt Barnes and even Brandon Bass. The Magic players also know all of their roles very well whereas the Bobcats will find out what they truly have when the going gets tough in the playoffs.
Edge: MagicBobcats vs Magic: X-Factor?
For the Bobcats, the x-factor has to be an injury to someone from the Magic. As silly as it sounds, that’s the only way they are going to advance. The Magic were 33-7 at home this year and have home court advantage. They have more experience, a more balanced team and won the regular season series 3-1 (winning by an average of nearly 10 points in their wins). Their lone last came when the Bobcats were their fourth game in six nights.
For the Magic, it’s Vince Carter. The Magic have to be balanced inside and outside, and while Howard will surely provide the inside presence, Carter has to lead the perimeter players. If he doesn’t, sports betting fans know this series will be more of a struggle for the Magic.
Who’s Gonna Win?
The Magic are going to roll the Bobcats in this series. While they have their eye squarely on the prize this year after falling short in the finals, the sportsbook odds makers know that the Bobcats are simply happen to be in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
