While watching the Magic clobber the Bulls by 29 points on Thursday for their seventh consecutive victory, I started thinking about the differences between this season's Orlando team and the one that reached the NBA Finals a year ago. What stands out to me is the fact that the Magic might struggle in the playoffs without Hedo Turkoglu around to initiate the offense. Yes, he is playing poorly in Toronto, but he was Orlando's top player in the playoffs last year. He was their best playmaker.

In the playoffs, when teams crank it up on defense, you need guys who can create on their own. You have to be able to create off the dribble. I don't see many guys on the Magic who can do that.

For example, Vince Carter had 25 points against the Lakers a few days ago, but he had only one assist. Jameer Nelson is healthy, which obviously is a plus, but he is not a high assist guy. Go down their roster, Mickael Pietrus, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes -- they just don't have a lot of creators, and that could be a potential problem.

For whatever reason, it just hasn't worked out for Hedo with the Raptors. He is averaging only 12 points per game and has had nights when he has made only one basket or gone scoreless. That is a big drop-off from last season, when he was terrific and easily could have been an All-Star.

Vince basically replaced Hedo in the lineup. While he is getting 16 points a game, he is averaging a little less than three assists. He is much-maligned for settling for too many jumpers and not getting to the free throw line often enough. He is in a different role than he is accustomed to because he isn't the No. 1 option in Orlando. Vince can play, but he is a different player than Hedo.

Orlando (46-20) has the second-best record in the East because Stan Van Gundy is an outstanding coach and the Magic play really good defense. Everyone knows Dwight Howard is a terrific defender, but overall they play quality team defense.

Howard has taken a big step forward offensively from where he was last season. Last season, he was mechanical and his moves seemed preconceived. Now he is reading defenses and making better plays. When he is successful down low, it opens up the 3-point shot. Orlando is a jump-shooting team first due to the lack of playmakers.

The Magic aren't the Rockets of 1994-95. Houston would dump the ball down to Hakeem Olajuwon and you had to double-team. That isn't an automatic yet when Dwight gets the ball. If a team uses its 18 fouls from the center position on him, they can slow down the Orlando offense, and that is where I see a potential problem.

In the East, I believe Cleveland will be the 1-seed and Orlando the 2-seed. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Magic get through the East, but I feel that they are a different team with Hedo gone. In a seven-game series, I think Cleveland has the edge, especially now that the Cavaliers have added Antawn Jamison to the mix.

The Cavs got Jamison to beat the Magic. Last season, Cleveland won 66 games and everyone thought it was going to be a LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant Finals, and then the Magic came out of nowhere to pull off the upset. With Jamison in town, Cleveland has another viable option in the half court, and defensively the Cavs now have someone who can chase Rashard Lewis as well as defend down low.

Jon Barry is a regular Daily Dime contributor.

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