2023-2024 Regular Season Game 49: Orlando Magic (25-23) at Minnesota Timberwolves (34-14) - 8pm

[Residual-Heat]

I'm serious...

If the Magic could figure out a way to turn the starting PG spot (aka the Fultz spot) into a top 50 NBA player, I'd be willing to go to war against ANYBODY in the East. I really would.

I feel the same, that's IF Isaac is healthy.

[Rainwater]

Fultz with 23 minutes, every other starter played 35+. LOVE TO SEE IT

I don’t get this narrative. Fultz wasn’t the problem, he actually played well. It was Paolo’s inability to guard either Rudy or KAT that was the problem. Fultz was taken out so JI could guard one of the bigs.

[thelead]

Long bois lineup is back! Don't let us down now Mosley.

It's on Isaac and others to not let us down with injuries. At least, playing smart when they can. Some stuff is inevitable.

Do you feel confident Mosley will continue with this lineup going forward? I mean we're not a good shooting team, so typical lineups don't really help us much. Might as well stick with this suffocating defensive lineup as our identity. We'll see.

Mosley knows. I think it really comes down to JI's health and what the medical staff say this year.

[ogmagicfan]

No Fultz in the 4th brought a tear of happiness to my eyes.

I called it before the game that they would put Gobert on Fultz, and they grabbed the early lead due to that

Thankfully coach adjusted and brought out the trump card in the 4th right in time with the jumbo lineup

Fultz scored on Rudy twice if I remember correctly. Fultz really wasn’t the problem. The problem was really that Paolo couldn’t guard KAT or Rudy hence why JI was in and not Fultz.

It's not about Fultz scoring on Gobert. It's about how Gobert can limit everyone elses scoring on the team. He could roam the paint alot more & help while not worrying about Fultz making him pay from distance

[SOUL]

Outside of some small stretches, Fultz played well this game.

It's the former 1st pick expectations + contract + current role when you factor into actually competing long-term though. If he comes off the bench in a TJ McConnell role with limited minutes (or extended minutes when playing well), I think a lot of people's criticisms rightfully go away.

[eyriq]

Fultz with 23 minutes, every other starter played 35+. LOVE TO SEE IT

I don’t get this narrative. Fultz wasn’t the problem, he actually played well. It was Paolo’s inability to guard either Rudy or KAT. Fultz was taken out so JI could guard one of the bigs.

Just pointing out evidence that Fultz isn't a core piece. Need evidence that coaches and management will do the right thing with Fultz.

[Rainwater]

No Fultz in the 4th brought a tear of happiness to my eyes.

I called it before the game that they would put Gobert on Fultz, and they grabbed the early lead due to that

Thankfully coach adjusted and brought out the trump card in the 4th right in time with the jumbo lineup

Fultz scored on Rudy twice if I remember correctly. Fultz really wasn’t the problem. The problem was really that Paolo couldn’t guard KAT or Rudy hence why JI was in and not Fultz.

It's not about Fultz scoring on Gobert. It's about how Gobert can limit everyone elses scoring on the team. He could roam the paint alot more & help while not worrying about Fultz making him pay from distance

To be fair while JI is a better shooter he is not much of a threat from 3 either.

[Black and Blue]

This game is why I scoff at people who are hellbent on giving up on Isaac or throwing him in trades for mediocre bench warmers. It's ridiculous talk.

We already waited all those years when he was injured, why throw him away now when he's contributing more than the past 4 seasons and has won us at minimum 5 games halfway thru the year.

It’s quite insane actually. It’s like he comes to life lately when we assume he is going to get shut down for the year.

He has been a monster lately. I hope the magic continue to use him in this giant lineup and avoid shutting him down for 10-15 game stretches. We need him for playoff position at this point.

[Knightro]

It feels like Isaac is going to continue to be closer and not a starter.

Keep him limited to like 20 MPG to try and save his body, but have him out there in the 4th Q when it matters most.

[SOUL]

Read on Twitter

[Rainwater]

Fultz with 23 minutes, every other starter played 35+. LOVE TO SEE IT

I don’t get this narrative. Fultz wasn’t the problem, he actually played well. It was Paolo’s inability to guard either Rudy or KAT. Fultz was taken out so JI could guard one of the bigs.

Just pointing out evidence that Fultz isn't a core piece. Need evidence that coaches and management will do the right thing with Fultz.

I just feel like Fultz not playing in the 4th was more situational than anything else. While I agree Fultz does need to be moved tonight doesn’t really prove anything. It wasn’t like shooting was the reason they won tonight, it was more defense.

[SOUL]

I agree with pepe more about a lot lately but he has always been off on Isaac in terms of his impact. Everything about his injuries, sure, not worthy of his contract, sure, but man... his on court impact even without stats is amazing.

[thelead]

Outside of some small stretches, Fultz played well this game.

It's the former 1st pick expectations + contract + current role when you factor into actually competing long-term though. If he comes off the bench in a TJ McConnell role with limited minutes (or extended minutes when playing well), I think a lot of people's criticisms rightfully go away.

Nah...

[Knightro]

The Pacers btw have lost 3 straight and the Magic are just 0.5 games out of 6th.

I think the goal, trade or no trade, should be to earn the 6 seed.

[thelead]

The Pacers btw have lost 3 straight and the Magic are just 0.5 games out of 6th.

I think the goal, trade or no trade, should be to earn the 6 seed.

I didn't think it was possible but with Sixers possibly losing Embiid for the rest of the year, they're another team we can catch.

[Residual-Heat]

Last time we faced the wolves, they won in a blow out. At the time we were starting Okeke, Houstan, and Bitadze. All of these guys were DNPs tonight.

[Knightro]

Outside of some small stretches, Fultz played well this game.

It's the former 1st pick expectations + contract + current role when you factor into actually competing long-term though. If he comes off the bench in a TJ McConnell role with limited minutes (or extended minutes when playing well), I think a lot of people's criticisms rightfully go away.

I agree with you. IMO the best role Markelle has ever filled in Orlando was two years ago when he was just coming back from the torn ACL and he played a tight 20 MPG as a backup PG for like 15 games down the stretch.

When he can come in and just race the ball up and down the floor and find shooters and cutters in transition and semi transition against the other team's backups, that's where his skill set will shine the best IMO.

The problem is, it's hard for him to fill that backup PG role here in Orlando because they already have Cole who they've already committed an extension to, and those two guys aren't really suited to share the floor.

[tooler]

Funniest thing about the jumbo lineup is they were doing the same thing last season except with Bol Bol. Talk about a big difference.

[Black and Blue]

The Pacers btw have lost 3 straight and the Magic are just 0.5 games out of 6th.

I think the goal, trade or no trade, should be to earn the 6 seed.

The shifts in the East the past few weeks have actually changed a lot.

I’ll add Murray showcasing himself for teams has had a reverse effect and suddenly they are in the play in. The Hawks just might hold him at this point as they haven’t been wowed by the Lakers lowballing them.

I’m at the point of low expectations for the Magic doing something to bolster that PG spot. For the love of God just do NOT RESIGN FULTZ this summer. We can do so much better with the available options out there.

[Knightro]

The Pacers btw have lost 3 straight and the Magic are just 0.5 games out of 6th.

I think the goal, trade or no trade, should be to earn the 6 seed.

I didn't think it was possible but with Sixers possibly losing Embiid for the rest of the year, they're another team we can catch.

I just don't think the Magic can overcome the gap the Sixers currently have (5 games).

They still have Maxey and a veteran laden roster. Even if Embiid misses the rest of the season, I think they can play around .500 ball the rest of the way and finish with like 46 wins.

I don't think the Magic can get that high, even though their schedule is soft.