2023-2024 Preseason Season Game 2: Orlando Magic (1-0) at Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) - 7pm

[eyriq]

I'd keep Cole Anthony without hesitation, if he only he agrees to a 6th man role on this team!

Fultz is so talented but defers to his teammates too much! He's also lethal in transition.

If Franz and Paolo are really taking the leap already I don't see how you let Fultz or Cole go. Switch gears and compete.

Switch gears? we were 29-24 between the 5-20 start and the 4 game tank job at the end to secure our place.
The FO/coaching/players flipped the switch last year...for better or worse.

If we play .500 basketball this season we might be the 6th seed. The entire NBA is deep. Won't be any easy wins for teams out there, which is good for the Magic, because teams like Miami aren't going to be able to pick up as many freebie wins when they rest their old men.

As for keeping Fultz or Cole...i mean everybody in the league is tradeable. They aren't going to give those guys away, but the calculus will now be about how to make the team better, through a sum of parts > whole approach. Hey maybe one or both of those guys end up being part of that solution, i don't know.

Hmmm, good point. I kind of assumed we'd suck because our stars aren't stars yet and our backcourt is worse than mid. That we'd have time to find a third rising star. I chalked up the .500 win rate as a ceiling achievable only because teams underestimated us.

I'm heavily questioning this view now.

[jonbob17]

A lot of WCJ comments but correct me if I'm wrong wasn't he statistically one of the best rim protectors last season?

Wendell was much improved last year but i wouldn't say he was one of the best rim protectors last year.

Whats makes a player a good rim protector is how a player impacts opponents FG% at the rim..AND how much they impact the frequency of which opponents take shots in the paint...are opponents scared to go to the rim?

Cleaning the glass tracks this, but requires a subscription. I looked on the NBA site and i think i might have found it, but don't know the definition, looks like this graph has the FG% difference and frequency.

If I am reading the data correctly. Among the best in the link below included Biyombo (14.3%), Brook Lopez, Kessler, and Jaren JacksonJr in the imact they make to opponents FG% on shots less than 6 feet. Those sound like the best rim protectors. Gobert was further down, but what has always made him so great is his impact against perimeter players.

Carter is a good ways down the list but did impact the FG% in a positive way....i.e. was lower when he was in game by 3.9%. Carter still looked like an above average defender last year for centers, contesting shots isn't everything, he is only 6'9" so he's doing really well for what he is working with.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense-dash-lt6?PlayerPosition=C&dir=A&sort=PLUSMINUS

[VFX]

My issue with Carter in this game wasn’t the defense.

It’s jacking up 3s before the offense even sets up. Then again, maybe that’s the point because there isn’t much to set up in a half court.

[JojoSlimbiid]

Carter's defense is less about rim protection and more about being good enough on the perimeter and just a sound team defender. He is good enough around the rim that there isn't a layup line but his ability to move and get in the way before the shot gets up to the rim is the point. I'd say he is a top 15 maybe top 10 center defensively.

[tiderulz]

We were outscored in the 4th and we won the 1st and 2nd quarter, tied the 3rd and then lost the 4th.

it wasnt 31-31 after the 1st?

Orlando-Cavs
31-31
31-20
25-25
20-29

so if 31-31, how did we win the 1st quarter?

[jonbob17]

it wasnt 31-31 after the 1st?

Orlando-Cavs
31-31
31-20
25-25
20-29

so if 31-31, how did we win the 1st quarter?

All that matters to me (its preseason so it doesnt matter much). Our starting unit were all +14 to +18 in 19 minutes. That seemed like Cleveland's starting 5 with the exception of missing Jarett Allen. We trucked the starting unit of a team projected to be the third best team in the East.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

it wasnt 31-31 after the 1st?

Orlando-Cavs
31-31
31-20
25-25
20-29

so if 31-31, how did we win the 1st quarter?

Sorry we tied. My first comment was to someone who said that we won the 1st and 3rd quarter. I didn't realize what you were talking about.

[drsd]

Wendell is underappreciated by some Magic fans.

Minor edit. I think you will find a lot of fans that really appreciate what he brings. I am one such fan.

The dude is locked in through 2025/26 on a regressive contract. He is a steal as a clear starting quality Center. (if ever an 8-figure income per annum can be considered "cheap").

[jonbob17]

Wendell is underappreciated by some Magic fans.

Minor edit. I think you will find a lot of fans that really appreciate what he brings. I am one such fan.

The dude is locked in through 2025/26 on a regressive contract. He is a steal as a clear starting quality Center. (if ever an 8-figure income per annum can be considered "cheap").

Last year there were times I was worried Carter was to small to defend the better centers in the league, and didn't offer enough rim protection. I think he proved a lot last year. Now I am not sure anybody can stop Jokic or Embiid, but there aren't really that many skilled offensive centers out there.

Wendell brings a good amount to the offensive end, he's a willing and capable passer. If he can hold his 3 point improvement last year, or better yet improve some more thats a real weapon.

The one area i think he could improve is setting screens all over the court.

[fendilim]

WCJ is pretty good defensively, for me the problem is he doesn’t really rebound enough to complement our frontcourt.

In fact WCJ AND MOE don’t rebound enough.

[fendilim]

My issue with Carter in this game wasn’t the defense.

It’s jacking up 3s before the offense even sets up. Then again, maybe that’s the point because there isn’t much to set up in a half court.

Possibly part of the scheme of things to help open the floor. He is probably even one of our best floor spreader lol

[jonbob17]

WCJ is pretty good defensively, for me the problem is he doesn’t really rebound enough to complement our frontcourt.

In fact WCJ AND MOE don’t rebound enough.

Our backcourt (other than Harris) are all really good rebounders for their position. Kind of make up for WCJ and Paolo

[DiplomaticMagic]

Two things I want to see most this preseason, is Jett playing with actual rotation players and Isaac playing in both halves.

[yoyojw17]

WCJ is pretty good defensively, for me the problem is he doesn’t really rebound enough to complement our frontcourt.

In fact WCJ AND MOE don’t rebound enough.

Our backcourt (other than Harris) are all really good rebounders for their position. Kind of make up for WCJ and Paolo

Makes up... but also takes away reb from them. lol. Which to me is a great thing too... as long as the ball advances quickly too.