2023-2024 Regular Season Game 18: Washington Wizards (3-14) at Orlando Magic (12-5) - 7pm

[Magicman125]

i fear for the safety of people who are melting during an 8 game win streak, coming off a 29 point win, with a top 5 young core, and best team in over a decade. what will you do when, like all teams, they inevitably have a losing streak.

They won't, good vibes and Ws forever from here on out

[yoyojw17]

"We can't guard a stop sign," Kuzma said. "That's kind of really what it boils down to. We let anybody get whatever they want on us. So, until we change that, then that's probably going to be the result."

[GameOver25]

My only complaints are giving up 120 to a 3-14 team and the 18 turnovers. You can get away with those things against bad teams but it will cost you against good teams. Everyone shot well except PB, he seems to be in a bit of a sophomore slump but he'll work it out. Franz is clearly our best player and has been playing great lately. I think this winning streak proves both Fultz and WCJ are expendable.

The 120 points isn't really an issue when we won by 19. The only thing that indicates is we played above our usual pace, and that's only because of the run and gun style of the Wizards. We still won each quarter and really were never at risk of losing.

[Optimus_Steel]

I mean, this photo….

Read on Twitter

Rivals the ceiling on the Sistine Chapel.

[jonbob17]

Went to the game last night and my main take away is that the wizards are sooo bad . Probably the worst nba team I have seen in person .

And-1

I know the Pistons has a worse record, but there are some interesting players and some reason to care about Detroit as a fan. Washington is just terrible. Not only is their a lack of talent, there is no cohesion to the scubs on the court. (this ain't a HnH roster).
Washington will be at least 5 years from being relevant. This is "The Process" all over again, and it must have been excruciating to be a Philly fan those years.

Well: at least the politics will be fun for DC fans this next year; if that's a thing. Betting odds on coaching and management firing dates? Beer shots on every surrendered 3-ball? There is a lot of potential in brown-bagging it for Wiz fans.

Is Washington really that bad?
Tyus Jones - is a real NBA PG
Jordan Poole - is a scoring guard, or at least he was on the Warriors
Avidja is a very good wing defender who is shooting 40% from 3
Kuzma - is a productive NBA player
Gafford is a good defender, shooting 70% from the field

Bench
Coulibaly by accounts has been really good, particularly defending, and is shooting 44% from 3
Kispert horrible on D but one of the better shooters in NBA, but not great this year
Gallinari
Shamet
Delon Wright

That it is a good enough team that should be winning games. Bigs after Gafford is a problem, but surely this team should beat some teams that are playing down to the competition.

[RookieStar]

i fear for the safety of people who are melting during an 8 game win streak, coming off a 29 point win, with a top 5 young core, and best team in over a decade. what will you do when, like all teams, they inevitably have a losing streak.

If you are a real Magic fan then you know even if we have a 5-peat dynasty you never get rid of your tar,feather,torches and pitchforks. You know it is itching to be used.

[tooler]

i fear for the safety of people who are melting during an 8 game win streak, coming off a 29 point win, with a top 5 young core, and best team in over a decade. what will you do when, like all teams, they inevitably have a losing streak.

Emotionally I just want to get through the next Washington game and then I'm good. They can lose to the Nets, I won't care.

Just don't end these good vibes in Orlando. Do it up there in the armpit of the northeast where I won't notice.

[RookieStar]

i fear for the safety of people who are melting during an 8 game win streak, coming off a 29 point win, with a top 5 young core, and best team in over a decade. what will you do when, like all teams, they inevitably have a losing streak.

Emotionally I just want to get through the next Washington game and then I'm good. They can lose to the Nets, I won't care.

Just don't end these good vibes in Orlando. Do it up there in the armpit of the northeast where I won't notice.

We got trounced by the nets in the 1st game, the nets also racked up the points to eliminate us from the IST.

You can bet a lot of us including the team are salty and probably want this win more than normal.

[j_n]

Went to the game last night and my main take away is that the wizards are sooo bad . Probably the worst nba team I have seen in person .

And-1

I know the Pistons has a worse record, but there are some interesting players and some reason to care about Detroit as a fan. Washington is just terrible. Not only is their a lack of talent, there is no cohesion to the scubs on the court. (this ain't a HnH roster).
Washington will be at least 5 years from being relevant. This is "The Process" all over again, and it must have been excruciating to be a Philly fan those years.

Well: at least the politics will be fun for DC fans this next year; if that's a thing. Betting odds on coaching and management firing dates? Beer shots on every surrendered 3-ball? There is a lot of potential in brown-bagging it for Wiz fans.

Is Washington really that bad?
Tyus Jones - is a real NBA PG
Jordan Poole - is a scoring guard, or at least he was on the Warriors
Avidja is a very good wing defender who is shooting 40% from 3
Kuzma - is a productive NBA player
Gafford is a good defender, shooting 70% from the field

Bench
Coulibaly by accounts has been really good, particularly defending, and is shooting 44% from 3
Kispert horrible on D but one of the better shooters in NBA, but not great this year
Gallinari
Shamet
Delon Wright

That it is a good enough team that should be winning games. Bigs after Gafford is a problem, but surely this team should beat some teams that are playing down to the competition.

Probably has to do with the chucking and lazy play culture that they developed building around Beal.

I watched a lot of Wizards games the last few years, very selfish team, most of the players trying to put up numbers, bad habits and poor coaching.

But they can turn it around, trade Kuzma and Poole and let the younger guys develop, they should have high draft picks and cap space, they could be competitive in two years if they make the right moves.

[golfreak]

And-1

I know the Pistons has a worse record, but there are some interesting players and some reason to care about Detroit as a fan. Washington is just terrible. Not only is their a lack of talent, there is no cohesion to the scubs on the court. (this ain't a HnH roster).
Washington will be at least 5 years from being relevant. This is "The Process" all over again, and it must have been excruciating to be a Philly fan those years.

Well: at least the politics will be fun for DC fans this next year; if that's a thing. Betting odds on coaching and management firing dates? Beer shots on every surrendered 3-ball? There is a lot of potential in brown-bagging it for Wiz fans.

Is Washington really that bad?
Tyus Jones - is a real NBA PG
Jordan Poole - is a scoring guard, or at least he was on the Warriors
Avidja is a very good wing defender who is shooting 40% from 3
Kuzma - is a productive NBA player
Gafford is a good defender, shooting 70% from the field

Bench
Coulibaly by accounts has been really good, particularly defending, and is shooting 44% from 3
Kispert horrible on D but one of the better shooters in NBA, but not great this year
Gallinari
Shamet
Delon Wright

That it is a good enough team that should be winning games. Bigs after Gafford is a problem, but surely this team should beat some teams that are playing down to the competition.

Probably has to do with the chucking and lazy play culture that they developed building around Beal.

I watched a lot of Wizards games the last few years, very selfish team, most of the players trying to put up numbers, bad habits and poor coaching.

But they can turn it around, trade Kuzma and Poole and let the younger guys develop, they should have high draft picks and cap space, they could be competitive in two years if they make the right moves.

I wonder if they gave Poole away for free, would anybody want him ?
Kuzma has some value. Is he worth a first ?

[ogmagicfan]

Is Washington really that bad?
Tyus Jones - is a real NBA PG
Jordan Poole - is a scoring guard, or at least he was on the Warriors
Avidja is a very good wing defender who is shooting 40% from 3
Kuzma - is a productive NBA player
Gafford is a good defender, shooting 70% from the field

Bench
Coulibaly by accounts has been really good, particularly defending, and is shooting 44% from 3
Kispert horrible on D but one of the better shooters in NBA, but not great this year
Gallinari
Shamet
Delon Wright

That it is a good enough team that should be winning games. Bigs after Gafford is a problem, but surely this team should beat some teams that are playing down to the competition.

Probably has to do with the chucking and lazy play culture that they developed building around Beal.

I watched a lot of Wizards games the last few years, very selfish team, most of the players trying to put up numbers, bad habits and poor coaching.

But they can turn it around, trade Kuzma and Poole and let the younger guys develop, they should have high draft picks and cap space, they could be competitive in two years if they make the right moves.

I wonder if they gave Poole away for free, would anybody want him ?
Kuzma has some value. Is he worth a first ?

Kuzma would definitely get a 1st, he's a good player and even though he does occassional bonehead stuff, like Aaron Gordon on a contender I'd expect him to clean up his game to more of the effective stuff

I personally wouldnt take Poole for free, his defense is awful, dribbling out of control, he just doesnt care

[Redwood]

My only complaints are giving up 120 to a 3-14 team and the 18 turnovers. You can get away with those things against bad teams but it will cost you against good teams. Everyone shot well except PB, he seems to be in a bit of a sophomore slump but he'll work it out. Franz is clearly our best player and has been playing great lately. I think this winning streak proves both Fultz and WCJ are expendable.

Sophomore slump after one game? Dude just won player of the week.

I'm talking about the season as a whole, where PB has played mostly worse than he did as a rookie...which isn't really up for debate.

[basketballRob]

My only complaints are giving up 120 to a 3-14 team and the 18 turnovers. You can get away with those things against bad teams but it will cost you against good teams. Everyone shot well except PB, he seems to be in a bit of a sophomore slump but he'll work it out. Franz is clearly our best player and has been playing great lately. I think this winning streak proves both Fultz and WCJ are expendable.

Sophomore slump after one game? Dude just won player of the week.

I'm talking about the season as a whole, where PB has played mostly worse than he did as a rookie...which isn't really up for debate.

He just had a long stretch where he looked better than any time last season. His net rating is +3 this season. Last season, it was -4.2.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[byeganyo]

I'm talking about the season as a whole, where PB has played mostly worse than he did as a rookie...which isn't really up for debate.

He clearly is playing better, both the eye test and the stats back it up, better shooting, better defense, better passing.

[tooler]

Paolo looks great this season. If you’re looking at PPG and expected him to hit 25 then you have only yourself to blame.

[jonbob17]

My only complaints are giving up 120 to a 3-14 team and the 18 turnovers. You can get away with those things against bad teams but it will cost you against good teams. Everyone shot well except PB, he seems to be in a bit of a sophomore slump but he'll work it out. Franz is clearly our best player and has been playing great lately. I think this winning streak proves both Fultz and WCJ are expendable.

Sophomore slump after one game? Dude just won player of the week.

I'm talking about the season as a whole, where PB has played mostly worse than he did as a rookie...which isn't really up for debate.

Paolo has been far better this year. His defense isn't even comparable. He has been far more efficient on offesne. The only things I have seen that have been a negative this year are that his FT attempts are down and his turn overs are up...but the other improvements significantly outweigh these.

Frankly if anyone that has actually been playing has been in a slump this year it was Franz, and he seems to have broken out of it the last week or so. Prior to that game against Denver Franz was shooting 42% overall and 29% from 3.

[jonbob17]

I wonder if they gave Poole away for free, would anybody want him ?
Kuzma has some value. Is he worth a first ?

Kuzma would definitely get a 1st, he's a good player and even though he does occassional bonehead stuff, like Aaron Gordon on a contender I'd expect him to clean up his game to more of the effective stuff

I personally wouldnt take Poole for free, his defense is awful, dribbling out of control, he just doesnt care

Poole - He can't be this bad. I suspect that the Curry effect covered some of his warts, but he also played well when Curry was out with injury and with the 2nd unit.....At the same time he makes $32M a year, way too much.. During his career he has taken 9 threes per 36 (crazy) but he's only made 33%...BUT he is also 51% during his career on 2s, so he's not just a chucker.

Yah, Poole is not bringing anything back at the moment, so DC isn't moving him. Probably would be a pretty good gamble for the Magic, if they wanted to add scoring...BUT i would not do anything to mess with the chemistry our team has. Maybe Poole had that Draymond Green sucker punch coming. This Washington team looks like it is poisoned, they are too good to be this bad.

Kuzma - He'd probaby get a first. To me he looks like what Lavine would be if he played PF. Pretty good offensive weapon that looks like he gives no effort on the other end or just has no defensive awareness and instinct

[JoshuaPotter]

Based on the effort I was listening in on for the broadcast and several posters opinions here. I would keep Poole as far away as possible.

I don't believe a change of scene will help his current attitude other then a short term burst of "fresh start". Frankly, we have been a bunch of players "fresh start" and although I kinda saw it at first. The Ingles signing was in fact a Godsend. He is seen by many players as a teacher and role model. IE the perfect locker room presence for a young team wanting to prove its mettle.

Jordan Poole has had his success. What additional drive / motivation / incentive does he have to be part of another championship team.

Personally, if enough people say enough things about him. Sometimes, its just people regurgitating something. Other times though group think is right. I think this is right.

OH man 4 paragraphs on why I don't like Poole. Icky......

The way our chemistry is and Suggs clearly playing the SG role right now. I don't want to change a thing. What will I d when we inevitably lose. Relax. Because it inevitably will happen. The way most of our team is constructed. I think we have a competitive culture and atmosphere that we will inevitably bounce back. I do not say that often.

[Rainwater]

My only complaints are giving up 120 to a 3-14 team and the 18 turnovers. You can get away with those things against bad teams but it will cost you against good teams. Everyone shot well except PB, he seems to be in a bit of a sophomore slump but he'll work it out. Franz is clearly our best player and has been playing great lately. I think this winning streak proves both Fultz and WCJ are expendable.

Sophomore slump after one game? Dude just won player of the week.

I'm talking about the season as a whole, where PB has played mostly worse than he did as a rookie...which isn't really up for debate.

Not much of a debate when 3,4 disagree with you.

The dude has visually looked better, efficiency and defense has gotten better. And not saying Franz is not the best player, because he might be, but it’s funny you say Paolo is the one struggling when Franz has not played well until recently.