2023-2024 Regular Season Game 31: New York Knicks (17-13) at Orlando Magic (18-12) - 7pm

[drsd]

box score thoughts:

The Magic won the FG% battle and won the game.

There were a combined 56 made FTs in this game
... headlined by the Magic going 30-40 from the charity stripe.

Orlando had more boards (and offensive boards), assists, steals, blocks, and had one less TO.

M-Wagner had an odd single-double game with 11 boards, but only 7 points.

[ogmagicfan]

Great win...

I'm still worried about our lack of shooting lol

We were fortunate that the Knicks shot worse from 3 than us

But no question, we need better shooting. Franz & Paolo shooting well from 3 helped alot with their games tonight atleast

fortunate?

Orlando played excellent defense.

..

I never said Orlando didnt play great D

But when a team goes 6/30 (20%) from 3, that includes missing some wide open 3's. That's where Orlando was fortunate

[yoyojw17]

Great win. Defensive struggle at its finest.

Brunson, Barrett, DiVincenzo, Hart, Quickley, and Grimes all with poor offensive games. Suggs, Black, and Franz with exceptional defense. Goga did his thing.

The bench sucked, again. They should be ashamed. Houstan and Okeke are not rotation level NBA players. Those development projects should be abandoned.

Franz and Paolo were amazing on offense.

Come on man.... these were 3rd string being asked to step up into bigger shoes. the same way that some talk about reps and experience ... sometimes it's not as easy to do well when you want to do well in what might be one of your only chances. Nerves are a thing. But he played good defense and did his best. i would love to see him get extra minutes a lil more consistently. Okeke... i'm pretty OKay Okay with being down further on the bench and staying 3rd to the 3rd string... still love him though. lol

needless to say I would love both of them to try and do more than JUST SHOOT 3s.... cut.... drive.... post up.... do something... Okeke (.692) and Houstan (.938) .... geez. lol

My point is that they are failed development projects. I'd rather we have veterans in their roles.

I'm ok with okeke being moved... we have had him for a while and i'm not sure what more will come of him in THIS situation. still waaaaaaaaaaay too early on houstan.... he turns 21 in january... and is only in his second season with limited minutes. that to me is a knee jerk "failed experiment" situation.

[drsd]

But when a team goes 6/30 (20%) from 3, that includes missing some wide open 3's. That's where Orlando was fortunate

Yes the Magic is appallingly bad at distance shooting, but in this game, the Magic holding the Knicks to that 20% three-point line covered up their own horrendous 7-33 (21.2%) three ball. Orlando won by having a better FG%.

Orlando is 12th in the league in opponent 3pt FG% and 9th in the league in opponent made 3pt buckets. That is not "fortunate", it is what the team does.

Respectfully.