2023-2024 Regular Season Game 43: Miami Heat (24-18) at Orlando Magic (22-20) - 6pm

[eyriq]

My irrational fears from six months ago are starting to creep back in…

A. The Magic make no trades

B. The Magic stay relatively healthy for the next three months and beat up a lot of the bad teams still left on their schedule

C. Weltman decides he couldn’t possibly break up a 45 win team that is “on the rise” and signs Fultz to a new contract this summer to continue to be the starting PG

I allowed myself to believe this wasn’t possible after Fultz missed so many games, but I think it’s back on the table.

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

[Knightro]

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

We'll see what happens. I will feel a whole lot better about the 24-25 season if Fultz is traded before the deadline.

If he doesn't get traded and they end up starting him the rest of the season and have success (regardless of how much he contributes to it)...

[JoshuaPotter]

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

We'll see what happens. I will feel a whole lot better about the 24-25 season if Fultz is traded before the deadline.

If he doesn't get traded and they end up starting him the rest of the season and have success (regardless of how much he contributes to it)...

Yes I will continue to stoke your fears.

It feeds into the narrative that Black is the succession piece but only if his skills become greater then Fultz. Same with Jett Howard steeling Houstan / G-Harris minutes potentially.

The only thing I hate about forcibly starting a person who likely has a future malpractice lawsuit is that when Blacks skills make starting Fultz seem dumb we have to deal with Black growing pains decision making skills. You can't just wave a wand, and make someone experienced. Black will cost us games just like he will now.

It is one of the many reasons Paolo's flashes of game closing brilliance is just so brilliant. Watching him go from bone head play to hero and back again in a single 1 minute string or one game to another is part of the ride. But also something Black misses out on completely in the name of winning.

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

Checks notes from all free agent signings and notices a track record for oft injury prone players.....

[Rick Rolled]

I still can’t get over that second half defense. We literally bullied the Heat, which is pretty much unheard of for the Magic. Going to need a similar effort tonight.

[VFX]

I'm not going to forgive the last months problems because of one home game against Miami. This team still has problems and is never as healthy as it was last night.

I'm not Weltman, so I'm not going to use that excuse instead of fixing the roster.

Everyone knows this team is great defensively when fully healthy. They problem is that 95% of the time they never are.

[eyriq]

I'm not going to forgive the last months problems because of one home game against Miami. This team still has problems and is never as healthy as it was last night.

I'm not Weltman, so I'm not going to use that excuse instead of fixing the roster.

Everyone knows this team is great defensively when fully healthy. They problem is that 95% of the time they never are.

Bingo. We know Paolo, Franz, and Suggs are a winning core now go out there and re-tool around them with an emphasis on availability and three point volume.

[Optimus_Steel]

Franz is such a load to deal with for teams.

[The-Stallion70]

Building from the defensive side of the ball rhe way the Magic have has to have something to do with the injuries. All the demands of chasing dudes around leads to injury.

Shooting the ball well makes the game easier for everyone and should lead to fewer injuries since the team won't have to go shelter shelter 24/7 like they have.

And no I dont think Fultz has earned an extension. Maybe a one year vet minimum or 5m or something like that but you can't miss two months of the year and then come back and not look like a top 20 guard and get an extension.

The problem is Black did not look ready and Suggs is a 2guard.

[tooler]

Building from the defensive side of the ball rhe way the Magic have has to have something to do with the injuries. All the demands of chasing dudes around leads to injury.

I think signing injury-prone players is leading to the injuries. Franz's 20 day sprained ankle was the anomaly.

[The-Stallion70]

Building from the defensive side of the ball rhe way the Magic have has to have something to do with the injuries. All the demands of chasing dudes around leads to injury.

I think signing injury-prone players is leading to the injuries. Franz's 20 day sprained ankle was the anomaly.

So you had a crystal ball that told you how long Isaac and Fultz would be out with injuries before we signed them to extensions?

[tooler]

I'm not going to forgive the last months problems because of one home game against Miami. This team still has problems and is never as healthy as it was last night.

I'm not Weltman, so I'm not going to use that excuse instead of fixing the roster.

Everyone knows this team is great defensively when fully healthy. They problem is that 95% of the time they never are.

Bingo. We know Paolo, Franz, and Suggs are a winning core now go out there and re-tool around them with an emphasis on availability and three point volume.

I always have to remind myself they’ve done the hard part. But if the front office won’t make the necessary moves to take the next step, ownership will just have to fire them. We still have all our assets (aside from a little cap space if they re-sign Fultz).

[Skybox]

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

We'll see what happens. I will feel a whole lot better about the 24-25 season if Fultz is traded before the deadline.

If he doesn't get traded and they end up starting him the rest of the season and have success (regardless of how much he contributes to it)...

Yes I will continue to stoke your fears.

It feeds into the narrative that Black is the succession piece but only if his skills become greater then Fultz. Same with Jett Howard steeling Houstan / G-Harris minutes potentially.

The only thing I hate about forcibly starting a person who likely has a future malpractice lawsuit is that when Blacks skills make starting Fultz seem dumb we have to deal with Black growing pains decision making skills. You can't just wave a wand, and make someone experienced. Black will cost us games just like he will now.

It is one of the many reasons Paolo's flashes of game closing brilliance is just so brilliant. Watching him go from bone head play to hero and back again in a single 1 minute string or one game to another is part of the ride. But also something Black misses out on completely in the name of winning.

Let's only hope these fears are indeed irrational.

Checks notes from all free agent signings and notices a track record for oft injury prone players.....

It's like they're operating inside a fishbowl...Black is intriguing but not ready. That doesn't make Fultz a starter (when he's available). The beauty of today's NBA is that you can attach pick(s) to bad players and get good players- there are always options available when you have expiring salaries and picks in your quiver...and ORL is stacked with them right now. The RIGHT guy to be starting PG for 2024 is NOT on the roster today - go shopping.

or, just wait and draft. Was anybody really that excited about drafting Black and Jett (not saying they were bad picks) in a year when ORL owned the draft with 2 lottery picks. That's as good as it gets on draft day (outside of a Top 3 pick), but it's just not comparable to the immediate measurable predictable benefits of bringing in a guy who's already doing it at the NBA level.