Game Thread #10: Orlando Magic (4-5) vs Utah Jazz (4-4) 11/13 7PM ET

[drsd]

No idea who to give the sweater vest to. Pretty even team effort across the board.

Give it to the coach!

This is against the rules. Only players can win a vest (although the coach is eligible for dunce caps).


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[drsd]

Frankly this game reveals how critical it is for Orlando to start Harris at the SF slot.

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[ezzzp]

Frankly this game reveals how critical it is for Orlando to start Harris at the SF slot.

..

it does? please explain

[RYgoBOOM]

Such a fun game to watch! This is exactly what I expected after the Skiles signing mannnnn. Our guys are playing with passion on defense this year and it's so exciting to watch! At times I worry about Vic's scoring woes but I think he's just a little cold right now. His mid range J looks amazing this year but the only thing I see him still struggling with x10 is finishing layups and close shots with contact.

I really honestly think it might be a mental thing with Vic too....... Look at how he attacks the rim for a minute.....at first I thought it was just haterade and him not getting any calls until I started to look closely and watch his takes in slow mo a couple times...This guy is looking for contact wayyyyyyy too hard #1. And #2 he's got this thing where it looks like he just decides when he catches it that he's going to take it straight into a guy and try and draw contact, regardless of if his move beats the opposing player and gives him an advantage. He's a LOT quicker+stronger combined than a ton of guards so he shouldn't have any trouble playing without trying to force his takes to the rack. Once he fixes this little bleep I think he will be a super efficient 2 way player. His FT% is too good not to take advantage of.


we are just a Kevin Durant away from the ECF IMO......one can dream.


Channing deserves a LOT more credit than he's getting for his play. Not only does his 3pt shooting help in the box score but his presence that isn't box score related is what makes me smile. The typical fan won't understand how much better he makes us but it's clearly obvious. Our guards have a field day taking the ball to the rack lol

[Patrick1978]

Frankly this game reveals how critical it is for Orlando to start Harris at the SF slot.

..

Why?

[axl_c_cool]

Wow, that was actually a really interesting game to watch. Saw some lineups I didn't actually think I'd ever see, like the Tall Ball lineup of Vuc, Frye, Harris, Gordon and Elf!

At the risk of ruffling feathers, I think we looked better tonight without Dipo. The offensive end was just so much smoother and clearer.

Vuc-Fournier as the primary options. Harris and Payton creating on every other shot. Frye knocking down open 3's. It just felt like everyone knew their role and didn't try to do too much. Even when AG was in instead of Frye, things still worked smoothly, and I'd say our defense was even better because AG's presence as a help defender in the paint is much bigger than Dipo's.

We had some sloppy moments at other times, but overall, I liked what I saw. I think we've got a bit of scoring clutter going on when Dipo is in the mix with the others, too. That's not to say we trade him, just that I don't think there's room for all 5 of Vuc, Harris, Fournier, Dipo and Payton.

Hezonja had some very sweet plays. His passing is just magic sometimes. He's definitely in need of a couple seasons of polish, but every game he'll show a glimmer of his potential.

Napier sucked tonight. He was just too small and it was almost as if he couldn't see over the Utah defense. Bad passes, bad shot selection. He's a matchup/heat-check guy for sure.

While I understand what you mean about Vic and the offence it's easy to forget the collapses in the 2nd quarter and and final 4 minutes of the game, Vic stops that or it isn't as bad.

Oladipo is playing outstanding defence, shooting the ball well and getting to the basket, just not scoring or getting the contacted needed, he's still learning. I have faith that he'll figure it out and Skiles will help him and he'll sit on the bench when he needs too. Imagine Oladipo and Smith coming into the game last night instead of Napier (name forward).


I really think and have for a while that we need a 6th man rather than forcing everyone into the line up and Vic could be that explosive player.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Fournier/Oladipo
Harris/Herzonja/Marble
Gordon/Frye/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

6th man Oladipo


Imagine in the next few seasons a developed Vic who plays both ends on around 5-6 minutes for 1 of Payton/Fournier/Harris depending on how the game is going, THAT is depth. Then bringing Mario on around 7-8, this team could be so good...


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Bensational]

Wow, that was actually a really interesting game to watch. Saw some lineups I didn't actually think I'd ever see, like the Tall Ball lineup of Vuc, Frye, Harris, Gordon and Elf!

At the risk of ruffling feathers, I think we looked better tonight without Dipo. The offensive end was just so much smoother and clearer.

Vuc-Fournier as the primary options. Harris and Payton creating on every other shot. Frye knocking down open 3's. It just felt like everyone knew their role and didn't try to do too much. Even when AG was in instead of Frye, things still worked smoothly, and I'd say our defense was even better because AG's presence as a help defender in the paint is much bigger than Dipo's.

We had some sloppy moments at other times, but overall, I liked what I saw. I think we've got a bit of scoring clutter going on when Dipo is in the mix with the others, too. That's not to say we trade him, just that I don't think there's room for all 5 of Vuc, Harris, Fournier, Dipo and Payton.

Hezonja had some very sweet plays. His passing is just magic sometimes. He's definitely in need of a couple seasons of polish, but every game he'll show a glimmer of his potential.

Napier sucked tonight. He was just too small and it was almost as if he couldn't see over the Utah defense. Bad passes, bad shot selection. He's a matchup/heat-check guy for sure.

While I understand what you mean about Vic and the offence it's easy to forget the collapses in the 2nd quarter and and final 4 minutes of the game, Vic stops that or it isn't as bad.

Oladipo is playing outstanding defence, shooting the ball well and getting to the basket, just not scoring or getting the contacted needed, he's still learning. I have faith that he'll figure it out and Skiles will help him and he'll sit on the bench when he needs too. Imagine Oladipo and Smith coming into the game last night instead of Napier (name forward).


I really think and have for a while that we need a 6th man rather than forcing everyone into the line up and Vic could be that explosive player.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Fournier/Oladipo
Harris/Herzonja/Marble
Gordon/Frye/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

6th man Oladipo


Imagine in the next few seasons a developed Vic who plays both ends on around 5-6 minutes for 1 of Payton/Fournier/Harris depending on how the game is going, THAT is depth. Then bringing Mario on around 7-8, this team could be so good...


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

We've had a collapse in nearly every game we've played, so I'd imagine Oladipo has been on the court for plenty of them, too. Most of our guys have, to be honest.

But yeah, Skiles is gonna need to figure out who our most efficient lineups are, and how he can stagger rotations to make sure there's only really 3 scoring options on the court at any given time. If he can get that right, we'll be a team that will just always be firing, and that'll be hard to beat.

[thelead]

Frankly this game reveals how critical it is for Orlando to start Harris at the SF slot.

..

I'm not sure it does but I've always preferred Tobias at the SF spot. Offensively, he's able to dominate much more in the paint. That's also why I prefer AG at PF... Because he can pick up the tougher player on D between the SF/PF spot.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Dipo is a starter.

[ezzzp]

Wow, that was actually a really interesting game to watch. Saw some lineups I didn't actually think I'd ever see, like the Tall Ball lineup of Vuc, Frye, Harris, Gordon and Elf!

At the risk of ruffling feathers, I think we looked better tonight without Dipo. The offensive end was just so much smoother and clearer.

Vuc-Fournier as the primary options. Harris and Payton creating on every other shot. Frye knocking down open 3's. It just felt like everyone knew their role and didn't try to do too much. Even when AG was in instead of Frye, things still worked smoothly, and I'd say our defense was even better because AG's presence as a help defender in the paint is much bigger than Dipo's.

We had some sloppy moments at other times, but overall, I liked what I saw. I think we've got a bit of scoring clutter going on when Dipo is in the mix with the others, too. That's not to say we trade him, just that I don't think there's room for all 5 of Vuc, Harris, Fournier, Dipo and Payton.

Hezonja had some very sweet plays. His passing is just magic sometimes. He's definitely in need of a couple seasons of polish, but every game he'll show a glimmer of his potential.

Napier sucked tonight. He was just too small and it was almost as if he couldn't see over the Utah defense. Bad passes, bad shot selection. He's a matchup/heat-check guy for sure.

While I understand what you mean about Vic and the offence it's easy to forget the collapses in the 2nd quarter and and final 4 minutes of the game, Vic stops that or it isn't as bad.

Oladipo is playing outstanding defence, shooting the ball well and getting to the basket, just not scoring or getting the contacted needed, he's still learning. I have faith that he'll figure it out and Skiles will help him and he'll sit on the bench when he needs too. Imagine Oladipo and Smith coming into the game last night instead of Napier (name forward).


I really think and have for a while that we need a 6th man rather than forcing everyone into the line up and Vic could be that explosive player.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Fournier/Oladipo
Harris/Herzonja/Marble
Gordon/Frye/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

6th man Oladipo


Imagine in the next few seasons a developed Vic who plays both ends on around 5-6 minutes for 1 of Payton/Fournier/Harris depending on how the game is going, THAT is depth. Then bringing Mario on around 7-8, this team could be so good...


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

We've had a collapse in nearly every game we've played, so I'd imagine Oladipo has been on the court for plenty of them, too. Most of our guys have, to be honest.

But yeah, Skiles is gonna need to figure out who our most efficient lineups are, and how he can stagger rotations to make sure there's only really 3 scoring options on the court at any given time. If he can get that right, we'll be a team that will just always be firing, and that'll be hard to beat.

Totally agree. I've been saying this in all the trade threads: A winning context changes player roles.

Eventually the rotations will begin to sort themselves out within a winning strategy. The first half of the Magic rebuild the context was losing, so stats were inflated and starting roles were buoyed by those numbers. Now its all about who's in game actions leads to wins.

This has been my key argument as to why any trade of the key core this season is premature. Outside of a trade for a legit all-star no brainer, it is best to let Skiles continue to reveal who makes winning plays and who is just a good player. Because the Magic cap scenario is so flexible, it can choose to keep excellent depth for several seasons until a true franchise player emerges or becomes available.