Fellow Magic Fans, Forgive Me For Doubting Elfrid..

[Audi]

No reason to apologize, man, whether you hate(d) him or love(d) him, we can all agree that we are happy to see him doing well, and that's all I can ask for.

[Rockzin4]

Not onboard. Gonna have to see a lot of more from him against better opposition. I'll evaluate Elfrid closer to the end of the season or if we make trade. Hopefully he steps up.

[shadrock]

Hes still incredibly inconsistent. To me he shouldnt start again until he is able to put it all together on a more regular basis.

[SOUL]

Hes still incredibly inconsistent. To me he shouldnt start again until he is able to put it all together on a more regular basis.

So instead of 10/11 of the last games being effective in some facet he should do it 11/11? Something that none of our players are doing?

[OrlandoDream]

Ever since the WAS game, EP has shown the most consistent stretch of his career. He looks to be turning the corner and even on games where his shots arent going down as much, you can tell he is making the RIGHT PLAY. He isn't forcing many shots and is either looking to score or looking to pass depending on the lineup that's out there. EP has just become a smarter b-ball player and is playing with confidence. When he hits that first shot, you know its going to be a goo night.

He is also hitting those shots that he used to miss alot as a rookie and last year. Those floaters are almost automatic for him now. His turnover are down and he has been hitting those jumpers on a higher basis lately. Still too early to conclude but as long as he keeps playing confident, taking the right shots, and looking for his teammates, EP will cont this improved stretch.

His is obviously our best PG but he is killing bench PG. Until AG starts hitting his shots on a consistent basis too, EP will prob stay in the bench. Doesnt matter since he is playing 30+ min almost every game.

[OrlandoDream]

I think people were right when they said we had pieces that didn't fit. I didn't see the imbalance myself, but I think Vogel has found a way to make them fit by essentially having 2 starting caliber units where there's less conflict between players. (Yeah yeah, our players suck and none would be starters on a good team...whatevs).

It's odd that Fournier and Payton can't mesh. One would imagine Fournier would be an ideal off ball spot up shooter, but his game seems to have become much more on ball. It's also odd that neither Ibaka or Biyombo can run a decent PnR with Payton. Vuc doesn't even try, because his 3pt range is genuinely spacing the floor and opening lanes for Payton now. Meeks plays off the ball the way Fournier should.

But when Payton looks to score, we're a better team. We're undefeated when he scores 20 or more. And Vogel currently has him in a position to be doing that with more regularity than he has before.

This 100 times. EP finds Meeks at will almost. If only Fournier would learn to play more off ball and stop demanding the ball in his hand so much, he and EP would play better together.

[Strayanmagicfan]

I said it in a gameday thread but he is physically bigger and stronger than a lot of the backup point guards. He is one of the tallest pg's in the league with REALLY nice handling. Its easy to say, 'make him shoot', but you often see him cross over and force his way into the paint with floaters over smaller guards.

If he continues to get more confident as he gets older he will abuse opposing guards.

I believe in him, he's still only 22, and I believe it when he says he works hard on his shot everyday

[Strayanmagicfan]

On the defensive end, when he's locked in, he's a joy to watch. We all seen it. I just hope he continues to stay locked in on that end

[Patrick1978]

Payton in my opinion has taken a step forward.

I think that stauskas and payton would be a good duo

For the next year s draft my favorite is Monk,he and payton would be great together
But i think monk is out of reach for us.

I also really like kennard from duke.
He is a shotmaker and has a nice comboguard skillset.
Would also be a good fit with payton

[Patrick1978]

Payton puts up 16points/game and 7assists/game
in the last fives games

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

I think people were right when they said we had pieces that didn't fit. I didn't see the imbalance myself, but I think Vogel has found a way to make them fit by essentially having 2 starting caliber units where there's less conflict between players. (Yeah yeah, our players suck and none would be starters on a good team...whatevs).

It's odd that Fournier and Payton can't mesh. One would imagine Fournier would be an ideal off ball spot up shooter, but his game seems to have become much more on ball. It's also odd that neither Ibaka or Biyombo can run a decent PnR with Payton. Vuc doesn't even try, because his 3pt range is genuinely spacing the floor and opening lanes for Payton now. Meeks plays off the ball the way Fournier should.

But when Payton looks to score, we're a better team. We're undefeated when he scores 20 or more. And Vogel currently has him in a position to be doing that with more regularity than he has before.

Agree. And this was my point in the other thread about Fournier putting up empty stats on a bad team. For me, Fournier doesn't make the team or his teammates better. Sure he is putting up nice offensive numbers but he wants the ball more in his hands when he doesn't really have the best playmaking ability. Let EP run the offense because it makes him aggressive and have Fournier play off the ball more to create more spacing.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Payton in my opinion has taken a step forward.

I think that stauskas and payton would be a good duo

For the next year s draft my favorite is Monk,he and payton would be great together
But i think monk is out of reach for us.

I also really like kennard from duke.
He is a shotmaker and has a nice comboguard skillset.
Would also be a good fit with payton

Too bad Hezonja is a bust. Booker and EP in the backcourt would have been amazing.

[MagicMadness]

I'm very pleased with the progress Payton has been making lately.

He's still very young, but showing he has the talent to be a good starting PG on a good playoff team someday.