Gamethread: Magic vs 76ers 02/24

[fklt]

could be the best gordon game that I can remember, fully in control, within the offense, doing all the right things. this guy's gonna be gooooooood.

I think abysmal January and subsequent injury helped him get his head right really. of course he could get better in defense but I think we all would appreciate that happening next season rather than this one.

[King-]

Not true, mario was lost and was a developmental pick to start with.

Mario has developed over the past three years and now we are seeing to results of this development. And yes, Vogel must receive some credit for his and other youth development.

Mario has always been good. But never given the chance by Vogel last year. Purely disgusting coaching.

Mario would have already had a season averaging near 20 PPG if he were developed how Booker was, for example, and given the green light with AG from day 1..... and not playing behind guys like Jeff Green, Jodie Meeks and Simmons

[King-]

Am I missing something? Mario with the worst +/- on the team last night. I am not too concerned if he leaves - want most of this team gone gone gone next year - especially the coach.

It is like some posters on here look for anything to bash management for. Here is the deal - Mario's defense is so terrible that no matter what his scoring stats say he is a net negative.

Yes, you are missing something. You're joking, right? Marios defense has been fantastic. Even in this game, it was his defense (he had a couple steals in the stretch at the end) that led to some easy baskets, which made the game even SOMEWHAT close, when they cut the lead down to like 9.

He also had a monster chase down block in that stretch...

Check his steal numbers the last 20 or so games, check how many blocks at the rim he's had, and then rewatch the games and let your eye test judge how many times he's A) gotten blown by (only guys like Giannis are consistently scoring on him, or 7 footers like Markkanen whom he has no business guarding) or B) not give up a score.... then come back and repost your thoughts. I mean, what more do you want? He's done absolutely everything on defense recently and he's surprisingly become a very versatile defender. Mario has multiple games where he'd have back-to-back good defensive possessions against guys who play different positions. I.E, he would be guarding a PF like Saric, and then on the next play guard a SG like TLC, etc, and be successful.

The only other player we have had who can guard guards AND forwards successfully in a game... has been what, AG?

[cedric76]

It's a loss but sadly some people are happy losing these days.

This board is shameful

No you two are shameful.

2013/2014 season - Magic - 23 wins - #4 pick - Gordon, 76ers - 19 wins - #3 pick - Embiid

2014/2015 season - Magic - 25 wins - #5 pick - Hezonja, Knicks - 17 wins - #4 pick - Porzingis, Timberwolves - 16 wins - #1 pick Towns

2015/2016 season - Season we tried to force being good ''organic' way with avarage veterans at best while neglecting our young players. 35 wins and traded away #11th pick for nothing. Could have Ben Simmons.

2016/2017 season - 29 wins, #6 - pick - Isaac - Still to early to say how good are players from this draft. But we won less games then year prior as we obviously tryied to win games to early instead of embracing where we are as organisation. And same will happen this year, we will win even less games but not by our choice of wanting to have a good chance of getting great player in this years draft but because of our mistakes of trying to force wins years prior (cap situation, bad contracts, selfish players).

People need to accept it we are bad bad team. And our losses are ONLY asset that we have. Our cap situation for next 3 years is probably the worst in the league, FA won't come here and won't be able to come here as there is no money to give. Have we not tryied to be cute in 2014 and 2015 and lost Embiid and Porzingis/Towns by 12/13 wins over 2 seasons we culd have 2 franchise players right now. Then in 2016 and 2017 season we should not force ourselves to ''win'' 10 more games then we should by trading/signing ''veterans'' and that way limiting roles and minutes of players that had future at us. But as it seems now they didn't have future here. Oladipo is all star elsewhere, Harris is sold starter on playoff caliber team, Sabonis will be solid starter for years to come, Hezonja will be gone this summer, Payton will become top 15-20 PG elsewhere, Gordon will be signed to max this season and moved in year or two for bad conotract and high draft pick. And what do we have? Have all those players who we traded/signed for couple of meaningless games helped us somehow? Where are they? Some of them out of the league or about to.

Orlando has to stop doing half measures and avoid 30-40 win seasons or team is going to get sold. We need to tank and tank hard in next 2-3 years or team is gone. This team won't survive mediocrity if that is the plan for next 5 years. We have 4th lowest TV rating, it is down 11% from last year, game attendance is avarage which is great but for how long will it stay this way.

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So sad, I 'll pray for you