Last Guardian wrote:swarlesbarkley wrote:Last Guardian wrote:Isaac sits on the first seat on the bench next to the coaches and is the first one clapping and standing up for this teams good play. He especially seems happy when the team defends well.
All this stupid talk about him being disconnected from the rest of the team or basketball not being a priority will end when he's back out on the floor giving more effort than anyone else. I'm worried he'll get injured again sure, I'm not worried about the effort and tenacity he's going to play with.
There's clearly an inner nucleus of players on this team that gel and vibe together: Cole, RJ, Suggs, Bamba, WCJ, and Wagner. You can see it in their personal videos they post. Fultz and Okeke seem like they're also a part of this group despite working through their rehab - I haven't seen much JI in these videos.
Now, does this mean that he's not a part of this circle or even that this circle of players really means anything in the long-run? No. But it would be a better "look" if JI was goofing around with these guys and participating in the celebratory deodorant baths after great games (can JI even participate in these with his vax status?).
As it stands right now - it looks like JI is on the outside of this club. Maybe it won't matter on the court anyway but the current dudes have a chemistry that I haven't seen on a Magic team since 2008.
Dwight is notorious for not having friends in the NBA but he led this team to competitive basketball.
It is great that the team gets along but it doesn't mean anything...they still are among the worst teams in basketball currently.
And like I said...JI is up front, participating in the huddles, clapping and cheering for his team...he's fully engaged in the games. He's not in the back writing his next sermon. Whether or not he's part of the brat pack means nothing.
Its also difficult to truly engage with people you haven't battled on the court with yet. Outside of Fultz, Ross and Bamba I don't think he's played with anyone on the team.
Small sample size but that core group of guys, the guys who are starting on this squad, is actually one of the best starting 5 in the NBA.
"The Orlando Magic starting 5 lineup has the best plus minus in the NBA at +48 in 125 minutes. The Orlando Magic bench players have the worst combined plus minus in the NBA at -74 in 187 minutes. The starting lineup has an average age of 21 years, and no player older than 23.
The lineup also has (with >50mins):
the best net rating in the NBA at +18.1
the 2nd best defensive rating in the NBA at 91.9
the 11th best offensive rating in the NBA at 110"