OrlandoNed wrote:JBSouthpaw wrote:OrlandoNed wrote:The league plays small and we keep trying to play big. Just another example of Orlando being too stupid to get out of the 90s. Also 2 of our 3 most important players both are primarily 4s and having the 3rd practicing at the 4 is a redundant waste of time. We drafted Bamba to replace Vuc not be his backcourt partner.
What 4 in the East do you think Bamba can't guard?
I think he could guard AG decently, and he's about as athletic as 4s get.
He's long enough to play off anyone and recover out to the 3 point line.
Plus, He can shoot over anyone who has to guard him.
It's not a question of Bamba being able to guard 4s when we have 2 natural 4's, Gordon and Isaac, to defend against 4s. There is no point in wasting his minutes where he is not needed. Bamba's minutes need to be at center because that is where he will be playing full time when Vucevic is gone. Bamba's minutes need to be 100% committed to anchoring the paint for our defense. Why bother keeping him defending on the perimeter at the same time we have a human turnstile lumbering around in the paint?
Because bamba was drafted to be more than just a rim protector. The magic see him as a guy who can switch out and defend wings as well. Most likely their long term hope is to have all 3 from BIG out there switching because all 3 can play defense in the paint.
This is simply clifford getting bamba used to defending wings for a few minutes a game while vuc is still here. Its not a long term plan or anything. If you think bamba is 100% in the paint “anchoring” you are thinking of outdated basketball. Thats not how they will use him once they have BIG ready to deploy.
Big picture is Bamba can switch out at times to defend wings AND recover back into the paint for weakside help. Thats the type of defense from a 5 that you need and what clifford discussed this summer in terms of a modern 5 versus an old school guy.
It will be a huge pain in the a$$ for an offense to get matchups off a pick and roll when isaac and ag can also defend the weakside paint on a switch off a 1-5 pick and roll. This means the big rolling to the rim will not have an easy post up against a pg - he will have to deal with isaac or ag sliding down from the weakside and have to make the right decision every time.
Camping out Bamba in the paint simplifies the defense and makes us easier to attack by a modern offense who uses pick and rolls to switch defenders. It also is a misuse of bambas talent.
Playing vuc and bamba together is simply development for bamba to get used to perimeter defense. It not our long term plan and we simply have to accept that vuc is here and will be used until the magic can move him in a trade.
