Cheers to Steve Clifford

MagicFan101 · Post #21 » by **MagicFan101** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 2:54 pm

Steve Clifford is why I roll my eyes at the many fans here complaining about the likely scenario in which we roll out (mostly) the same roster.

They may have the same names on the back of their jerseys but you can’t tell me you’re a Magic fan who has followed games closely in recent years and say you don’t see a difference in what these guys are bringing. ... that is coaching.

Bravo Cliff!

VFX · Post #22 » by **VFX** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 3:50 pm

I wrongly thought this guy was a retread at the beginning of the season. He has been a wizard at getting the most out of this clearly lacking roster.

I’d say he’s done his job close to perfection considering what he’s had to work with and the turnover most of these guys have had. Happy we made the playoffs, but I wish Clifford had more talent to do more than bring us out of the playoff drought. We’ll see if this FO can actually make that happen.

Post #23 » by **Knightro** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:16 pm

MagicMatic wrote:I wrongly thought this guy was a retread at the beginning of the season. He has been a wizard at getting the most out of this clearly lacking roster.

I’d say he’s done his job close to perfection considering what he’s had to work with and the turnover most of these guys have had. Happy we made the playoffs, but I wish Clifford had more talent to do more than bring us out of the playoff drought. We’ll see if this FO can actually make that happen.

Clifford has pretty much squeezed every ounce of blood out of this stone.

Good fortune with health certainly has helped, but all the guys have bought into to what he wants to do pretty well.

If they can figure out a way to increase their shot creators/shot makers, they could keep definitely make the playoffs again next year.

OrlandO · Post #24 » by **OrlandO** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:24 pm

Read on Twitter

magicman112 · Post #25 » by **magicman112** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:25 pm

MagicMatic wrote:I wrongly thought this guy was a retread at the beginning of the season. He has been a wizard at getting the most out of this clearly lacking roster.

I’d say he’s done his job close to perfection considering what he’s had to work with and the turnover most of these guys have had. Happy we made the playoffs, but I wish Clifford had more talent to do more than bring us out of the playoff drought. We’ll see if this FO can actually make that happen.

There's two top picks on our bench in street clothes too. If Fultz can become even serviceable and Bamba continues to improve that's two young talented players to add to this mix.

magicman112 · Post #26 » by **magicman112** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:29 pm

OrlandO wrote:

Read on Twitter

That was great. Especially like when he talked about how they fought with their backs against the wall. In previous years they would have found a way to lose this game.

ORL_on_FIRE · Post #27 » by **ORL_on_FIRE** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 4:41 pm

Clifford made these guys realize their worth and that’s the most important thing he could’ve done.

BlueBalls · Post #28 » by **BlueBalls** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 5:04 pm

ORL_on_FIRE wrote:Clifford made these guys realize their worth and that’s the most important thing he could’ve done.

That's the same thing my Mom is still trying to do for me.

J_Magic · Post #29 » by **J_Magic** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 6:02 pm

We have competed and played the top teams great all year.

Since we are there, lets hope for a NY Knicks type of run.

We can beat anybody on any given day.

Vuc is always 20+.

Ross, Fournier, and Gordon can get you 20 at any time too.

Ross, Birch, and Iwundu showing up will be big.

MCW...will be needed for his clutch defensive performances.

Optimus_Steel · Post #30 » by **Optimus_Steel** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 6:31 pm

MagicFan101 wrote:Steve Clifford is why I roll my eyes at the many fans here complaining about the likely scenario in which we roll out (mostly) the same roster.

They may have the same names on the back of their jerseys but you can’t tell me you’re a Magic fan who has followed games closely in recent years and say you don’t see a difference in what these guys are bringing. ... that is coaching.

Bravo Cliff!

It also goes to show how bad a coach Vogel is. He is terrible, he needs everything, roster wise, to be fine for him to succeed. Cliff is tremendously respected but the players clearly disrespected Vogel.

Optimus_Steel · Post #31 » by **Optimus_Steel** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 6:35 pm

J_Magic wrote:We have competed and played the top teams great all year.

Since we are there, lets hope for a NY Knicks type of run.

We can beat anybody on any given day.

Vuc is always 20+.

Ross, Fournier, and Gordon can get you 20 at any time too.

Ross, Birch, and Iwundu showing up will be big.

MCW...will be needed for his clutch defensive performances.

I always tell people, you never know. If you are playing a top seed in the 1st round and a guy like Giannis or Kawhli or Embid get injured then the thing is wide open. Give yourself a shot by at least by being there.

MagicFan101 · Post #32 » by **MagicFan101** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 6:37 pm

Optimus_Steel wrote:
MagicFan101 wrote:Steve Clifford is why I roll my eyes at the many fans here complaining about the likely scenario in which we roll out (mostly) the same roster.

They may have the same names on the back of their jerseys but you can’t tell me you’re a Magic fan who has followed games closely in recent years and say you don’t see a difference in what these guys are bringing. ... that is coaching.

Bravo Cliff!

It also goes to show how bad a coach Vogel is. He is terrible, he needs everything, roster wise, to be fine for him to succeed. Cliff is tremendously respected but the players clearly disrespected Vogel.

I don’t look at Vogel with the blanket label of being a bad coach. Vogel had success when he had a full court super star to push through. Some coaches fail even when they have that. So he isn’t incompetent.

But clearly Vogel was not the guy for our situation.

Also, more special about Clifford is that Scott Skiles was supposed to come in and do a lot of the same things ... discipline, defense and fundamentals. But Skiles refuses to work with what he has if he doesn’t believe. Clifford gets the most out of his rosters. If change is needed the GM can handle that but as a head coach he works with the players on his roster that day.

yoyojw17 · Post #33 » by **yoyojw17** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 6:39 pm

OrlandO wrote:

Read on Twitter

I love that congratulates them... praises them.... and then pretty much says... "We can do better"... and everyone is in agreement. Like this is just a small part of the journey... which it is.

tiderulz · Post #34 » by **tiderulz** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 7:24 pm

MagicStarwipe wrote:I'm not sure if it's Clifford being this good or if the previous coaches were just that bad (they were pretty bad!), but he got these players playing together and at a level they have never played before. You can't fault him on much this season. He's done a great job.

well, Orlando is 5th in points allowed. there's some coaching involved in that stat

magicman112 · Post #35 » by **magicman112** » Mon Apr 8, 2019 7:32 pm

MagicFan101 wrote:
Optimus_Steel wrote:
MagicFan101 wrote:Steve Clifford is why I roll my eyes at the many fans here complaining about the likely scenario in which we roll out (mostly) the same roster.

They may have the same names on the back of their jerseys but you can’t tell me you’re a Magic fan who has followed games closely in recent years and say you don’t see a difference in what these guys are bringing. ... that is coaching.

Bravo Cliff!

It also goes to show how bad a coach Vogel is. He is terrible, he needs everything, roster wise, to be fine for him to succeed. Cliff is tremendously respected but the players clearly disrespected Vogel.

I don’t look at Vogel with the blanket label of being a bad coach. Vogel had success when he had a full court super star to push through. Some coaches fail even when they have that. So he isn’t incompetent.

But clearly Vogel was not the guy for our situation.

Also, more special about Clifford is that Scott Skiles was supposed to come in and do a lot of the same things ... discipline, defense and fundamentals. But Skiles refuses to work with what he has if he doesn’t believe. Clifford gets the most out of his rosters. If change is needed the GM can handle that but as a head coach he works with the players on his roster that day.

Clifford holds these guys accountable while also building them up and helping them realize they can play winning basketball.

MagicStarwipe · Post #36 » by **MagicStarwipe** » Tue Apr 9, 2019 1:54 am

tiderulz wrote:
MagicStarwipe wrote:I'm not sure if it's Clifford being this good or if the previous coaches were just that bad (they were pretty bad!), but he got these players playing together and at a level they have never played before. You can't fault him on much this season. He's done a great job.

well, Orlando is 5th in points allowed. there's some coaching involved in that stat

Nice to see we agree then.

paperboymafia · Post #37 » by **paperboymafia** » Tue Apr 9, 2019 9:44 am

"doesn't play young guys"

hah

drsd · Post #38 » by **drsd** » Tue Apr 9, 2019 11:02 am

paperboymafia wrote:"doesn't play young guys"

hah

Old is 2 players: Mozgov = 32; Augustin = 31
Prime is 6 players: Vučević = 28; Ross = 28; Carter-Williams = 27; Birch = 26; Fournier = 26; Grant = 26
Young is 7 players*:Iwundu = 24; Martin = 24; Gordon = 23; Frazier = 22; Isaac = 21; Bamba = 20; Fultz = 20

* = Briscoe is 22 and the TW players are Jefferson = 25; Caupain = 23

The Magic started the season as the 5th youngest by average age. So: All Coach Clifford does is "play young guys" as the roster is youthful.

..

zaymon · Post #39 » by **zaymon** » Tue Apr 9, 2019 11:10 am

drsd wrote:
paperboymafia wrote:"doesn't play young guys"

hah

Old is 2 players: Mozgov = 32; Augustin = 31
Prime is 6 players: Vučević = 28; Ross = 28; Carter-Williams = 27; Birch = 26; Fournier = 26; Grant = 26
Young is 7 players*:Iwundu = 24; Martin = 24; Gordon = 23; Frazier = 22; Isaac = 21; Bamba = 20; Fultz = 20

* = Briscoe is 22 and the TW players are Jefferson = 25; Caupain = 23

The Magic started the season as the 5th youngest by average age. So: All Coach Clifford does is "play young guys" as the roster is youthful.

..

Clifford gave starting spot to Isaac, he played Gordon the most minutes, he played Bamba before Birch despite Birch being better player, he successfuly brought Briscoe into rotation. Anyone who says coach Steve doesnt play young guys is just plain wrong. Whats more important he makes them better players. Bamba has a lot of luck

paperboymafia · Post #40 » by **paperboymafia** » Tue Apr 9, 2019 11:31 am

drsd wrote:
paperboymafia wrote:"doesn't play young guys"

hah

Old is 2 players: Mozgov = 32; Augustin = 31
Prime is 6 players: Vučević = 28; Ross = 28; Carter-Williams = 27; Birch = 26; Fournier = 26; Grant = 26
Young is 7 players*:Iwundu = 24; Martin = 24; Gordon = 23; Frazier = 22; Isaac = 21; Bamba = 20; Fultz = 20

* = Briscoe is 22 and the TW players are Jefferson = 25; Caupain = 23

The Magic started the season as the 5th youngest by average age. So: All Coach Clifford does is "play young guys" as the roster is youthful.

..

No you're right. I just remember reading that loads. But he also showed a lot of faith in JI this year and Bamba was getting steady minutes before he went down.

But yes, it's a super young team.