Game 40: Orlando Magic (16-23) @ Los Angeles Clippers (26-14) - 10:30 PM ET

[Bensational]

Payton's too timid going into the paint. He keeps pulling up around the high post, and it's not disrupting their defense at all.

Just look at the way CP3 and Austin drive into the paint against us and draw both the perimeter defender and Vuc, leaving Jordan wide open.

I guess this is an example of Payton's lack of a jumper hurting the team in some instances.

[EasternMagic]

And people want to continue to rag on Mario instead

They both suck, but Mario looks like a deer in headlights the whole time he's on the floor. At leas Green can produce every now and then.

One is 21. The other is certified garbage at this point.

Mario may not be certified garbage yet, but he's a huge liability every time he steps on the court. It's like playing with 4 players. With Green on the court, at least there's the chance that your playing with 4.5 players. Mario isn't doing anything to suggest that he's improving either. I remember when Redick was in a similar hole early in his career. At least when he got the chance to play, he'd still knock down the open three and move well without the ball. Mario just looks like fan out there. And he's looked like that on his national team and on his last pro team. Not good news.

[PrimeThyme]

Green and Hezo are to blame for that 2nd quarter.

Green is to blame for that second quarter. We lost all momentum the second he came in. Thats when we lost the lead

[thelead]

No idea why we aren't posting AG up against Redick and Rivers.

He has no post up game

But Green and his 20% FG% does right? We seem to find Green enough in the post.

[OrlandO]

ibaka or no ibaka we play about the same .

Ibaka was playing really well for a while, but in the last 5 or so seems like he's only cared about putting up shots and he hasn't been making them. I still want to see Ibaka and Vuc together... I think they can play off each other better.

[SOUL]

They both suck, but Mario looks like a deer in headlights the whole time he's on the floor. At leas Green can produce every now and then.

One is 21. The other is certified garbage at this point.

Mario may not be certified garbage yet, but he's a huge liability every time he steps on the court. It's like playing with 4 players. With Green on the court, at least there's the chance that your playing with 4.5 players. Mario isn't doing anything to suggest that he's improving either. I remember when Redick was in a similar hole early in his career. At least when he got the chance to play, he'd still knock down the open three and move well without the ball. Mario just looks like fan out there. And he's looked like that on his national team and on his last pro team. Not good news.

Mario just had a stint where he played fine defense and had a nice pass to Biyombo. One bad turnover and some bad shot selections (passing up easier shots for harder ones). Nothing spectacular, but if you saw Jeff Green he pretty much single handedly sabotaged us.

[Bensational]

ibaka or no ibaka we play about the same .

True. The pieces don't fit together. I would still keep Ibaka and trade Vuc instead.

You could say the same about Fournier, too. 3-2 without him, and the ball movement looked much more fluid without him.

[GameOver25]

You know what play Jeff Green, we need you for a better draft pick.

At this point, I'm hoping this is what's really going on. They can't be THIS dumb, can they?

I have no idea to be honest. I'm just tired of trying to figure out why he's getting minutes when he clearly doesn't deserve them. I'm really trying to look at it from a different angle. I give up.

[MagicStarwipe]

No idea why we aren't posting AG up against Redick and Rivers.

He has no post up game

He has enough post game to post up 2 guys that are 50 pounds lighter and half a foot shorter.

[thelead]

They both suck, but Mario looks like a deer in headlights the whole time he's on the floor. At leas Green can produce every now and then.

One is 21. The other is certified garbage at this point.

Mario may not be certified garbage yet, but he's a huge liability every time he steps on the court. It's like playing with 4 players. With Green on the court, at least there's the chance that your playing with 4.5 players. Mario isn't doing anything to suggest that he's improving either. I remember when Redick was in a similar hole early in his career. At least when he got the chance to play, he'd still knock down the open three and move well without the ball. Mario just looks like fan out there. And he's looked like that on his national team and on his last pro team. Not good news.

I'm not a Mario apologist but he certainly didn't look like this last year. It's all mental. I still would rather lose with Mario than Green. Playing Green is a huge waste of minutes/development time IMO.

[MagicStarwipe]

Payton's too timid going into the paint. He keeps pulling up around the high post, and it's not disrupting their defense at all.

Just look at the way CP3 and Austin drive into the paint against us and draw both the perimeter defender and Vuc, leaving Jordan wide open.

I guess this is an example of Payton's lack of a jumper hurting the team in some instances.

Jordan is just hanging back waiting for him.

[thelead]

ibaka or no ibaka we play about the same .

True. The pieces don't fit together. I would still keep Ibaka and trade Vuc instead.

You could say the same about Fournier, too. 3-2 without him, and the ball movement looked much more fluid without him.

Yeah, I'm ready to move him too.

[PrimeThyme]

ibaka or no ibaka we play about the same .

Ibaka was playing really well for a while, but in the last 5 or so seems like he's only cared about putting up shots and he hasn't been making them. I still want to see Ibaka and Vuc together... I think they can play off each other better.

Me too. I mean after all I thought one of the main reasons we traded for Ibaka was because he was the perfect compliment next to Vuc.

[EasternMagic]

One is 21. The other is certified garbage at this point.

Mario may not be certified garbage yet, but he's a huge liability every time he steps on the court. It's like playing with 4 players. With Green on the court, at least there's the chance that your playing with 4.5 players. Mario isn't doing anything to suggest that he's improving either. I remember when Redick was in a similar hole early in his career. At least when he got the chance to play, he'd still knock down the open three and move well without the ball. Mario just looks like fan out there. And he's looked like that on his national team and on his last pro team. Not good news.

Mario just had a stint where he played fine defense and had a nice pass to Biyombo. One bad turnover and some bad shot selections (passing up easier shots for harder ones). Nothing spectacular, but if you saw Jeff Green he pretty much single handedly sabotaged us.

I'm watching both closely. Don't get me wrong guys, I know Green is abysmal, but he still gets some respect from the defense and can every now and then knock down some shots. Mario consistently looks lost and scared. I don't trust that on the floor. Doesn't mean I like having Green on the floor, but that's just how it is.

[SOUL]

Jeff Green just makes me sick though. Physically. Even plays where he isn't technically doing anything wrong.

For instance, at the end of the 1st there was like 4 or 3 seconds left. He inbounds it to CJ Watson and just stands out of bounds for almost 2-3 seconds before going in. CJ got a shot off, but looked like he was trying to pass it before creating some space.

This dude just doesn't care. I can live with Fournier because as infuriating as some of the decisions he makes are, at least he thinks he's doing the right thing and playing with intensity. Green on the other hand is just an insult to the game.

[OrlandO]

ibaka or no ibaka we play about the same .

Ibaka was playing really well for a while, but in the last 5 or so seems like he's only cared about putting up shots and he hasn't been making them. I still want to see Ibaka and Vuc together... I think they can play off each other better.

Me too. I mean after all I thought one of the main reasons we traded for Ibaka was because he was the perfect compliment next to Vuc.

Green has already missed 2 wide open threes from Vuc passes out of the post. Imagine Ibaka putting up those shots instead.

[Orlando11]

Need to stop switching that paul/deandre pick and roll so easily...paul just carved out D up every single time in the 2nd quarter when they ran that action

[EasternMagic]

One is 21. The other is certified garbage at this point.

Mario may not be certified garbage yet, but he's a huge liability every time he steps on the court. It's like playing with 4 players. With Green on the court, at least there's the chance that your playing with 4.5 players. Mario isn't doing anything to suggest that he's improving either. I remember when Redick was in a similar hole early in his career. At least when he got the chance to play, he'd still knock down the open three and move well without the ball. Mario just looks like fan out there. And he's looked like that on his national team and on his last pro team. Not good news.

I'm not a Mario apologist but he certainly didn't look like this last year. It's all mental. I still would rather lose with Mario than Green. Playing Green is a huge waste of minutes/development time IMO.

We'll I'll agree to disagree here. I see where you're coming from, but I don't think in game situations is where he needs development right now. He needs a long stint in the D-League until he can learn not to be afraid on the court.

[SOUL]

Need to stop switching that paul/deandre pick and roll so easily...paul just carved out D up every single time in the 2nd quarter when they ran that action

That would require going under on CP3 which is tough. DeAndre is a really good screen setter so the way him and CP3 run it makes it extremely tough to guard. What needs to happen is putting pressure on Paul to where he can't throw an easy pass and making sure somebody covers Jordan when Vuc comes to help.

[pepe1991]

Mario did better job defending JJ than Evan that's for sure. Mario guarded him so well that JJ didn't even touch a ball, as soon as Evan went in he made three because Evan lost him , than next possession for some reason Jeff Green was on him ,same result.

Gordon is playing great, others not so much. How many times CP3 will force them into bad missmatch with Vuć/Biyombo guarding himm all over the floor???