2024-2025 Regular Season Game 33: New York Knicks (20-10) at Orlando Magic (19-13) - 7pm

[KillMonger]

The only thing keeping KCP off the bench to me his poa defense..... We got quite a bit of dead weight on the team that's not producing and it has to be addressed.... Like why did we extend Dell?why did we bring back Gary? Cole? And then there is the always minutes restricted JI.... These are rotation players.... I think tonight we had a 4 minute stretch with no one scoring, you can't survive that in today's nba

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[drsd]

Instead of the box-score thoughts, and yes the Magic lost the FG% battle (via horrible interior defense on 2-balls), I leave us with this thought: Mr. Queen is an NBA baller. He needs a full contract. The dude belongs here.

One box-score thought line.

FT stat lines for the last 7 games:
Against the Knicks 91.7%
Against the Heat 83.3%
Against the Celts 100%
Against the Heat 88.9%
Against the Thunder 72%
Against the Knicks 76.9%
Against the Bucks 77.8%

3P% stat lines for the last 7 games:
Against the Knicks 30.3%
Against the Heat 16.7%
Against the Celts 39.4%
Against the Heat 29.7%
Against the Thunder 31.4%
Against the Knicks 30%
Against the Bucks 22.2%



In absolute terms over these 7 games, the Magic is averaging 9.3/32.1 (28.9%) in 3P% and 17.1/20.4 (83.9%) in FT%.

If one accepts that FT% correlates with a shooter's ability to hit from distance (pro-tip: it does), the Magic's glowing FT% line suggests that the three-ball disaster is not about player ability at all. There is a system problem. If true, this must be addressed at a Coaching level!

..
..

[Knightro]

In absolute terms over these 7 games, the Magic is averaging 9.3/32.1 (28.9%) in 3P% and 17.1/20.4 (83.9%) in FT%.

If one accepts that FT% correlates with a shooter's ability to hit from distance (pro-tip: it does), the Magic's glowing FT% line suggests that the three-ball disaster is not about player ability at all. There is a system problem. If true, this must be addressed at a Coaching level!

There’s certainly a system problem. It’s called Paolo and Franz are injured.

[Skybox]

Jesus. A couple of losses really changes the mood around here.

That’s a fun thing to say but, imo, the criticisms have been pretty consistent for a long time now.

[Skybox]

The only thing keeping KCP off the bench to me his poa defense..... We got quite a bit of dead weight on the team that's not producing and it has to be addressed.... Like why did we extend Dell?why did we bring back Gary? Cole? And then there is the always minutes restricted JI.... These are rotation players.... I think tonight we had a 4 minute stretch with no one scoring, you can't survive that in today's nba

Sent from my [Hands] using RealGM mobile app

They’re all “developing”…don’t be impatient. Give everyone 3 more years of declining value before they even consider a move. But first, extensions for everyone.

WTF does a FO do? It’s got to be more than this.

[Bergmaniac]

Expected loss but that second half was still depressing. There is only so much you can do mostly by hustle, at some point you just need guys who can reliably put the ball in the basket and we just don't have them with all the injuries.

What the hell happened to Wendell's offense, this season it has just been completely gone, he can't make a 3 to save his life and just floats around on offense 95% of the time, he's had a total of 6 games where his scoring has been in double figures. You'd think playing with the bench now that Mo is gone for the season and we don't have a bench scorer he'd at least try to get it going offensively but he remains so passive. Then there is Isaac who this season has shown a marked increase in his willingness to shoot but unfortunately this has not been accompanied by increase in effiency but the opposite. He almost never passes and just lets it fly almost every time he gets the ball. It seems he is frustrated with not being as dominant on defense as he used to be and tries to make up for it on the other end but he just doesn't have the skills for it.

[AdamTheGreek]

Credit to the Knicks and that coaching staff. They took us seriously in all 3 matchups so far and had a focused approach to beating us.

Tonight the officiating was awful for both teams and really dragged the game down.

We looked like a team missing 65+ ppg. It’s going to happen until Paolo and Franz return.

[eyriq]

Goga continues to play like a two-way star

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[magik9113]

We were in this without our two stars until our 3rd best player had to sit for foul trouble. The knicks are lucky that Paolo likely won't be back by January 6 either. We'll have to get them back in the playoffs.

[three3d]

You’ll do realize that the real problem isn’t the Front Office people right? This is 1,000% an ownership issue and there is no way it can keep being ignored. This franchise is the equivalent of an ATM to the DeVos Family, they have no pressure put on them by media or most of you that post in here to actually win a championship or get out. They have probably 100X their initial investment in the franchise and are operating in the green. Just put a halfway decent product out there and people are happy.

Also Orlando is a huge tourist area so selling tickets to games is never going to be a problem. There is no pressure there are little to no expectations and half your crowd nightly might be tourists just checking out a game no matter who’s playing. Basketball will NEVER fail in Orlando this is the business model ownership is running with.

[Idiosyncratic]

I saw the score by an accident (I usually watch games from a replay without knowing the outcome) and have no intention of watching the game. Seems like NY have our number in those times when we are shorthanded.

That being said, we all see the shortcomings of the roster construction. Something's got to give. Too much of a salary dead weight on this team. Magic are paying like 70 million for the services of KCP, JI, Wendell, Cole and Harris. You could get a similar production (or a lack of if you wanna phrase it this way) for a fraction of those earnings. If the FO don't put their heads out of their collective ass, we will be screwed in no time after the extensions of Franz, Suggs AND Banchero kick in.

Someone mentioned he wouldn't be opposed to trading anyone except for the aformentioned 3 and Goga. And it seems like a correct approach. TDS is also worth keeping but after a stat sheet like the one yesterday it's hard to defend him right now... But we all know it's not gonna happen unless we get a new front office so no point dreaming.

One thing I would say is look at the FA signings from all teams last year. Awful group of players to pick from. That was their first offseason as a "good" team working toward championship aspirations and it was not much to choose from. Was also a weak draft. Even looking at a lot of the trades from the offseason and last deadline, just not a ton of players moved I would feel excited about. I would have done the Deni Avdija trade from Portland's side, but as a whole there's a really strong chance there just haven't been many desirable options so far. You don't force moves that could hurt your future just to try and win in Paolos 3rd freakin year.

[Residual-Heat]

Goga continues to play like a two-way star

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Goga gets paid 8 mill/yr and gives us solid starter production. He's been more aggressive offensively and i love to see it. Clearly he has been working on his offense including is passing and FT%.

[Skybox]

I saw the score by an accident (I usually watch games from a replay without knowing the outcome) and have no intention of watching the game. Seems like NY have our number in those times when we are shorthanded.

That being said, we all see the shortcomings of the roster construction. Something's got to give. Too much of a salary dead weight on this team. Magic are paying like 70 million for the services of KCP, JI, Wendell, Cole and Harris. You could get a similar production (or a lack of if you wanna phrase it this way) for a fraction of those earnings. If the FO don't put their heads out of their collective ass, we will be screwed in no time after the extensions of Franz, Suggs AND Banchero kick in.

Someone mentioned he wouldn't be opposed to trading anyone except for the aformentioned 3 and Goga. And it seems like a correct approach. TDS is also worth keeping but after a stat sheet like the one yesterday it's hard to defend him right now... But we all know it's not gonna happen unless we get a new front office so no point dreaming.

One thing I would say is look at the FA signings from all teams last year. Awful group of players to pick from. That was their first offseason as a "good" team working toward championship aspirations and it was not much to choose from. Was also a weak draft. Even looking at a lot of the trades from the offseason and last deadline, just not a ton of players moved I would feel excited about. I would have done the Deni Avdija trade from Portland's side, but as a whole there's a really strong chance there just haven't been many desirable options so far. You don't force moves that could hurt your future just to try and win in Paolos 3rd freakin year.

True...but UFA is kind of a bust situation these days anyway...very rarely do players leave as UFA's unless they are overpaid to do so...like KCP, who clearly would have stayed if DEN matched. Doesn't make him a bad move, but not that consequential considering how much cap space we had...Trades are where it's at...even sign and trades for RFA's if they're not in the right place or the team's timeline isn't right. UFA seems to be trending more towards filling out the back of the roster with vets from MLE down to min deals. Contenders generally get first crack, but we're getting there.

[Idiosyncratic]

I saw the score by an accident (I usually watch games from a replay without knowing the outcome) and have no intention of watching the game. Seems like NY have our number in those times when we are shorthanded.

That being said, we all see the shortcomings of the roster construction. Something's got to give. Too much of a salary dead weight on this team. Magic are paying like 70 million for the services of KCP, JI, Wendell, Cole and Harris. You could get a similar production (or a lack of if you wanna phrase it this way) for a fraction of those earnings. If the FO don't put their heads out of their collective ass, we will be screwed in no time after the extensions of Franz, Suggs AND Banchero kick in.

Someone mentioned he wouldn't be opposed to trading anyone except for the aformentioned 3 and Goga. And it seems like a correct approach. TDS is also worth keeping but after a stat sheet like the one yesterday it's hard to defend him right now... But we all know it's not gonna happen unless we get a new front office so no point dreaming.

One thing I would say is look at the FA signings from all teams last year. Awful group of players to pick from. That was their first offseason as a "good" team working toward championship aspirations and it was not much to choose from. Was also a weak draft. Even looking at a lot of the trades from the offseason and last deadline, just not a ton of players moved I would feel excited about. I would have done the Deni Avdija trade from Portland's side, but as a whole there's a really strong chance there just haven't been many desirable options so far. You don't force moves that could hurt your future just to try and win in Paolos 3rd freakin year.

True...but UFA is kind of a bust situation these days anyway...very rarely do players leave as UFA's unless they are overpaid to do so...like KCP, who clearly would have stayed if DEN matched. Doesn't make him a bad move, but not that consequential considering how much cap space we had...Trades are where it's at...even sign and trades for RFA's if they're not in the right place or the team's timeline isn't right. UFA seems to be trending more towards filling out the back of the roster with vets from MLE down to min deals. Contenders generally get first crack, but we're getting there.

Agree with you, I think I'm just willing to give them a bit more time than some due to the team's age. Hoping they are waiting for better fits and will strike when appropiate.

[KillMonger]

The only thing keeping KCP off the bench to me his poa defense..... We got quite a bit of dead weight on the team that's not producing and it has to be addressed.... Like why did we extend Dell?why did we bring back Gary? Cole? And then there is the always minutes restricted JI.... These are rotation players.... I think tonight we had a 4 minute stretch with no one scoring, you can't survive that in today's nba

Sent from my [Hands] using RealGM mobile app

They’re all “developing”…don’t be impatient. Give everyone 3 more years of declining value before they even consider a move. But first, extensions for everyone.

WTF does a FO do? It’s got to be more than this.

yeah.....but what can we do but be mercy to whatever they decide to do.......that is if they do anything at all.....i don't know who it was but the poster nailed the cole anthony situation....they were saying years ago that if we don't trade cole sooner rather than later he'll have no value.....i think it was pepe but....now we have multiple players we have to work real magic to get off of....

[RichCollab]

Goga continues to play like a two-way star

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We need a reporter to ask JI about his play and what he thinks is wrong.

The good news is we are less dependent on JI for wins so it’s easier to transition him off this team if needed.

My guess JI is playing through an injury and will take an extended period off when Paolo and Franz are back.

[three3d]

Goga continues to play like a two-way star

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We need a reporter to ask JI about his play and what he thinks is wrong.

The good news is we are less dependent on JI for wins so it’s easier to transition him off this team if needed.

My guess JI is playing through an injury and will take an extended period off when Paolo and Franz are back.

Hmm just dawned on me that you can’t spell INJURY without a J and an I ….. lol JI makes sense