Regular Season Game 28: Orlando Magic (12-15) at Denver Nuggets (17-8) - 9pm ET

[MartinsIzAfraud]

We can defend the skill sets and project the real upsides of all of the young guys on this team but what they lack is any kind of FIRE. Maybe we're one AHole away from being a team nobody likes playing. Look at what Jimmy Butler did to a "crappy" Miami roster. I understand that Butler is a legit talent, but, more than anything, he inspires competitiveness...there's nobody on this team that wants to fight. We need a Kevin Garnett mentality to take our talented, nice young gentlemen to a level of competitiveness. Ideally, it comes from an Alpha scorer or a ferocious defender (like Smart) but, damn....these guys smile too much or look bored while they're getting their asses kicked. Pat Riley's ferocious mentality is what drives Miami's culture...our culture is cute commercials and articulate "great guys" who don't mind a nice loss. Go get a savage that calls out his soft teammates and is third man in everytime

I dont think Miami's roster is as bad as you make it out to be

Jimmy was criticized for leaving a contender for his own show-"he'd rather get paid and lose"...NOBODY projected Adebayo, Nunn, and Herro as All-Star candidates...I don't think Miami's roster is as good as Butler makes it to be. One fierce, scary guy can infect the whole team...I really like our guys but they just need someone to pinch their triceps and piss them off. I used to say that to my son when I coached at the Y - he was the most skilled player on either team, but he was happy to be there. If somebody elbowed him or pushed him, he got mad and destroyed...but it could not be simulated. He was as happy as Bamba hanging out at the 3 point line, enjoying the show.

This is what happens when you have no leader/locker room voice. Add on all the years of losing and you get guys that are just happy to be in games and when going gets tough they quit or can’t make it happen.

24-0 run should never happen in the NBA, someone on our team needed to go to the hoop hard and force a call. Instead we jacked up 3’s mid range stuff and got lazy on defense.

Our team is misfit losers who eventually have to play for next contract and then show some fire.

[Skybox]

I dont think Miami's roster is as bad as you make it out to be

Jimmy was criticized for leaving a contender for his own show-"he'd rather get paid and lose"...NOBODY projected Adebayo, Nunn, and Herro as All-Star candidates...I don't think Miami's roster is as good as Butler makes it to be. One fierce, scary guy can infect the whole team...I really like our guys but they just need someone to pinch their triceps and piss them off. I used to say that to my son when I coached at the Y - he was the most skilled player on either team, but he was happy to be there. If somebody elbowed him or pushed him, he got mad and destroyed...but it could not be simulated. He was as happy as Bamba hanging out at the 3 point line, enjoying the show.

This is what happens when you have no leader/locker room voice. Add on all the years of losing and you get guys that are just happy to be in games and when going gets tough they quit or can’t make it happen.

24-0 run should never happen in the NBA, someone on our team needed to go to the hoop hard and force a call. Instead we jacked up 3’s mid range stuff and got lazy on defense.

Our team is misfit losers who eventually have to play for next contract and then show some fire.

Yes...they don't know anything else, so they discuss cars, new uniforms, etc...they need a crazy chair-thrower to shake them up. AG should be a beast at the rim. He needs a hype man "Dude, WTF, why'd you let that punk out jump you? If I had your legs, I'd throw down everything on people"...someone good enough to get respect and scary enough not to be ignored. There's videos of Marcus Smart bullying Tatum and Brown in friendly 1on1 after practice. never backing down, never acknowledging that they were both bigger, more skilled, more athletic than him. He just didn't yield. Then when the game starts, he's THEIR bully.

[Skybox]

I'm not saying Smart is All-NBA Butler, but there are glue guys that set a culture and enforce it. Nice young kids surrounded by nice young kids making nice plays is self-perpetuating...you can't preach hungry, it's got to be demonstrated.

[pepe1991]

I'm not saying Smart is All-NBA Butler, but there are glue guys that set a culture and enforce it. Nice young kids surrounded by nice young kids making nice plays is self-perpetuating...you can't preach hungry, it's got to be demonstrated.

So it's not enough of motivation that you are payed between $5 to $30 M a year to play basketball?

I think main issue in NBA today is that most of this new players are just in basketball industry because somebody recognized their talent at young age and told them it's their best path for lot of money.
Fans to this date mock Embiid for crying after losing. You watch olympics, soccer, boxing, that MF-ers break down and cry like a babies because they care that much. NBA? Lebron loses in nba finals and says see you next year , go back at your random lifes, i'll enjoy my millions. Is there any bigger middle finger to fans than that?

Main reason Kobe and mj are one of my all time favorite players is because how much they cared.
Nowdays players just half-a** it especially during regular season.

[MagicFrenchie]

Exactly, we need a bully on this team , a trash talking vet making everybody want to throw punches.
Boston have Smart.
Philly have Embiid.
Warriors have Green.
Lakers have a bunch.
Milwaukee have Gianiis, he's pretty savage at times.

Orlando have Stuff the Dragon mascot.

[tiderulz]

We need a vet, we r too young

Teague+Roco for AG+DJ would be plenty experience coming in

Really hope roco is 100%

how are we too young?
Evan - 27
Vuc - 29
AG - 24
Isaac - 22
Fultz - 21

then you have key bench of
Aminu - 29
Ross - 28
Dj - 32

that is prime players with some youth. that is exactly what you want

[tiderulz]

I dont think Miami's roster is as bad as you make it out to be

Jimmy was criticized for leaving a contender for his own show-"he'd rather get paid and lose"...NOBODY projected Adebayo, Nunn, and Herro as All-Star candidates...I don't think Miami's roster is as good as Butler makes it to be. One fierce, scary guy can infect the whole team...I really like our guys but they just need someone to pinch their triceps and piss them off. I used to say that to my son when I coached at the Y - he was the most skilled player on either team, but he was happy to be there. If somebody elbowed him or pushed him, he got mad and destroyed...but it could not be simulated. He was as happy as Bamba hanging out at the 3 point line, enjoying the show.

This is what happens when you have no leader/locker room voice. Add on all the years of losing and you get guys that are just happy to be in games and when going gets tough they quit or can’t make it happen.

24-0 run should never happen in the NBA, someone on our team needed to go to the hoop hard and force a call. Instead we jacked up 3’s mid range stuff and got lazy on defense.

Our team is misfit losers who eventually have to play for next contract and then show some fire.

I agree, but that is on a coach more than anything. There are plenty of things a coach can do during that type of run.

[tiderulz]

I'm not saying Smart is All-NBA Butler, but there are glue guys that set a culture and enforce it. Nice young kids surrounded by nice young kids making nice plays is self-perpetuating...you can't preach hungry, it's got to be demonstrated.

So it's not enough of motivation that you are payed between $5 to $30 M a year to play basketball?

I think main issue in NBA today is that most of this new players are just in basketball industry because somebody recognized their talent at young age and told them it's their best path for lot of money.
Fans to this date mock Embiid for crying after losing. You watch olympics, soccer, boxing, that MF-ers break down and cry like a babies because they care that much. NBA? Lebron loses in nba finals and says see you next year , go back at your random lifes, i'll enjoy my millions. Is there any bigger middle finger to fans than that?

Main reason Kobe and mj are one of my all time favorite players is because how much they cared.
Nowdays players just half-a** it especially during regular season.

it should be, but it isnt. and that isnt just in basketball. NFL, MLB are the same. guaranteed contracts dont encourage that motivation

[VFX]

The core needs to be shaken up in the worst way - for better or for worse. The AG, Vuc, and Evan show is played out and obviously ineffective after 5+ years together. The FO needs to make a move or just accept mediocrity.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I forgot there was even a game last night... Probably watch the replay.

[CraZyPraiZ]

I wonder if this team could pry Draymond from GS? That's the attitude that we need.

[Popsicle1228]

I'm not saying Smart is All-NBA Butler, but there are glue guys that set a culture and enforce it. Nice young kids surrounded by nice young kids making nice plays is self-perpetuating...you can't preach hungry, it's got to be demonstrated.

So it's not enough of motivation that you are payed between $5 to $30 M a year to play basketball?

I think main issue in NBA today is that most of this new players are just in basketball industry because somebody recognized their talent at young age and told them it's their best path for lot of money.
Fans to this date mock Embiid for crying after losing. You watch olympics, soccer, boxing, that MF-ers break down and cry like a babies because they care that much. NBA? Lebron loses in nba finals and says see you next year , go back at your random lifes, i'll enjoy my millions. Is there any bigger middle finger to fans than that?

Main reason Kobe and mj are one of my all time favorite players is because how much they cared.
Nowdays players just half-a** it especially during regular season.

A prime example is Westbrook in his exit interview last year directly after the OKC playoff ouster. He said something to the effect of and obviously I am paraphrasing, "It don't mean **** to me what you are talking about" (referring to media discussing his performance). "I am going to wake up be happy and keep living my life."

Not something you want to hear from your star player directly after a disappointing playoff series loss. I think that some of the contracts being handed out guaranteeing an exorbitant amount of money enable this type of attitude because it would make one feel like there is nothing really to lose. Don't gent me wrong, I am not wishing any ill will towards Westbrook and I am glad he is happy, but it is disheartening that sometimes as a fan you fill more disappointed for the team than some of the star players words and actions demonstrate.

I will take Embiid's tears over that attitude any day of the week.

[Popsicle1228]

Exactly, we need a bully on this team , a trash talking vet making everybody want to throw punches.
Boston have Smart.
Philly have Embiid.
Warriors have Green.
Lakers have a bunch.
Milwaukee have Gianiis, he's pretty savage at times.

Orlando have Stuff the Dragon mascot.

I feel like MCW could be that guy, but seeing as he was out of the league most of the year last year, he doesn't really command the respect needed to be effective in that role. I mean the guy gets techs for what appears to be mild trash talking while more reputable players like a KG or even Draymond have a longer leash to play said role.

[swarlesbarkley]

I'm not saying Smart is All-NBA Butler, but there are glue guys that set a culture and enforce it. Nice young kids surrounded by nice young kids making nice plays is self-perpetuating...you can't preach hungry, it's got to be demonstrated.

So it's not enough of motivation that you are payed between $5 to $30 M a year to play basketball?

I think main issue in NBA today is that most of this new players are just in basketball industry because somebody recognized their talent at young age and told them it's their best path for lot of money.
Fans to this date mock Embiid for crying after losing. You watch olympics, soccer, boxing, that MF-ers break down and cry like a babies because they care that much. NBA? Lebron loses in nba finals and says see you next year , go back at your random lifes, i'll enjoy my millions. Is there any bigger middle finger to fans than that?

Main reason Kobe and mj are one of my all time favorite players is because how much they cared.
Nowdays players just half-a** it especially during regular season.

A prime example is Westbrook in his exit interview last year directly after the OKC playoff ouster. He said something to the effect of and obviously I am paraphrasing, "It don't mean **** to me what you are talking about" (referring to media discussing his performance). "I am going to wake up be happy and keeping living my life."

Not something you want to hear from your star player directly after a disappointing playoff series loss. I think that some of the contracts being handed out guaranteeing an exorbitant amount of money enable this type of attitude because it would make one feel like there is nothing really to lose. Don't gent me wrong, I am not wishing any ill will towards Westbrook and I am glad he is happy, but it is disheartening that sometimes as a fan you fill more disappointed for the team than some of the star players words and actions demonstrate.

I'm not a Westbrook fan but I think he said that quote to hide from the fact about how pissed and upset he was. He's one of the few stars in the league who actually gives a damn on the court so that was an odd quote from him.

[Popsicle1228]

So it's not enough of motivation that you are payed between $5 to $30 M a year to play basketball?

I think main issue in NBA today is that most of this new players are just in basketball industry because somebody recognized their talent at young age and told them it's their best path for lot of money.
Fans to this date mock Embiid for crying after losing. You watch olympics, soccer, boxing, that MF-ers break down and cry like a babies because they care that much. NBA? Lebron loses in nba finals and says see you next year , go back at your random lifes, i'll enjoy my millions. Is there any bigger middle finger to fans than that?

Main reason Kobe and mj are one of my all time favorite players is because how much they cared.
Nowdays players just half-a** it especially during regular season.

A prime example is Westbrook in his exit interview last year directly after the OKC playoff ouster. He said something to the effect of and obviously I am paraphrasing, "It don't mean **** to me what you are talking about" (referring to media discussing his performance). "I am going to wake up be happy and keeping living my life."

Not something you want to hear from your star player directly after a disappointing playoff series loss. I think that some of the contracts being handed out guaranteeing an exorbitant amount of money enable this type of attitude because it would make one feel like there is nothing really to lose. Don't gent me wrong, I am not wishing any ill will towards Westbrook and I am glad he is happy, but it is disheartening that sometimes as a fan you fill more disappointed for the team than some of the star players words and actions demonstrate.

I'm not a Westbrook fan but I think he said that quote to hide from the fact about how pissed and upset he was. He's one of the few stars in the league who actually gives a damn on the court so that was an odd quote from him.

What you are saying may be true, and I cannot disprove your opinion, but I have to take a man for his word. All I have is his word because I can't read his mind. Whether he meant it or not, I wouldn't want to hear that If I were an OKC fan at the time.

[PrimeThyme]

The core needs to be shaken up in the worst way - for better or for worse. The AG, Vuc, and Evan show is played out and obviously ineffective after 5+ years together. The FO needs to make a move or just accept mediocrity.

They have, unfortunately. The signings over the summer and doubling down on this same roster who was 10 games under .500 before a late-season run signals that. Being 12-16 is not at all surprising to me because that's the type of record this core has consistently churned out year after year.

Last season was more of an outlier than anything else. Weltman is too prideful and stuck in his ways to sell off pieces and do what is needed to be done though. A win-now move involving AG is probably on the horizon.

Evan/Vuc will have outlasted Dipo/Harris/AG. Just let that sink in. We will keep those two as our best two options (probably extend Fournier this summer) and keep pointing fingers at other players on the roster instead of bottoming out and getting real talent on this team outside of Isaac/Fultz.

[OrlandoNed]

Evan/Vuc will have outlasted Dipo/Harris/AG. Just let that sink in. We will keep those two as our best two options (probably extend Fournier this summer) and keep pointing fingers at other players on the roster instead of bottoming out and getting real talent on this team outside of Isaac/Fultz.

It's amazing how close we've been over the years to getting that special talent. We were so close to landing Porzingis, Young or Doncic but we just had to win those at the time meaningless games that ultimately ending up being harmful in the long run.

[KillMonger]

Evan/Vuc will have outlasted Dipo/Harris/AG. Just let that sink in. We will keep those two as our best two options (probably extend Fournier this summer) and keep pointing fingers at other players on the roster instead of bottoming out and getting real talent on this team outside of Isaac/Fultz.

It's amazing how close we've been over the years to getting that special talent. We were so close to landing Porzingis, Young or Doncic but we just had to win those at the time meaningless games that ultimately ending up being harmful in the long run.

Yep, also now the rules have changed you can't tank like you used to anymore. I mean look at what happened to the knicks this past draft.

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[Xatticus]

Evan/Vuc will have outlasted Dipo/Harris/AG. Just let that sink in. We will keep those two as our best two options (probably extend Fournier this summer) and keep pointing fingers at other players on the roster instead of bottoming out and getting real talent on this team outside of Isaac/Fultz.

It's amazing how close we've been over the years to getting that special talent. We were so close to landing Porzingis, Young or Doncic but we just had to win those at the time meaningless games that ultimately ending up being harmful in the long run.

Yep, also now the rules have changed you can't tank like you used to anymore. I mean look at what happened to the knicks this past draft.

Sent from my SM-G960U using RealGM mobile app

You can still tank. It has been discouraged by a reduction in the incentive, but the incentive to tank wasn't eliminated. Philadelphia's foundation was laid by a concerted effort to tank for talent. How long ago was it that people were still trying to argue that our core was better than their's? Dallas changed their fortunes by tanking for less than one season. Doncic could be on our roster right now. There was a massive opportunity cost incurred by our decision to "evaluate."

I'm not really advocating for tanking. I don't think you have to jettison every scrap of talent you have to overhaul a broken roster. It's rather evident to me that we don't have enough talent on this roster to compete for anything more than the final spot or two in the Eastern Conference playoffs. I don't know how we plan to go about acquiring more talent, but I've seen little evidence to suggest that our front office understands the problem. I could argue for pragmatism, but what is the point when the audience is in denial?

[ezzzp]

We have DJ Augustin as our go-to scorer smh. Even if we win we lose

Green font?