RealGM

vs.



Tipoff is at 7pm.

Starting lineups for the matchup are:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Magic_PRDish/status/669553720556933122[/tweet]

vs.





[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/669557500333719553[/tweet]

Key stat of the night:

Frye shooting 70.5% on shots with no defender within 6 feet. Makes up almost 40% of his offense. In his words, "BBQ'ing guys"

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noCHngoY4hE[/youtube]

Go Magic!

Knew Vic was out as soon as he tweeted, "All things work together for the good of those who lover God," after the loss. It's a good move by Skiles though, Vic needs to go to the bench for a bit. I wish Gordon would get the start though.

Hahaha that picture of KP is gold

Why not start AG? I get that frye has played well in his limited minutes this season but he is not the future.

Called this lineup. Clearly Gordon in place of Dipo solves nothing.. This team cannot shoot for ****, bringing in Gordon only makes matters worse.

Big A All Day wrote:Why not start AG? I get that frye has played well in his limited minutes this season but he is not the future.

Reaching a bit off what Skiles said after announcing the change; spacing improvements. Looks like we'll use Frye to space on the first unit and I would imagine Hezonja/Nicholson to space the 2nd unit. Both shooting very well open from 3.

Skiles said he wants to put Oladipo in a situation where he can play more vertically and control the ball a little more. But he doesn't want to start games in that style, so he moved him to the bench. Sounds like more of a throwback to him playing as a PG/SG and less of a catch-and-shoot SG like he was in school and this season.

Big A All Day wrote:Why not start AG? I get that frye has played well in his limited minutes this season but he is not the future.

I think Skiles likes playing Gordon and Hezonja together off the bench. They seem to have a good bit of chemistry together. Remember it's the minutes played is what matters.

I'm interested how a 2nd unit of Napier/Oladipo/Hezonja/Gordon/Dedmon works out. Lot of athleticism there with 4 shooters, 2 good and 2 not so good.

I hope we start the game hot and shut up those obnoxious New York snowbirds early. I hate those clown fans of that clown franchise making noise in our building.

That's it? Just inserting Frye?? What a joke. Could have at least been Nicholson I mean damn.... No respect

Congrats people. We tanked for bench players.

Frye has played well as a center in his few minutes of play. Would much rather have Gordon out there starting. Hopefully Gordon's minutes continue to rise though. I think he should be getting ~30 mpg.

So Oladipo is one of my favorite players, and he is in a slump, and what Skiles is doing with him SHOULD fire him up.

Comments like "We tanked for bench players" is a dumb thing to say, Hezonja is a rookie, Gordon is practically in his first full season. Oladipo went into a slump, Skiles in my mind is doing what a coach should when a young player is in a slump. Oladipo will be back. Hezonja and Gordon could see bigger roles midseason or next season. We have so much depth at every position it's not exactly easy to find minutes for rookies in a starting lineup. We aren't the 76ers.

Tayswagzzz wrote:So Oladipo is one of my favorite players, and he is in a slump, and what Skiles is doing with him SHOULD fire him up.

Comments like "We tanked for bench players" is a dumb thing to say, Hezonja is a rookie, Gordon is practically in his first full season. Oladipo went into a slump, Skiles in my mind is doing what a coach should when a young player is in a slump. Oladipo will be back. Hezonja and Gordon could see bigger roles midseason or next season. We have so much depth at every position it's not exactly easy to find minutes for rookies in a starting lineup. We aren't the 76ers.

I take it wrong way propably but to me ...benching Dipo is like pointing fingers we suck because of YOU.I dont like such approach.Its not like he is the only one sucking but he was singled out as a main culprit.

~Snoopy~ wrote:

Tayswagzzz wrote:So Oladipo is one of my favorite players, and he is in a slump, and what Skiles is doing with him SHOULD fire him up.

Comments like "We tanked for bench players" is a dumb thing to say, Hezonja is a rookie, Gordon is practically in his first full season. Oladipo went into a slump, Skiles in my mind is doing what a coach should when a young player is in a slump. Oladipo will be back. Hezonja and Gordon could see bigger roles midseason or next season. We have so much depth at every position it's not exactly easy to find minutes for rookies in a starting lineup. We aren't the 76ers.

I take it wrong way propably but to me ...benching Dipo is like pointing fingers we suck because of YOU.I dont like such approach.Its not like he is the only one sucking but he was singled out as a main culprit.

There are a few reasons why benching Oladipo makes sense.

He and Payton have both been terribly inefficient scoring. That can't happen with your 2 starting guards playing over 30 minutes each. They have to be separated from playing together so much until one of them can become an above average offensive threat. Both Payton and Oladipo have reasons to be benched, but Payton is the only healthy guard that has a true floor general skill set and is a much better distributor than our other PG, Napier. Payton's best skills can't be replaced, Oladipo's skills can be replaced because of our other SG Fournier who can do the same things but has played considerably better this season.

~Snoopy~ wrote:

Tayswagzzz wrote:So Oladipo is one of my favorite players, and he is in a slump, and what Skiles is doing with him SHOULD fire him up.

Comments like "We tanked for bench players" is a dumb thing to say, Hezonja is a rookie, Gordon is practically in his first full season. Oladipo went into a slump, Skiles in my mind is doing what a coach should when a young player is in a slump. Oladipo will be back. Hezonja and Gordon could see bigger roles midseason or next season. We have so much depth at every position it's not exactly easy to find minutes for rookies in a starting lineup. We aren't the 76ers.

I take it wrong way propably but to me ...benching Dipo is like pointing fingers we suck because of YOU.I dont like such approach.Its not like he is the only one sucking but he was singled out as a main culprit.

Oladipo is smart enough to know Skiles isn't saying that by choosing to bench him. He is a player, he understands the game, they watch tape every night. Until one of Payton/Oladipo develop a shot they won't work together, and Dipo and Payton both have to know this.

EasternMagic wrote:Knew Vic was out as soon as he tweeted, "All things work together for the good of those who lover God," after the loss. It's a good move by Skiles though, Vic needs to go to the bench for a bit. I wish Gordon would get the start though.

I'm really interested to see how Oladipo takes to being on the bench. That statement sounds humble, but you can also tell he's taking it as a blow. It could be his permanent spot going forward in his career with the Magic. It's really Fournier's natural position.

It'll be interesting to see how the future goes. This summer will be telling if we extend Fournier with a big contract. Oladipo will see the writing on the wall.

If the new lineup is going to improve the team, I'm all for it. BTW, how long til we see CJ Back with us?

F'in Frye. He has good night shooting and now he is on SKiles favor. Once the real Frye shows up, its back to DNP. Release AG!

Sensing a big game from EP tonight. He always come back strong after an off night.

Elfrid Payton: 18points 7ast and 5reb

These are the type of games we need to start winning consistently in order for us to take the next step into becoming a winning team.

Good thread. Go Magic!

Nice thread OP. I am fine with the lineup change. It makes sense from a balance standpoint. Love Dipo and Elf but the two together were no threat whatsoever on the perimeter which caused our offense to bog down and defenses to pack the paint on Vuc or Tobias when they were in the post. Elf and Dipo will now by surrounded by shooters which should open up their ability to attack the paint and wreak havoc again. You hope that this lights a fire under Dipo and the team and they play with a more sharpened focus going forward.

I am very excited about tonight. Let's get a good win and go into Thanksgiving on a high note!