Regular Season Game 2: Charlotte Hornets (0-1) at Orlando Magic (1-0)

[Knightro]

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Who: Charlotte Hornets (0-1) at Orlando Magic (1-0)
What: Regular Season Game No. 2
When: Friday, October 19th at 7pm ET
Where: Amway Center in Orlando, FL
How: Fox Sports Florida/NBA League Pass

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Orlando Magic Starters

G: DJ Augustin


G: Evan Fournier


F: Jonathan Isaac


F: Aaron Gordon


C: Nikola Vucevic


Bench
G: Jerian Grant
G: Terrence Ross
F: Jonathon Simmons
C: Mohamed Bamba

Deep Bench
G: Isaiah Briscoe
F: Wesley Iwundu
F: Jarell Martin
C: Khem Birch

Inactive: Melvin Frazier Jr. and Timofey Mozgov

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Charlotte Projected Starters
G: Kemba Walker
G: Jeremy Lamb
F: Nic Batum
F: Marvin Williams
C: Tyler Zeller

Bench
G: Tony Parker
G: Malik Monk
F: Miles Bridges
F: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
C: Willy Hernangomez

Deep Bench
F: Dwayne Bacon
F: Frank Kaminsky
C: Bismack Biyombo

Inactive: Devonte' Graham, Zach Smith

[Optimus_Steel]

Miles Bridges looked impressive in the preseason, like a smaller AG.

[YosemiteSam]

It is such an amazing coincidence that all our starters have the exact same stats

[Knightro]

It is such an amazing coincidence that all our starters have the exact same stats

You're getting a glimpse into how the sausage is made here...

[Optimus_Steel]

CHA turned the ball over a lot in their opener and we forced a lot of turnovers against MIA. Will that trend continue?

[rcklsscognition]

I haven't been this excited for a game in a long time. The more we face pick and roll guards early the better we can learn and improve our defense.

[3ddman23]

I'll be at the game again. This game is soooo winnable if we play like we did for our strong streaches against Miami. Kemba usually kills us but there roster outside of him isnt that scary(no real magic killers. Maybe marvin Williams lol). If we can do what has plagued us better(hit free throws, hit open shoots, limited the pick and roll) I think we can win this game. Go magic

[magicman112]

Just need to focus on coming out with the same energy and effort they did for most of the first game that's what they can control. Kemba will be tough to slow down but he'll get his points just can't let the other guys go off.

[Knightro]

The Magic have only started 2-0 one time this decade.

Surprisingly it was Jacque Vaughn's first year in 2012.

[Catledge]

I expect that Charlotte will put Batum (their SF) on AG and Williams (their PF) on Isaac. Regardless of whether I'm right about this, I really hope that whomever Batum matches up with forces him to defend in the paint.

[ChosenSavior]

Knightro, thank you once again for creating the game thread. Much appreciated!

I like our front court in this matchup. Actually think we can dominate there as long as we stay consistent in scoring in the paint and not settling for long jumpers. Have to control the defensive glass and really want to see us run some more on offense once we secure the rebound. Can't wait for tonight! LET'S GO MAGIC!

[YosemiteSam]

It is such an amazing coincidence that all our starters have the exact same stats

You're getting a glimpse into how the sausage is made here...

I was just teasing - much appreciation for creating these

[YosemiteSam]

This game has some fun subplots

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[Knightro]

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[Audi]

I don’t think this matchup is good for our usual starting LU defensively. There’s nothing we can do to stop Kemba - we are going to need to shut down the rest of the team and keep the paint clogged. We aren’t getting that done with Evan and Vuc.

I think we need to roll with:

- Anyone on Kemba (dude will get his either way)
- Ross on Lamb (we need better D/speed, otherwise Lamb can give us a headache)
- AG on Batum (force him to shoot)
- Issac on Williams (Keep him away from paint)
- Bamba (deter everyone from paint, clean up rebounds)

Can also swap AG/Issac or shift AG to the 4 slot in Simmons if need be. I just seem to recall M. Williams having AG’s number in the past. That could all have changed though.

[PennytoShaq]

I think we win this game. I expect to see a lot of Grant because DJ will get destroyed by Kemba. The key here is locking Kemba down and limiting his ability to create off pick and roll.

A potential matchup I really like is Isaac versus Batum. This is a good matchup for JI if he gets it. Batum is a shooter and JI is a shot disrupter, so this could work out in our favor.

Marvin Williams is underrated as a Magic killer. We can’t let this dude go off. I think we will see JI and AG switch off and on between defending the two wings, but Clifford knows these guys so well that he will make the right choice here.

Is it funny to anyone else that Monk is still a reserve? All the criticism that Clifford doesn’t play rookies..etc, and now a new coach comes in and Lamb still has the starting job. I expect to see Ross give Monk some problems tonight.

The Magic should win this game by 6-8 points. The key here again is Vuc. He needs to put work in tonight because Zeller is scrappy and doesn’t look at the refs and whine every play while his man runs down the court. Vuc needs to play faster and focused.

This is a game where the players need to win it for their coach. There is nothing better than beating down an old team for a coach. That really brings the locker together, and while Clifford won’t say anything publically, it is clear he is a guy with serious pride and he will love these guys if they go out and work hard for him tonight.

[CalOrl11]

After the game against the Heat I'm pumped for this game. Hope we play with the same effort as the first game and I'll be happy. Magic win 104-97

[Def Swami]

Is it funny to anyone else that Monk is still a reserve? All the criticism that Clifford doesn’t play rookies..etc, and now a new coach comes in and Lamb still has the starting job. I expect to see Ross give Monk some problems tonight.

Came off the bench, but ended up playing 33 minutes to Lamb's 20. I think they bring Monk off the bench for more balance between lineups. He'll be someone to watch tonight. He lit us up last time we played the Hornets in Orlando. And Kemba has always had our number.

[PrimeThyme]

I would actually start Grant over DJ here. I thought he did a very good job defensively against Miami. Kemba will just abuse Augustine in the PnR like Dragic did if he starts in this one. We dug ourselves out of that 14 point hole early on the other night with the Grant-Ross-Bamba lineup so we are going to have to go to it early and often if we want to have a chance in this one and a chance at containing Kemba.

Basically, I'm just tired of losing to this **** team. 11 in a row is embarrassing, we need to come out and put an end to that streak tonight.

[OrlandO]

I was hoping to see Bamba vs Biyombo, but it looks like Biyombo has been getting DNP'd...