2020-2021 Regular Season Game 40: Orlando Magic (13-26) at New York Knicks (20-21)

[thelead]

That Vuc/Bamba plus minus stat that I used to post is almost always undefeated

[MaKiaVeLi7]

I just want to know why Bamba played so little compared to everyone else? I believe I already know the answer but would like a legit response from anyone who actually watched the game.

Birch was tasked to keep in check Randle in the fourth and was inserted in the rotation for defensive purposes. He played hard against Julius Randle in the fourth and made him miss a lot of shots, which gave us a chance for a comeback.

Bamba wouldn't have matched better against Randle on the defensive end. Birch managed to defend him without fouling, did not shut him down (don't look for stats evidence in the box score, just watch the impact of Birch defense), but definitely made it hard for him and slowed him in terms of scoring.

Just my guess why Bamba never came back in. Aaaah, and he's not a Cliff favorite, of course.

[Knightro]

I just want to know why Bamba played so little compared to everyone else? I believe I already know the answer but would like a legit response from anyone who actually watched the game.

Because Clifford won't (and shouldn't candidly) pair Bamba/Vucevic at the same time and Vucevic isn't losing minutes for literally any reason.

Bamba's maxed out at 10-15 MPG if the game isn't a blowout no matter how well he plays.

[89Magicfan]

We getting MOD EDIT by the schedule against all these contenders revving up for the playoffs.

My initial thought exactly... But then I remembered that maybe, just maybe, the basketball GODS are smiling at us and are trying to hand us a great lottery pick this time.

Just imagine Cade Cunningham or Suggs in a Magic uniform and you will certainly feel better, buddy. Trust me on this!!

Problem is you’re trusting Weham in the draft. They may select Bol Bol’s nephew with the pick.

[MagicStarwipe]

Next 10 games:

Spoiler:

Nets
@ Celtics
Nuggets
Suns
Blazers
@ Lakers
@ Clippers
@ Pelicans
@ Jazz
@ Nuggets

That makes me happy

The Alex Martins interview took away any hope I had even if we were to tank and get a top 3 pick. Feels like we're screwed either way with the people who run the show here.

[ChosenSavior]

I just want to know why Bamba played so little compared to everyone else? I believe I already know the answer but would like a legit response from anyone who actually watched the game.

Because Clifford won't (and shouldn't candidly) pair Bamba/Vucevic at the same time and Vucevic isn't losing minutes for literally any reason.

Bamba's maxed out at 10-15 MPG if the game isn't a blowout no matter how well he plays.

About what I thought when it comes to Clifford. I want to say more about it but I will just wait and see what this team does up until the trade deadline. I'll vent away then lol.

Appreciate the response from you and everyone else.

[ogmagicfan]

The end of this game is the perfect example of a player such as Fournier being asked to do too much consistently. No reason he should be the one creating plays at the end of the game. The Magic are the perfect example of asking players to play out of their skill level and why players such as Fournier would provide more value and better served on other teams. Going from making a clutch 3 to turning it over.

I don’t mind however, great loss. On the road to Cunningham, Suggs, Green

[thelead]

Next 10 games:

Spoiler:

Nets
@ Celtics
Nuggets
Suns
Blazers
@ Lakers
@ Clippers
@ Pelicans
@ Jazz
@ Nuggets

That makes me happy

The Alex Martins interview took away any hope I had even if we were to tank and get a top 3 pick. Feels like we're screwed either way with the people who run the show here.

I know. We’ll draft Green, he’ll turn into the next Kobe and we won’t be able to put good pieces around him to win it all by the time he hits his prime. Martins needs to GTFO.

[Ducklett]

Im just here to see people defend Evan.

[PrimeThyme]

Because Clifford won't (and shouldn't candidly) pair Bamba/Vucevic at the same time and Vucevic isn't losing minutes for literally any reason.

Bamba's maxed out at 10-15 MPG if the game isn't a blowout no matter how well he plays.

Here's a fun stat:

The most played Vuc/Birch lineup has a -65.7 net rating this year. The one Cliff has been going to lately has a -27.3 net rating.

Could a Bamba/Vuc pairing honestly be worse? We need to find as many minutes as possible for this kid. I don't see the harm In trying. Playing Birch over Bamba is a horrendous plan from any long-term standpoint. If Vuc needs to be on the court for Bamba to play then so be it. We only camp Bamba out on the 3pt line anyways.

[OrlandoNed]

That makes me happy

The Alex Martins interview took away any hope I had even if we were to tank and get a top 3 pick. Feels like we're screwed either way with the people who run the show here.

I know. We’ll draft Green, he’ll turn into the next Kobe and we won’t be able to put good pieces around him to win it all by the time he hits his prime. Martins needs to GTFO.

I'll do you one better. We'll draft Mobley, sign Cliff to an extension, trade Bamba for a top 55 protected pick, play Mobley behind Vuc and have him struggle to get equal minutes to the undrafted free agent we signed who had been playing professionally in Antarctica.

[Knightro]

Because Clifford won't (and shouldn't candidly) pair Bamba/Vucevic at the same time and Vucevic isn't losing minutes for literally any reason.

Bamba's maxed out at 10-15 MPG if the game isn't a blowout no matter how well he plays.

Here's a fun stat:

The most played Vuc/Birch lineup has a -65.7 net rating this year. The one Cliff has been going to lately has a -27.3 net rating.

Could a Bamba/Vuc pairing honestly be worse? We need to find as many minutes as possible for this kid. I don't see the harm In trying. Playing Birch over Bamba is a horrendous plan from any long-term standpoint. If Vuc needs to be on the court for Bamba to play then so be it. We only camp Bamba out on the 3pt line anyways.

Bamba/Vucevic wouldn't necessarily be worse than Birch/Vucevic, but really they shouldn't be trotting either pairing out there.

Birch/Vucevic is the single worst 2-man lineup on the team with a -20.5 NET in 351 minutes coming into tonight.

Even Gary Clark, who is complete trash, has a better two-man rating with Vucevic than Birch does.

[richi_v25]

What a great win... I mean loss... no I was right it's a win, hello lottery!

[KillMonger]

i'm just numb at this point lol

[pepe1991]

Clutch L

[drsd]

Up 5 with 5 minutes left, of course there is a loss.

Anyhow, with this L, the Magic is now 2 full games behind Washington (#5) for the #4 worst team slot.

Houston also lost (big surprise), so Orlando is simply solidifying its most likely outcome of the 6-selection in the NBA draft (a top-4 election overall would be at 48.08%, with the overall #1 the most likely outcome in the top-4 at 12.5%).


..

[basketballRob]

I just want to know why Bamba played so little compared to everyone else? I believe I already know the answer but would like a legit response from anyone who actually watched the game.

Because Clifford won't (and shouldn't candidly) pair Bamba/Vucevic at the same time and Vucevic isn't losing minutes for literally any reason.

Bamba's maxed out at 10-15 MPG if the game isn't a blowout no matter how well he plays.

Vucevic should take a game off once in a while.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[Skybox]

The Magic are the perfect example of asking players to play out of their skill level and why players such as Fournier would provide more value and better served on other teams.

This is the current ORL legacy...Gordon, IMO, will be the best example when he gets to a team that uses him wisely and within his limitations. Vuc is being used to his max capability but others not so much. I hope we get some value for AG, in the form of a shooter who will better complement Fultz, Isaac...and try not to obsess over AG playing well and efficiently on a team with true offensive creators like POR, for one example.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Let the L’s roll!!

[Bergmaniac]

Great result in the end, close loss, AG and Evan looked healthy and played well in the last quarter, exactly what we needed.