2020-2021 Regular Season Game 45: Portland Trail Blazers (26-18) at Orlando Magic (15-29)

[BCS]

Great effort by The short-handed Magic tonight in a losing effort and it was nice to see Chuma Okeke assert himself tomorrow. On Sunday Night, we get to see most of the new guys.

Okeke has been really gun shy this year, prob because he is a very shy kid, up until now that he was forced to step up due to the hole created by the trades. Magic really need to continue working on him mentally, to stay aggressive, confident. He has an impressive combination of skills, he can ball, does he know he can ball? Keep reminding him.

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Talented young players need that. It’s the reason why the vets needed to go.

The thing is those vets were holding him up...a few times through the season when chuma would be aggresive and attack the rim, they would be on him for doing that..."calm down, what are you doing?" etc..

Now that they are gone, he is free.

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[Rick Rolled]

I enjoyed watching the contrast between Chuma and Bacon tonight. Chuma played a mature, extremely well rounded game.

Bacon played like he shotgunned 12 Red Bulls before the game and was fitted with a shock collar and would zap him any time he even considered passing the ball.

[basketballRob]

Looked like Carmelo was whispering words of encouragement to Chuma after the game.

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[Magicfanatic82]

Outstanding game on both ends by Chuma. Outstanding. I'd prefer to buyout Porter. I do not want him eating into Chuma's minutes whatsoever.

I would hope porter takes bacon off the floor. He is tough to watch.
I have a hard time believing Birch could not have been moved to help a contender. Carter and Bamba need the time birch hustles his a** off though.

[The Real Dalic]

Looked like Carmelo was whispering words of encouragement to Chuma after the game.

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He tends to do that with opponents that are young that he sees potential in. He does it a lot actually.

[Last Guardian]

Outstanding game on both ends by Chuma. Outstanding. I'd prefer to buyout Porter. I do not want him eating into Chuma's minutes whatsoever.

I would hope porter takes bacon off the floor. He is tough to watch.
I have a hard time believing Birch could not have been moved to help a contender. Carter and Bamba need the time birch hustles his a** off though.

I'm sure he could have but Birch, Ennis and MCW are scrappy tough guys they probably want those kinds of guys mentoring the new era of Magic basketball. Next years top rookie will be learning toughness day 1.

[magic22s]

New Heart & Hustle Magic team is fun to watch!

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Guys, I am so excited about the team now from what I saw tonight. The boys that were left after the trade deadline played hard. This limited roster almost gave me the Heart&Hustle vibes. They made a lot of mistakes, but the desire and effort were there, something that cannot be said for the previous bunch of guys we had (except for Vuc).

[RookieStar]

Okeke has been really gun shy this year, prob because he is a very shy kid, up until now that he was forced to step up due to the hole created by the trades. Magic really need to continue working on him mentally, to stay aggressive, confident. He has an impressive combination of skills, he can ball, does he know he can ball? Keep reminding him.

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Talented young players need that. It’s the reason why the vets needed to go.

The thing is those vets were holding him up...a few times through the season when chuma would be aggresive and attack the rim, they would be on him for doing that..."calm down, what are you doing?" etc..

Now that they are gone, he is free.

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So those vets knew Chuma was gonna lead them to a win. Yup eyes on the prize. Cade. lol

[RookieStar]

Also, as impressive as Chuma has been, I think Cole would blow ups some more if he is unleashed and not forced to pass to Vuc Evan nad AG all the time.

[RookieStar]

Looked like Carmelo was whispering words of encouragement to Chuma after the game.

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He tends to do that with opponents that are young that he sees potential in. He does it a lot actually.

wow really? My respect for Melo turned up a notch.

[MaKiaVeLi7]

I must admit, I am very very impressed and excited about Chuma Okeke. I've criticized him harshly before, calling him passive and without much potential...but now he's starting to show what he can do and it's promising. The guy is talented and he's implementing new dimensions to his game he wasn't able to before (because of lack of PT or just being unable to find his rhythm after 1 1/2 years out of the game).

Now I see some new things, he's showing some nifty handles, he's showcasing his speed and good footwork with the ball in his hands. He even made some no-look passes in the drive lane tonight and I was "wooow, this young guy might have what it's needed".

His shooting improved significantly, we can see he feels a lot more comfortable out there, knowing his role and his confidence making those threes is waaaaay UP. We even saw some glimpses of his athleticism tonight, some plays he was "shy" to try on the court before.

Clearing the roster might benefit Okeke a lot and I think he is about to put his injury in the past mentally and stop thinking about not hurting himself finally. He definitely has a bright future and playing alongside Isaac might cause terror in the opponent's offensive schemes.

[SOUL]

The trajectory/faith fans have in these young players have is directly linked to expanded roles/allowing players to spread their wings a bit. Huge difference between "giving them everything" and actually letting them get involved, especially if the team is in a rebuilding mode or if things were a lost cause this year due to injury. Only so much players can do in 12 minutes a game or with 4 attempts a game being the 8th/9th option.

Just nice to see Okeke have more opportunity and Bamba get more minutes.

[MaKiaVeLi7]

Cannot wait to watch Hampton in the place of Randle/Mane. Not gonna have to high of expectations though. Just gonna watch and root for him.

I am eager to see the young guns as well, especially RJ and Gary Harris, assuming he would be back from his thigh injury soon.
Problem is I can tell you we will be a lot better team than people expect us to be once all the newcomers' roles are defined and the players get comfortable with each other. We might have trouble tanking in the next couple of months, and of course coach Cliff will squeeze every ounce of energy and talent out of them in order to win games.

When we upgrade the talent on the roster - Harris for Mane and RJ for Randle, Wendell for Bamba and insert Otto Porter Jr. & Wendell Carter in the SL ... maaaaan, watch out. We will surprise a lot of teams that might sleep on us from now on.

[SOUL]

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[SOUL]

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[penny_nz]

Fun gamethread all, nice constructive chat on our guys performance, so pleased for Chuma, catch you next time to discuss some new faces!

[MaKiaVeLi7]

......aaaand it feels good to look at the box score and not see Forunier's name listed there. Just saying!

I wondered until now, why am I accepting the deadline deals and moving all the best players on our team, even my favorite player Vuc is gone...and I was flabbergasted Vuc was dealt so easily at first, then went like "nah, whatever!".

Now, I think I know why. These last two nights I slept like a newborn baby for some reason...and that reason is Evan's gone forever and I won't have to watch his dumb selfish play every single Magic game anymore.

[RookieStar]

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his role this season? Probably to make those medical team of ours earn their paycheck.

[SOUL]

and that reason is Evan's gone forever and I won't have to watch his dumb selfish play every single Magic game anymore.

Bacon and Ross are still around to fulfill that