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We have pretty much hung with all teams so far this YOUNG season. We just can't seem to close out games. We just don't have he depth right now needed to close out games.

I truly feel when (IF) we ever have a 100% fully healthy roster, this team will be a very dangerous / scary basketball team.

My non Magic friends keep making fun of me for saying this but I truly believe this. Right now, we are still kind of in Pre Season mode until the ENTIRE team gets 100% healthy. Will we ever be 100% healthy? Unfortunately, I doubt it, but one can only hope.

Please correct me if I am wrong

I kind of liked watching Banchero and Bol be the primary ball handler; who needs PGs!

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We need a star. I would compare us to Cleveland. We are Cleveland before they got Ricky Rubio let alone Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland didn’t wait till their blue chip became a star to make a move.

We are not going to break out until we are able to get better guard play and 3pt shooting. There is too much pressure on Paolo/Franz to be initiators, playmakers and scorers, and that help probably will not happen this year. But the substance is there finally, need to add complimentary missing pieces.

We just need to figure out how to close games. Having everyone back helps because it starts the learning curve with everyone there so chemistry/hierarchy can start getting settled. Right now they’re figuring out how much they should play offense or give Paolo/Franz the ball. That balance will need to be relearned again once Fultz and the guards come back. That can take half a season.

I’m not saying be patient and don’t be sad with L’s, but this is just the reality to how real life teams work. Until we figure that out, we need to blow out teams to get W’s.

Spurs 5-2 and Jazz 5-2 prove that with willing passers and enough floor spacing you can win games you have no business winning.

pepe1991 wrote:Spurs 5-2 and Jazz 5-2 prove that with willing passers and enough floor spacing you can win games you have no business winning.

Seems like we play the 1st Q that way, then it goes to crap.

JBSouthpaw wrote:

pepe1991 wrote:Spurs 5-2 and Jazz 5-2 prove that with willing passers and enough floor spacing you can win games you have no business winning.

Seems like we play the 1st Q that way, then it goes to crap.

Imo good teams just don't take them serious but late can recover and kick in gear Magic can't shift into.

Magic had lead in 4 of 7 games at HT: Lost all 4.

Where some Jazz or Spurs team do compensation for lack of talent with just jacking shots and having personell more capable of making some of those shots.

My local tv had Warriors Pistons game live and it was one of most obvious examples of superior team thinking they will walk into arena and team will surrender in fear. Instad , they got punked. Again. To the point where Kerr called team's effort " lacking sense of purpose" and " looking like play pickup ball".

If you are some random Boston team, playing Houston, Orlando, Hornets or Kings probably isn't fun . Everybody expects win but it's very hard to talk yourself into being 100% locked in that game, opposing of playing some Bucks or Lakers knowing it will be all over media and talked about for next 10 days.

We’re forming a nice base here, but I don’t think we “breakout” until we solve our guard problems permanently, both at the 1 and 2 spots. I’d love to see the Magic be able to draft Scoot Henderson and pair him with Paolo and Franz. That’d be a great core trio.

JBSouthpaw wrote:

pepe1991 wrote:Spurs 5-2 and Jazz 5-2 prove that with willing passers and enough floor spacing you can win games you have no business winning.

Seems like we play the 1st Q that way, then it goes to crap.

Yah it's called our 2nd team substitutions, they are a bunch of fringe nba players. when you are missing 5 rotation players that's what happens, you get your ass kicked. If we were a contender with this many injuries, starters would probably be playing 42+ minutes a game, just to keep these other guys off the court.

Bol has been a pretty nice surprise out of all this available playing time, curious to see how many minutes he gets when we are at full strength. Seems like he has earned it.

There are core building blocks here. Paolo is one. Franz is one. Carter and Bol look like they can at least give you capable minutes each night even if perhaps don't project as great starters.

What the Magic really need above all else is one floor general and a couple more shooters.

If they can acquire one really capable distributing point guard and two strong shooters before next season, they may really have something.

Can Fultz and Harris fill 2 of those 3 roles for the time being? We shall see.

Knightro wrote:There are core building blocks here. Paolo is one. Franz is one. Carter and Bol look like they can at least give you capable minutes a night even if perhaps don't project as great starters.

What the Magic really need above all else is one floor general and a couple more shooters.

If they can acquire one really capable distributing point guard and two strong shooters before next season, they may really have something.

Can Fultz and Harris fill 2 of those 3 roles for the time being? We shall see.

I would like to see us play Houstan more even if he is stinking it up. He has potential as a floor spacer/knock down 3pt shooter. If he is able to develop that would help Paolo/Franz with spacing. Dallas has several guys of his profile surrounding Luka.

I think game vs OKC will be very telling, are Magic "close" or opponents just don't those teams too serious and play down with competition.

Young inexperienced teams with some talent usually come out and keep games competitive until the 3rd quarter. They struggle to close out games.

I think that has summed up most Magic games so far.

Paolo and Franz are cornerstones. Orlando doesn't have youth on the roster capable of keeping defenses honest from 3.

MagicMatic wrote:Young inexperienced teams with some talent usually come out and keep games competitive until the 3rd quarter. They struggle to close out games.

I think that has summed up most Magic games so far.

Paolo and Franz are cornerstones. Orlando doesn't have youth on the roster capable of keeping defenses honest from 3.

As long as Harris , bamba and rj are playing heavy minutes this team will lose

drsd wrote:I kind of liked watching Banchero and Bol be the primary ball handler; who needs PGs!

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This is why I'm not convinced we are tanking. We are in every game without really ANY guard play.

OrlDave wrote:

drsd wrote:I kind of liked watching Banchero and Bol be the primary ball handler; who needs PGs!

..

This is why I'm not convinced we are tanking. We are in every game without really ANY guard play.

How can we tell when tanking ends and managerial and coaching incompetence begins?

pepe1991 wrote:I think game vs OKC will be very telling, are Magic "close" or opponents just don't those teams too serious and play down with competition.

Personally i thought the Mavs game was pretty positively telling.

Orlando led or stayed close the entire time fouls weren't a factor.

Unfortunately, Doncic being Doncic and the NBA being the NBA, Luka is allowed to control the 4th quarter of games by employing every means necessary to buy fouls off the refs throughout (whinging, flopping, abusing, bullying, acting). Eventually, the effect his actions have on opponent's ability to field competitive Q4 lineups makes a difference and so you have to adjust expectations accordingly.

But up to that point, Orlando were really in that game in a clear and demonstrable way, even with Luka having an amazing first half.

Luka is awesomely talented, but he makes Neymar look like an archbishop.

If we can get healthy I honestly believe this time could be in the playoffs, but injuries are once again derailing the season, plus we've had a pretty tough schedule to start the season (road heavy so far). Rebounding and defense has been pretty bad, and our offense is trying to find ways to get it done without a few key playmakers on the court. Personally I'd like to see us trade Ross (when he's hot he's great, when he's average or having a rough night he's an offense killer as he has complete tunnel vision).

The big lineup has been an interesting experiment these last two games. Guard play has to improve before we start closing out games.

Future is finally looking good, and I could see this team making noise if it gets healthy and gels a little more, but if injuries persist (especially at the guards), it's going to continue to be this team that struggles to keep up.

jezzerinho wrote:

pepe1991 wrote:I think game vs OKC will be very telling, are Magic "close" or opponents just don't those teams too serious and play down with competition.

Personally i thought the Mavs game was pretty positively telling.

Orlando led or stayed close the entire time fouls weren't a factor.

Unfortunately, Doncic being Doncic and the NBA being the NBA, Luka is allowed to control the 4th quarter of games by employing every means necessary to buy fouls off the refs throughout (whinging, flopping, abusing, bullying, acting). Eventually, the effect his actions have on opponent's ability to field competitive Q4 lineups makes a difference and so you have to adjust expectations accordingly.

But up to that point, Orlando were really in that game in a clear and demonstrable way, even with Luka having an amazing first half.

Luka is awesomely talented, but he makes Neymar look like an archbishop.

Dallas was in second night of back to back losing in OT to... OKC. so i would not pay much attention for that game in particular as indicator of anything.

Luka complains a lot, sooner you get over it, better. All top tear do. All of them have unfair officiating and phantom calls. It's part of reasons why their teams win often.
Giannis and his pentasteps, Luka and crying, Lebron and fake palyers agency...