Game 74 : Phoenix Suns (19-54) at Orlando Magic (21-51), Saturday

[Villalobos]

give Aaron Gordon the MVP

give Hezonja MIP

give DJ Augustine that Magic Johnson award (is that a thing?)

[batsmasher]

D.J Augustin is a very good anti-tank missile.

[OzzyAZ]

Whew, close one. Our clutch no-defense saved us again.

[Villalobos]

Magic fans will get the last laugh after the Suns are inevitably pushed down three spots in the lottery

[Sunsss]

Well, we didn't give up 113+ points, so I guess that's a positive.

[JMac1]

Well, we didn't give up 113+ points, so I guess that's a positive.

We lost, that’s the only positive that matters....

[garrick]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

[LukasBMW]

What a great loss. This should guarantee us a bottom 2 record.

[TeamTragic]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

You are definitely right. He has peaked after only 1.25 seasons. We should completely ignore the fact that under Watson he got zero playing time.

We should completely ignore the fact that he is young and playing for the worst team in the league with a placeholder coach in a non-existent system.

Can you imagine him on the Spurs or Warriors?

[Mjee]

Benders age is just an excuse .... the guy flat out stinks !!!

[Kerrsed]

I dont know, Bender just gives me Anthony Randolph flashbacks. GS had very high hopes for that kid and was supposed to have a great all around game, but his play was always lackluster and lackadaisical and he never reached that potential that everyone thought he had. GS was hesitent to trade him for years, but finally gave up on him and was later traded to the Knicks (Who also believed he had a ton of potential) for David Lee.

There was a good 4 or 5 teams after that who decided to take a shot on Randolph because of his potential, He would have maybe 1 or 2 AMAZING GAMES a season that would cause people to open their eyes and see what he could possibly become, but every team that took a chance got burned. I remember how everyone thought he was going to have his breakout season year after year after year after year, but it never happened. He was always just 1 more year away from being 1 year away from realizing that potential. To me, thats what i see in Bender. He has the size and skillset to be a really good all around player, and has shown us flashes of it, but those games are just few and far inbetween. We have given him all the minutes he can handle, yet when you watch him play he lacks that drive, that confidence, the balls/swagger. With Bender, like so many other players that were supposed to be phenomenal but just utterly failed, i really think its mental, and that is a damn hard thing to fix in a player.

Funfact: As to what Anthony Randolph is doing now a days.................

Spoiler:

he is playing basketball for Real Madrid Baloncesto with Doncic as well as playing with him and Dragic on the Slovenian Team!

[Qwigglez]

I actually remember while watching Bender's first two SL games thinking that he had a lot of confidence. Then all of a sudden, the season roles around and he starts to play scared. I still consider this his rookie year and I wouldn't trade him because we wouldn't get decent value anyway.

[ATTL]

I dont know, Bender just gives me Anthony Randolph flashbacks. GS had very high hopes for that kid and was supposed to have a great all around game, but his play was always lackluster and lackadaisical and he never reached that potential that everyone thought he had. GS was hesitent to trade him for years, but finally gave up on him and was later traded to the Knicks (Who also believed he had a ton of potential) for David Lee.

There was a good 4 or 5 teams after that who decided to take a shot on Randolph because of his potential, He would have maybe 1 or 2 AMAZING GAMES a season that would cause people to open their eyes and see what he could possibly become, but every team that took a chance got burned. I remember how everyone thought he was going to have his breakout season year after year after year after year, but it never happened. He was always just 1 more year away from being 1 year away from realizing that potential. To me, thats what i see in Bender. He has the size and skillset to be a really good all around player, and has shown us flashes of it, but those games are just few and far inbetween. We have given him all the minutes he can handle, yet when you watch him play he lacks that drive, that confidence, the balls/swagger. With Bender, like so many other players that were supposed to be phenomenal but just utterly failed, i really think its mental, and that is a damn hard thing to fix in a player.

Funfact: As to what Anthony Randolph is doing now a days.................

Spoiler:

he is playing basketball for Real Madrid Baloncesto with Doncic as well as playing with him and Dragic on the Slovenian Team!

Magic randolph is an honorary Slovenian

[Son of Ra]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

I think at this point he needs a few games off. Not G-League, bit a few games on the bench.

[gaspar]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

Right now he looks like a lesser talented Andrea Bargnani.

[bwgood77]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

Diaw was super passive for a while when we got him but he was extremely passive and frustrating in Atlanta. In his second year almost identical FGA per 36. Shot worse from 3..rebounded less...passed even more...and was two years older.

http://bkref.com/tiny/rzbtG

Add in Bargnani his second year and Bargnani shot more, but was less efficient (TS%), and had fewer rebounds, assists and blocks, with more fouls, per 36 in second year...two years older as well.

http://bkref.com/tiny/wVW2n

Ultimately he'd probably be like a Diaw player with better shot blocking/rebounding and 3 pt shooting if he gets in the right situation with good coaching.

[lilfishi22]

Bender reminds me of a lesser talented Boris Diaw, just doesn't have the drive to play aggressively and zones out.

I have no doubt he can be a Jud Buechler type of player on a winning team but at this point I think it's looking like a reach he'll even be a poor man's version of prime Channing Frye.

Crazy to think, we all criticized Diaw for being too unselfish at the time. Diaw looks like Shaq vs BBQ chicken compared to Bender