[RealGM Wiretap]

The Orlando Magic have hired Steve Clifford as head coach.

Clifford was fired by the Charlotte Hornets this offseason.

Clifford previously worked for the Magic as an assistant coach under Stan Van Gundy.

The Magic have been without a head coach since April 12 when they fired Frank Vogel following a 25-57 record.

Clifford will become Orlando's fifth head coach since 2012. 

[Trailbreaker]

I kinda wish they brought Stan back.

[bargnanimvp]

I kinda wish they contracted the team

[Cookin Baskets]

No way this works out

[Trailbreaker]

No way this works out

Probably going for a WR for most coaches ever.

[RSP83]

never really see anything special about Clifford. Other than he often outcoached Thibs when Hornets play the Bulls.

He did help the Hornets make the playoff, and did a good job developing Kemba. But overall, pretty meh.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Cliff is a pretty average coach. He does have some strengths. He's great a player communication. Cliff gives pretty decent interviews and seems to talk straight during them. During his first few years in Charlotte his defense really worked well. His biggest downsides are that he plays favorites regarding playing time and such, vastly preferring vets over young guys. His offensive and defensive approaches are also very dated and don't work well against teams that shoot a lot of 3s or that defend 3s well. Charlotte ended up having less ball movement every year under Cliff, culminating in a horrific offense last year that mostly devolved into 1 on 3+ action that just failed to work most of the time.

[ChokeFasncists]

Cliff is a pretty average coach. He does have some strengths. He's great a player communication. Cliff gives pretty decent interviews and seems to talk straight during them. During his first few years in Charlotte his defense really worked well. His biggest downsides are that he plays favorites regarding playing time and such, vastly preferring vets over young guys. His offensive and defensive approaches are also very dated and don't work well against teams that shoot a lot of 3s or that defend 3s well. Charlotte ended up having less ball movement every year under Cliff, culminating in a horrific offense last year that mostly devolved into 1 on 3+ action that just failed to work most of the time.

Didn't he revamp his offense in the year they were tied at no.3 seed?

Or was it cuz of personnel? (MKG/D12)

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Cliff is a pretty average coach. He does have some strengths. He's great a player communication. Cliff gives pretty decent interviews and seems to talk straight during them. During his first few years in Charlotte his defense really worked well. His biggest downsides are that he plays favorites regarding playing time and such, vastly preferring vets over young guys. His offensive and defensive approaches are also very dated and don't work well against teams that shoot a lot of 3s or that defend 3s well. Charlotte ended up having less ball movement every year under Cliff, culminating in a horrific offense last year that mostly devolved into 1 on 3+ action that just failed to work most of the time.

Didn't he revamp his offense in the year they were tied at no.3 seed?

Or was it cuz of personnel? (MKG/D12)

Personnel mostly. There have been small tweaks year to year, but overall he's stuck on the SVG 4-out system used by Orlando during the playoff run with D12 back in the day. That year was the closest he had to a roster that fit what he wanted. It was also the only year Kemba had a good backup (all other years but last Charlotte got him guys who 'knew his system' and the results were painful). Cliff is strongly a systems coach.

[ClashCityRocker]

Why in the world would ORL willingly sign a coach to 4 years? All we're doing is setting up a situation where we pay a coach to go away.

[ClashCityRocker]

I kinda wish they contracted the team

Haha hang in there we'll be back one day....
...maybe?

[johanliebert]

Why in the world would ORL willingly sign a coach to 4 years? All we're doing is setting up a situation where we pay a coach to go away.

we or the owner? lol.

[johanliebert]

never really see anything special about Clifford. Other than he often outcoached Thibs when Hornets play the Bulls.

He did help the Hornets make the playoff, and did a good job developing Kemba. But overall, pretty meh.

hes never had any "special" teams. orlando could hire the best coach on the planet it wouldnt matter the roster is more important.

[RSP83]

never really see anything special about Clifford. Other than he often outcoached Thibs when Hornets play the Bulls.

He did help the Hornets make the playoff, and did a good job developing Kemba. But overall, pretty meh.

hes never had any "special" teams. orlando could hire the best coach on the planet it wouldnt matter the roster is more important.

You're not Steve Clifford are you?

[ChokeFasncists]

Cliff is a pretty average coach. He does have some strengths. He's great a player communication. Cliff gives pretty decent interviews and seems to talk straight during them. During his first few years in Charlotte his defense really worked well. His biggest downsides are that he plays favorites regarding playing time and such, vastly preferring vets over young guys. His offensive and defensive approaches are also very dated and don't work well against teams that shoot a lot of 3s or that defend 3s well. Charlotte ended up having less ball movement every year under Cliff, culminating in a horrific offense last year that mostly devolved into 1 on 3+ action that just failed to work most of the time.

Didn't he revamp his offense in the year they were tied at no.3 seed?

Or was it cuz of personnel? (MKG/D12)

Personnel mostly. There have been small tweaks year to year, but overall he's stuck on the SVG 4-out system used by Orlando during the playoff run with D12 back in the day. That year was the closest he had to a roster that fit what he wanted. It was also the only year Kemba had a good backup (all other years but last Charlotte got him guys who 'knew his system' and the results were painful). Cliff is strongly a systems coach.

How could he do a 4-out system with MKG?

Lin wasn't just the backup for Kemba, he was his running mate in crunch time. (not sure who's the PG/SG as Lin's the better passer and Kemba the better ballhandler. Lin guarded the SGs, that's for sure) There was also Courtney Lee, Big Al and contract year Batum.

Interesting thing, MKG didn't play much and shot well from deep that year. (sure very small sample size)

[Pukovnik]

Nothing against Clifford, but Magic should have done better.

[luss54321]

Nothing against Clifford, but Magic should have done better.

Honestly Steve Clifford is the one would could have done better. Orlando is awful at drafting and they've had 5 coaches in 6 years. Not exactly an ideal location for a coach.

[binjumper]

Should've hired Casey.

[ChokeFasncists]

Actually, did the Raptors miss out on this one?