ECQF | P2 (2) Toronto Raptors vs (7) Orlando Magic

[pingpongrac]

the defense of Raptor's starting 5 is a terror.....if they can play this aggressive, they will give any team trouble..

Its good but don't overlook the fact that Orlando is making them look a lot better than they really are. When DJ Augustin and Terrence Ross have both led games in scoring for the Magic, you know the team is trash.

Sure, Orlando isn't a great offensive team, but you can't deny the stats.

Lowry/Green/Kawhi/Siakam/Gasol
76 MIN
125.2 ORTG
83.8 DRTG
41.4 NetRTG

They have completely demolished the Magic on both ends.

[djsunyc]

orlando came in red hot to the playoffs - played great ball for 2+ months. they are definitely a more balanced team than the nets, indy & det. our defense really stepped it up. gasol has singlehandedly shut down their all star big. we're talking total ownage. that's not something to quickly dismiss.

[6ixSideSniper]

Not a great offensive team, but they seriously bring it on defense. They can't be worse than the Pistons offensively though?

At least the Pistons have Blake, the magic have nobody.

Well Vuc was supposed to be their guy/allstar, but he's not really meeting that expectation atm. He's being outshined by AG, who has played pretty well (especially tonight).

Orlando reminds me of the Raptors when they started turning the corner. They have former Raptors exec Weltman running the show now, so they will only improve from here on out.

Vuc has always seemed extremely over-rated to me. He’s basically JV with a bigger opportunity. The pieces that excite me about the Magic are AG and JI (not to mention Bamba). AG has stepped up his game and looks like their investment in him will pay off. JI is another interesting young piece that reminds me of a longer Pascal.

I’m also impressed with the job Clifford has done with this group of young guys. After 3 games though, it’s just more than clear that the talent gap is too big for a young team like the Magic to overcome in a 7 game series.

[sule]

Orlando needs a huge upgrade in the backcourt. I can’t remember the last time they had a quality starting point guard. Jameer Nelson was good, but pretty average.

Probably why they rolled the dice and traded for Fultz...?

That was honestly a brilliant trade. Magic gave up nothing (don't @ me jonathan simmons) and got a guy who was the #1 pick just 2 years ago. If he doesn't figure it out, nothing lost. If he does, you got yourself a star player for nothing.

They should also get back Mo Bamba, and I think Fran Vasquez might finally join the roster as well.

[TheAlchemist]

Here's what I got from Orlando:

Got some really good pieces in: Aaron Gordon, Fournier, Ross, and a nice supporting cast w/ defensive guys like Isaac and Augustine.

What they need to do: keep building on accumulated talent. Vuc should of been traded at the deadline, he just has mental midget issues and he should've net them a 1st.

Don't know the cap situation they got, but they need to try to sign a Tobias Harris type of wing that can do both shooting and ball handling.

They also need to upgrade their point guard and really really should be gunning for Kemba. Like throw everything you can at him.

A Kemba and a scoring wing later and you have a top 4 team in the east.

Priority in the summer is to make Moe Bamba the best center since Embiid. He needs to be known more then just a song and out back dunks. They need to teach him post offence, shooting, and he needs to grind to work on 2-3 go to moves. The franchise needs a all star center and Vuc is garbage and one dimensional. Develop Bamba at all costs.

Second, Aaron Gordon needs to work on his shooting. If he comes back next year with a solid shooting touch, he can live up this contract. Right now he's way way overpaid but clearly the guy with the most potential outside of Bamba.

A lineup of let's say:

Bamba
Gordon
Ross
Forunier
FA Point guard

Would be very very dangerous if they all play up their potential.

[RookieStar]

As long as we fought hard then that's all I ask. Nobody really thought we were winning this series. This is a team that was jusy happy to be in the POs versua a team that is thinking of the finals.

Baby steps. It's probably next season qhere we even think of getting out of the 1st round.

[orlando_joe]

Here's what I got from Orlando:

Got some really good pieces in: Aaron Gordon, Fournier, Ross, and a nice supporting cast w/ defensive guys like Isaac and Augustine.

What they need to do: keep building on accumulated talent. Vuc should of been traded at the deadline, he just has mental midget issues and he should've net them a 1st.

Don't know the cap situation they got, but they need to try to sign a Tobias Harris type of wing that can do both shooting and ball handling.

They also need to upgrade their point guard and really really should be gunning for Kemba. Like throw everything you can at him.

A Kemba and a scoring wing later and you have a top 4 team in the east.

Priority in the summer is to make Moe Bamba the best center since Embiid. He needs to be known more then just a song and out back dunks. They need to teach him post offence, shooting, and he needs to grind to work on 2-3 go to moves. The franchise needs a all star center and Vuc is garbage and one dimensional. Develop Bamba at all costs.

Second, Aaron Gordon needs to work on his shooting. If he comes back next year with a solid shooting touch, he can live up this contract. Right now he's way way overpaid but clearly the guy with the most potential outside of Bamba.

A lineup of let's say:

Bamba
Gordon
Ross
Forunier
FA Point guard

Would be very very dangerous if they all play up their potential.

glad your not magic gm...whats raptors doing ? blow whole thing up? once kl walks only good player left under 30 any good is siakam

[Jon_3232]

Here's what I got from Orlando:

Got some really good pieces in: Aaron Gordon, Fournier, Ross, and a nice supporting cast w/ defensive guys like Isaac and Augustine.

What they need to do: keep building on accumulated talent. Vuc should of been traded at the deadline, he just has mental midget issues and he should've net them a 1st.

Don't know the cap situation they got, but they need to try to sign a Tobias Harris type of wing that can do both shooting and ball handling.

They also need to upgrade their point guard and really really should be gunning for Kemba. Like throw everything you can at him.

A Kemba and a scoring wing later and you have a top 4 team in the east.

Priority in the summer is to make Moe Bamba the best center since Embiid. He needs to be known more then just a song and out back dunks. They need to teach him post offence, shooting, and he needs to grind to work on 2-3 go to moves. The franchise needs a all star center and Vuc is garbage and one dimensional. Develop Bamba at all costs.

Second, Aaron Gordon needs to work on his shooting. If he comes back next year with a solid shooting touch, he can live up this contract. Right now he's way way overpaid but clearly the guy with the most potential outside of Bamba.

A lineup of let's say:

Bamba
Gordon
Ross
Forunier
FA Point guard

Would be very very dangerous if they all play up their potential.

glad your not magic gm...whats raptors doing ? blow whole thing up? once kl walks only good player left under 30 any good is siakam

Lol crawl back under your bridge troll. Your hate for anything raptors related is creepy, guy said nothing to get a reply like yours that didn’t even make sense.

[Ramed Nazored]

Here's what I got from Orlando:

Got some really good pieces in: Aaron Gordon, Fournier, Ross, and a nice supporting cast w/ defensive guys like Isaac and Augustine.

What they need to do: keep building on accumulated talent. Vuc should of been traded at the deadline, he just has mental midget issues and he should've net them a 1st.

Don't know the cap situation they got, but they need to try to sign a Tobias Harris type of wing that can do both shooting and ball handling.

They also need to upgrade their point guard and really really should be gunning for Kemba. Like throw everything you can at him.

A Kemba and a scoring wing later and you have a top 4 team in the east.

Priority in the summer is to make Moe Bamba the best center since Embiid. He needs to be known more then just a song and out back dunks. They need to teach him post offence, shooting, and he needs to grind to work on 2-3 go to moves. The franchise needs a all star center and Vuc is garbage and one dimensional. Develop Bamba at all costs.

Second, Aaron Gordon needs to work on his shooting. If he comes back next year with a solid shooting touch, he can live up this contract. Right now he's way way overpaid but clearly the guy with the most potential outside of Bamba.

A lineup of let's say:

Bamba
Gordon
Ross
Forunier
FA Point guard

Would be very very dangerous if they all play up their potential.

glad your not magic gm...whats raptors doing ? blow whole thing up? once kl walks only good player left under 30 any good is siakam

What a strange, bitter response to a genuinely thoughtful post.

[SOUL]

Sorry about this guy, actually don't even recall seeing him on the Magic forum.. which I think Raptors fans can relate to with certain Raptor posters

[NxtGr8MagicCntr]

Good series raps fans. Wish we put up some more fight at home but your defense figured us out after game 2. Least we learned how to play each and every night. Hopefully vooch played himself out of a big contract too. Now we just need to dump fournier on some gullible team.

I remember thinking when gasol was traded to toronto that wasnt fair for everyone else. He did look kinda washed there for a while but look what he can do in the playoffs. A defensive anchor at C like that, kawhi and paskal on the wings, and clutch shooting everywhere. As long as your healthy dont see anyone stopping toronto in the east at this level. Please take out Philly, they have become so unlikable now.

[tosi]

I been really enjoying watching Isaac play.

[Matty]

Good series raps fans. Wish we put up some more fight at home but your defense figured us out after game 2. Least we learned how to play each and every night. Hopefully vooch played himself out of a big contract too. Now we just need to dump fournier on some gullible team.

I remember thinking when gasol was traded to toronto that wasnt fair for everyone else. He did look kinda washed there for a while but look what he can do in the playoffs. A defensive anchor at C like that, kawhi and paskal on the wings, and clutch shooting everywhere. As long as your healthy dont see anyone stopping toronto in the east at this level. Please take out Philly, they have become so unlikable now.

Regardless of what you decide to do with Vuc & Ross - IMO should do everything they can to retain both & not lose them for nothing - The future looks bright for Orlando. I really think Fultz will come along nicely if you guys remain patient with his recovery. It's very rare to see 1st Pick PG busts. Kid's got talent but Philly was in no "wait and see" mode.

[orlando_joe]

Here's what I got from Orlando:

Got some really good pieces in: Aaron Gordon, Fournier, Ross, and a nice supporting cast w/ defensive guys like Isaac and Augustine.

What they need to do: keep building on accumulated talent. Vuc should of been traded at the deadline, he just has mental midget issues and he should've net them a 1st.

Don't know the cap situation they got, but they need to try to sign a Tobias Harris type of wing that can do both shooting and ball handling.

They also need to upgrade their point guard and really really should be gunning for Kemba. Like throw everything you can at him.

A Kemba and a scoring wing later and you have a top 4 team in the east.

Priority in the summer is to make Moe Bamba the best center since Embiid. He needs to be known more then just a song and out back dunks. They need to teach him post offence, shooting, and he needs to grind to work on 2-3 go to moves. The franchise needs a all star center and Vuc is garbage and one dimensional. Develop Bamba at all costs.

Second, Aaron Gordon needs to work on his shooting. If he comes back next year with a solid shooting touch, he can live up this contract. Right now he's way way overpaid but clearly the guy with the most potential outside of Bamba.

A lineup of let's say:

Bamba
Gordon
Ross
Forunier
FA Point guard

Would be very very dangerous if they all play up their potential.

glad your not magic gm...whats raptors doing ? blow whole thing up? once kl walks only good player left under 30 any good is siakam

Lol crawl back under your bridge troll. Your hate for anything raptors related is creepy, guy said nothing to get a reply like yours that didn’t even make sense.

reason to not be magic gm
calling magic player names not cool..calling vuc mental midget then Gasol is bad defender and never double him..cant have it both ways and we all know he is getting doubled with fouls not being called..lol
having said that magic shooters need to make shots ..and they are not ..there starters have no playoff exp..including vuc..most players not all when doubled in first taste of playoffs from better team do not do well
what team offered first for vuc?? only offers I saw were for 2nd rd and bad money?
fighting for and making playoffs was much better for young players
Isaac needs to be in starting lineup
ross is six man at best
Gordon not overpaid at all glad magic gm paid him
you think dj is a defence guy?
magic have no money to sign kemba or harris you have to think smaller or trade not big fa sign answer..but if could would lean more dlo then kemba
what happens to raptors if kl walks ? do you have other players worth keeping then siakam if he does ?
do they keep green?
do they keep Gasol?
do they keep serge?
do they keep lowrey?
or blow it up?
I think all fair ?
not sure why you say troll? crawl under bridge?
magic made playoffs on game 81..lol..raptors 2nd best record..yet the talk from a lot of raptors fans is just crazy ! and degrading!
but I am the troll? ok

[Duckrice]

Good series raps fans. Wish we put up some more fight at home but your defense figured us out after game 2. Least we learned how to play each and every night. Hopefully vooch played himself out of a big contract too. Now we just need to dump fournier on some gullible team.

I remember thinking when gasol was traded to toronto that wasnt fair for everyone else. He did look kinda washed there for a while but look what he can do in the playoffs. A defensive anchor at C like that, kawhi and paskal on the wings, and clutch shooting everywhere. As long as your healthy dont see anyone stopping toronto in the east at this level. Please take out Philly, they have become so unlikable now.

Regardless of what you decide to do with Vuc & Ross - IMO should do everything they can to retain both & not lose them for nothing - The future looks bright for Orlando. I really think Fultz will come along nicely if you guys remain patient with his recovery. It's very rare to see 1st Pick PG busts. Kid's got talent but Philly was in no "wait and see" mode.

I agree with this too - Vuc isn't the first centre to get dominated by Gasol (who let's not forget is a former DPOY), and he won't be the last. Vuc has had a great year, and it's worth keeping him around, as good centres don't grow on trees nowadays. Ross is a worthwhile player in this league - he has playoff experience, can knock down big shots off the bench, or be a plug for starters when there's an injury, and by all accounts is a popular dressing room guy, which is beneficial for a young growing team.

I've been impressed with the Magic in this series so far - their compete level has been really high. They're just coming up against a far better team. If they can keep it together, the Magic could be strong team for the next few years.

[Ramed Nazored]

Good series raps fans. Wish we put up some more fight at home but your defense figured us out after game 2. Least we learned how to play each and every night. Hopefully vooch played himself out of a big contract too. Now we just need to dump fournier on some gullible team.

I remember thinking when gasol was traded to toronto that wasnt fair for everyone else. He did look kinda washed there for a while but look what he can do in the playoffs. A defensive anchor at C like that, kawhi and paskal on the wings, and clutch shooting everywhere. As long as your healthy dont see anyone stopping toronto in the east at this level. Please take out Philly, they have become so unlikable now.

Good observations, what I will say though is this :

There's no shame in being eliminated by a team that's meant to make the finals this year. Especially when you're a team as young and inexperienced as the Magic. The game 1 win should be something of a jewel in your crown. I don't think your guys didn't put up a fight. I think they fought with everything they have. There's just a massive disparity in talent and experience, and that's too much for a team to overcome in the playoffs.

Good luck next season. You've got some good things to work with.

[orlando_joe]

Sorry about this guy, actually don't even recall seeing him on the Magic forum.. which I think Raptors fans can relate to with certain Raptor posters

is this directed at me? sorry for what?
I am on trade board all the time..not big on debating magic fans rather debate other teams fans that's all..but I do read and do post on magic board

[alpngso]

Imagine if somehow Raptors lose tonight? Raps fans will go crazy and start worrying again.

But at home, defense has been stellar for the past 3 games, should be able to close the Magic out.

[guess_wh0]

Not that its over but Vucevic should not be judged by this series alone. He's going against a former DPOY with help from other great defensive players against a top defensive team whose whole strategy revolves around shutting him down. It's also his first taste of the playoffs.
Also lot of people calling Orlando trash mostly to undermine the Raptors need to realize that Orlando was a top 5 team in terms of Net Rtg for the final 2.5 months of the season. That's not a small sample size or a hot streak. They were better than everyone in the EC Playoffs bare Milwaukee & Toronto. They were/are not an easy matchup and are certainly not trash.

[everdiso]

Also lot of people calling Orlando trash mostly to undermine the Raptors need to realize that Orlando was a top 5 team in terms of Net Rtg for the final 2.5 months of the season. That's not a small sample size or a hot streak. They were better than everyone in the EC Playoffs bare Milwaukee & Toronto. They were/are not an easy matchup and are certainly not trash.

yeah, there's no doubt Orlando is a good team. Probably the best underdog in the east in this first round, given that Oladipo is out.

Season:

IND: 2.76srs (#4), +3.4nrtg (#4)
ORL: 0.28srs (#6), +0.6nrtg (#6)
BKN: -0.40srs (#7), -0.1nrtg (#7)
DET: -0.56srs (#9), -0.4nrtg (#9)

Since Oladipo Injury:

ORL: +6.4nrtg (#3) - 34gms
DET: +2.8nrtg (#4) - 35gms
IND: +0.2nrtg (#7) - 35gms
BKN: -0.5nrtg (#8)- 33gms