2022-2023 Regular Season Game 63: Orlando Magic (26-36) at Milwaukee Bucks (44-17) - 8pm

[JoshuaPotter]

Well guys, no Isaac means where are my "for the tank" memes?

My take aways.

1) I wish Cole Anthony was more consistent. I'd gladly start him. That's his issue though, he either plays at a borderline all-star level or disappears. Maybe he can fix that if he becomes a starter but I doubt it. So far that inconsistency drives his career.

2) Fultz for the last several game has taken early 3's made them and then disappears. He needs to increase that to 4-5 attempts a game minimum. Cole understood the assignment last night.

3) Paolo having another off night shooting but still managing 7 boards and 5 assists shows that defenses are working hard against him still. It is definitely the more effective way to go as he is one of our primary scoring engines and if you slow him down the rest of our guys can't seem to find the proper spacing or footing.

4) Put plainly the better team won deservedly so.

I wont beat the dead horse regarding how the roster either needs to improve through player growth or moves. I think we all know that. I believe Fultz is improving his numbers statistically speaking, but this is also happening at a time where Paolo is hitting the wall. So my thought is that this is likely a team desperate to score points and Fultz attempting to step up. Same reason we once saw Mike James average 20ppg.

[Skybox]

I guess Buddy Heild is a superstar elite SG as he shoots just as many 3s as Dame but at a 5% higher clip. And Keegan Murray is certainly ROTY and it isn't close, he already an elite SF!

A player like Hield would do so much for this Magic team.


..

He would
Be perfect lol

not perfect...but MUCH better. I still contend that the lead ball handler MUST be a threat to pull up from deep if you step back on him...that opens lanes for him and (domino effect) everyone else...A PG can't just be the guy who calmly dribbles up and decides who gets to iso each time down the floor like a YMCA youth coach. He needs to break down the defense and create openings for himself and his teammates.

I'd really like to see Houstan get more meaningful minutes at SG to see if he can be a "Hield" catch and shoot player. If he is, I'd still want another shooter at PG anyway. We can't keep going like this -hoping Fultz and Suggs will transform into shooters. I give Suggs more time due to his willingness to shoot and relative likelihood of improvement to go with his already exceptional defense, but I'd move him (if needed) for the right complement at either guard spot for our big 2.

[eyriq]

But sometimes I can’t tell if you are a ChatGPT program with your posts. I haven’t for years.

Gave it a go. Here it is.


Will Banchero win the rookie of the year:
It's difficult to predict whether a particular player will win Rookie of the Year, as many factors can influence the outcome, including the player's performance, team success, injuries, and competition from other rookies. However, Paolo Banchero, who I assume is the player you're referring to, is a highly touted prospect in the 2022 NBA Draft, and many experts believe he has the potential to become an impact player at the next level. If he is drafted by a team with a need at his position and given significant playing time, he could certainly be in the running for Rookie of the Year honors. However, it remains to be seen how his game will translate to the NBA, so we'll have to wait and see how things unfold.

Will the Orlando Magic make the play-ins this year:
As an AI language model, I cannot predict the future with certainty, and I do not have access to the current statistics or team performance. However, I can tell you that making the play-ins depends on various factors, including the team's performance, injury status of players, and strength of schedule. The Orlando Magic's chances of making the play-ins will depend on how well they perform over the course of the season and how other teams in their conference perform.

Is the Orlando Magic improving:
The Orlando Magic has been in a rebuilding phase over the past couple of years, which has involved making several trades and acquiring young players and draft picks to build for the future. While they've had some ups and downs, the team has shown some signs of improvement, particularly with the development of young players like Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., and Mo Bamba.
That being said, it's important to keep in mind that rebuilding takes time, and the Magic may not see immediate results in terms of wins and losses. However, with a strong foundation of young talent and draft assets, they have the potential to improve and become a competitive team in the future. Ultimately, only time will tell how successful their rebuilding efforts will be.






And there you go.

It's still only trained up to 2021 I believe.

[jonbob17]

In a *completely* unrelated note, Markelle Fultz made his season debut on… *checks notes* November 30th.

Since we're taking unrelated notes, what's our win percentage before and after said debut?

Yes, the magic have been pretty much playing .500 ball since the return of Fultz which is better than then 25% win percentage they had without him. However, just looking at the early part of the magic schedule I really don't think they win much more games even if Fultz did play. The schedule was on the difficult side. They lost to teams like Philly Twice, Brooklyn, Boston, Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Sac, Min, OKC, and Ind. Even if Fultz played these games, they aren't promised wins. At best they would be playing .500 ball during that time frame but in all likelihood they would still be a bad team with what 3,4, or 5 more wins.

competent guard play does wonders. Weren't there games early in the season where we started TRoss and Bol as our two guards?

[jonbob17]

I guess Buddy Heild is a superstar elite SG as he shoots just as many 3s as Dame but at a 5% higher clip. And Keegan Murray is certainly ROTY and it isn't close, he already an elite SF!

A player like Hield would do so much for this Magic team.


..

I agree. I am sure we could get Corey Kispert from the Wizards for both our 1sts this year.

I know everyone is on FVV's jock, but I would give any amount of money to sign Desmond Bane. Dude would revolutionize our offense minute one.

The problem is that Memphis doesn't want money. They want a trophy. IF you want Bane would you move Franz?

[jonbob17]

A player like Hield would do so much for this Magic team.


..

He would
Be perfect lol

not perfect...but MUCH better. I still contend that the lead ball handler MUST be a threat to pull up from deep if you step back on him...that opens lanes for him and (domino effect) everyone else...A PG can't just be the guy who calmly dribbles up and decides who gets to iso each time down the floor like a YMCA youth coach. He needs to break down the defense and create openings for himself and his teammates.

I'd really like to see Houstan get more meaningful minutes at SG to see if he can be a "Hield" catch and shoot player. If he is, I'd still want another shooter at PG anyway. We can't keep going like this -hoping Fultz and Suggs will transform into shooters. I give Suggs more time due to his willingness to shoot and relative likelihood of improvement to go with his already exceptional defense, but I'd move him (if needed) for the right complement at either guard spot for our big 2.

Houstan is a project, he's not good right now. Now I agree I'd like to see him get minutes, but it comes at the cost of Gary Harris. We should have moved Harris and then we'd have enough minutes for Suggs and Houstan to get the minutes they need. Management seem plenty happy playing out the string and winning meaningless basketball games. IF we are trying to win basketball games, Houstan is decidedly not part of the equation.

[Optimus_Steel]

Bucks are on a 16 game win streak, the Magic will be fine lol

On a side note, they can break the Lakers record 33 game win streak this season. They have 20 games left.

And we play them again next week. We can be part of history!

[Rainwater]

Since we're taking unrelated notes, what's our win percentage before and after said debut?

Yes, the magic have been pretty much playing .500 ball since the return of Fultz which is better than then 25% win percentage they had without him. However, just looking at the early part of the magic schedule I really don't think they win much more games even if Fultz did play. The schedule was on the difficult side. They lost to teams like Philly Twice, Brooklyn, Boston, Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Sac, Min, OKC, and Ind. Even if Fultz played these games, they aren't promised wins. At best they would be playing .500 ball during that time frame but in all likelihood they would still be a bad team with what 3,4, or 5 more wins.

competent guard play does wonders. Weren't there games early in the season where we started TRoss and Bol as our two guards?

I believe so; however, that is not the point. Even if the magic were healthy playing teams like Philly and Brooklyn in the early part of the season is still a loss. Even if they played those teams now it's likely a loss (with the exception of Brooklyn for obvious reasons). Magic had difficultly with a terrible Detroit team just a few nights ago with Fultz, don't know if his addition makes much of difference in terms of wins or guarantees wins against some of the best teams in league. It didn't last night.

[Knightro]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

[eyriq]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

Yeah, good way to frame it. Finding backcourt three point shooting in free agency, the trade market, and the draft is much easier in context.

[JoshuaPotter]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

Yeah, good way to frame it. Finding backcourt three point shooting in free agency, the trade market, and the draft is much easier in context.

Now that we have 2 potential legit volume scorers with 1 specifically good at getting to the foul line we need to surround him with the 3pt shooters.

Kinda like we did last time.......

[ogmagicfan]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

Another simple way to spin it:

Are you going to build a team who compliment our current top 2 options, Paolo & Franz's strengths & weakness

OR

Are you going to hold off on building a team that compliments their game, because you want to believe the 4th option (Fultz) can work with them and build a contender when their games don't compliment each other at all...

Building a team, and having more care for the 4th option than the clear 1st/2nd option, is just insanity. I'm very thankful that all the Fultz fanboys are not in our front office, because moving with this kinda mentality is the best way to make sure Paolo & Franz leave the Magic ASAP.

[eyriq]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

Yeah, good way to frame it. Finding backcourt three point shooting in free agency, the trade market, and the draft is much easier in context.

Now that we have 2 potential legit volume scorers with 1 specifically good at getting to the foul line we need to surround him with the 3pt shooters.

Kinda like we did last time.......

Really good parallel there. The strategy for the build is coming together!

[ogmagicfan]

The issue most certainly isn't that the Magic lost to the Bucks. The Bucks are awesome and a legitimate NBA title contender. No shame in losing to them.

The issue is *how* they lost to the Bucks and how it's representative of a much bigger long-term problem for the Magic.

The margin for error gets slimmer and slimmer when you're consistently attempting significanly fewer threes than your opponent.

I'm trying to look at this more broadly than just this season.

I ask myself the following questions...

What's going to be easier for the Magic to accomplish over the next few seasons?

Paolo and Franz improve into such good 3PT shooters that they're able to overcome a low volume/low accuracy 3PT shooting backcourt?

or

The Magic acquire high volume/high accuracy 3PT shooters to surround Paolo and Franz and their ability to make plays thrives with better spacing and pass options?

For me, it's certainly the latter.

Yeah, good way to frame it. Finding backcourt three point shooting in free agency, the trade market, and the draft is much easier in context.

Now that we have 2 potential legit volume scorers with 1 specifically good at getting to the foul line we need to surround him with the 3pt shooters.

Kinda like we did last time.......

Luckily enough, we have 2 top 10 draft picks in a deep guard draft, along with big cap space.

Yet some on this board would rather us sit on the big cap space money and let it get taken up by rookie extensions than put Fultz job in jeopardy. I'm more so amazed how we've already done the hard part with building our team, it's as simple as putting shooters/defenders and another player who can handle the ball.

Yet some fans are still trying their hardest to push for a team that fits like sh** together and somehow fu** this all up. You'd think they're undercover Heat/Lakers fans. Then again alot of those same posters generally have no idea on building a team, and are short-sighted, no big picture.

We will be going hard at FVV, sorry to everyone who thinks otherwise.

[pepe1991]

It's worth noting that Magic opponents usually miss more open 3s against Magic than they normally do. Over time this/next year it will level up so having bunch of no shooters or poor shooters will only get worst, if they don't revamp roster in offseason.

[GGforever]

A player like Hield would do so much for this Magic team.


..

I agree. I am sure we could get Corey Kispert from the Wizards for both our 1sts this year.

I know everyone is on FVV's jock, but I would give any amount of money to sign Desmond Bane. Dude would revolutionize our offense minute one.

The problem is that Memphis doesn't want money. They want a trophy. IF you want Bane would you move Franz?

Bane is the pipe dream, but Franz is untouchable at all costs. Paolo as well.
Moe also as long as Franz wants him here.

[JoshuaPotter]

Yeah, good way to frame it. Finding backcourt three point shooting in free agency, the trade market, and the draft is much easier in context.

Now that we have 2 potential legit volume scorers with 1 specifically good at getting to the foul line we need to surround him with the 3pt shooters.

Kinda like we did last time.......

Luckily enough, we have 2 top 10 draft picks in a deep guard draft, along with big cap space.

Yet some on this board would rather us sit on the big cap space money and let it get taken up by rookie extensions than put Fultz job in jeopardy. I'm more so amazed how we've already done the hard part with building our team, it's as simple as putting shooters/defenders and another player who can handle the ball.

Yet some fans are still trying their hardest to push for a team that fits like sh** together and somehow fu** this all up. You'd think they're undercover Heat/Lakers fans. Then again alot of those same posters generally have no idea on building a team, and are short-sighted, no big picture.

We will be going hard at FVV, sorry to everyone who thinks otherwise.

There is a world where I can let a Fultz go and run this back with 2 top 10 picks and no FVV. As to why? Why not? We have Cole, Suggs to figure the PG position out, and 2 guards from the draft. Why not run it back and see where we land? It likely will be about the same as this year depending on how much Paolo + Franz improve.

I have resigned myself that we are making a run at FVV and have a legit concern that we will let our picks go for practical cash and up losing in the long run.

As much as I love Suggs. He isn'g a PG, I am not even sure if he is a starting guard. He is a Courtney Lee type minus jump shot with better defense. My concern is the same, Suggs will go for a layup instead of dunking it in the playoffs.

[ChosenSavior]

Finally got to catch up on this. **** this game tbh.

The current product of the NBA annoys me but we have to adapt this roster in order to compete. The lack of shooting and spacing leaves us with such little margin of error.

[ogmagicfan]

Now that we have 2 potential legit volume scorers with 1 specifically good at getting to the foul line we need to surround him with the 3pt shooters.

Kinda like we did last time.......

Luckily enough, we have 2 top 10 draft picks in a deep guard draft, along with big cap space.

Yet some on this board would rather us sit on the big cap space money and let it get taken up by rookie extensions than put Fultz job in jeopardy. I'm more so amazed how we've already done the hard part with building our team, it's as simple as putting shooters/defenders and another player who can handle the ball.

Yet some fans are still trying their hardest to push for a team that fits like sh** together and somehow fu** this all up. You'd think they're undercover Heat/Lakers fans. Then again alot of those same posters generally have no idea on building a team, and are short-sighted, no big picture.

We will be going hard at FVV, sorry to everyone who thinks otherwise.

There is a world where I can let a Fultz go and run this back with 2 top 10 picks and no FVV. As to why? Why not? We have Cole, Suggs to figure the PG position out, and 2 guards from the draft. Why not run it back and see where we land? It likely will be about the same as this year depending on how much Paolo + Franz improve.

I have resigned myself that we are making a run at FVV and have a legit concern that we will let our picks go for practical cash and up losing in the long run.

As much as I love Suggs. He isn'g a PG, I am not even sure if he is a starting guard. He is a Courtney Lee type minus jump shot with better defense. My concern is the same, Suggs will go for a layup instead of dunking it in the playoffs.

Well the why to your why not is we only have cap space this offseason, next year we can have cap space, but it'd most likely end up being a lil less, and the only guard that could potentially be available is Dejounte Murray

Dejounte would demand a near max contract, alot more than FVV, and although he has improved alot when it comes to jump shooting, FVV shoots from distance alot more and compliments the team better for a cheaper price

We have to use this cap space, so there really isn't an incentive for us to want to not bring on a big free agent. Also there's no reason for us to send draft picks in a sign & trade with the Raptors for FVV. We have enough cap space to just simply outbid them on FVV instead of getting extorted out of top picks & assets.

[pepe1991]

Finally got to catch up on this. **** this game tbh.

The current product of the NBA annoys me but we have to adapt this roster in order to compete. The lack of shooting and spacing leaves us with such little margin of error.

Yea i would like to say that I, personally HATE this current state of nba.
Lazy defense, or no defense at all and 3 point barage.