2022-2023 Regular Season Game 69: Orlando Magic (28-40) at San Antonio Spurs (17-50) - 8pm

[SOUL]

What's funny? Do you know better than NBA coaches?

[jonbob17]

We're going to need improvement from the current core (Paolo, Franz, WCJ, Suggs). 1 of Paolo or Franz (preferably both) NEEDS to develop into a bonafide star. We need JI's defense or a replacement for that defense (defensive big). We need a PG that can run an offense and hit 3's. And finally, we need 2 or 3 VERY solid 3&D players.

Isn’t that what young guys do? Improve?

I do wonder how much better WCJ can be? He’s putting up nice stats on a bad team, but is he really a center on a good team.

[MasterGMer]

I think today's game exposed Markelle and Magic's guard rotation. In the first half, Magic starting backcourt scored only 2 points.

Yes, Fultz did more in the second half but he still just shot 5 for 13 and Gary Harris scored only 3 points.

That tells you something about our need to upgrade this summer and next year. We need to upgrade our guard rotation.

Yes, Markelle can get hot and Cole can shoot it. But they need to do that consistently not just tonight which they didn't against the worst team in the NBA.

I still have high hopes for them rest of the season. And I am ready to put in TANKATHON up yet

[flying_mollusk]

Nice loss. Thanks Spurs.

I don't know how you guys can feel good about any of this. It's like I just feel it in the pit of my stomach, that something is incredibly wrong with this team and yet you guys think an additional draft pick is going to fix it. It's not. There is something internally that's just not working and have not been working for a while. Another round of rookies on this team will not fix this team.

Better players will fix this. And the best shot for us to get better players is with better picks. It is what it is.

If we had lost 2 more games in 2018, we would have had Luka.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I don't know how you guys can feel good about any of this. It's like I just feel it in the pit of my stomach, that something is incredibly wrong with this team and yet you guys think an additional draft pick is going to fix it. It's not. There is something internally that's just not working and have not been working for a while. Another round of rookies on this team will not fix this team.

Better players will fix this. And the best shot for us to get better players is with better picks. It is what it is.

If we had lost 2 more games in 2018, we would have had Luka.

If we had loss 2 more games in 2022 we would have had Jabari.

The point is, the lottery is exactly that. You might position yourself for better odds but it still doesn't mean it will come your way. The lottery hasn't always been kind to us these past 12 seasons. We need a better strategy.

[eyriq]

We're going to need improvement from the current core (Paolo, Franz, WCJ, Suggs). 1 of Paolo or Franz (preferably both) NEEDS to develop into a bonafide star. We need JI's defense or a replacement for that defense (defensive big). We need a PG that can run an offense and hit 3's. And finally, we need 2 or 3 VERY solid 3&D players.

My biggest fear truly is Weltman and Hammond being a little too pleased with the progress of this season.

I am terrified they're gonna be so content with their 33-34 wins this season that they opt to just run it back with the exact same group + a couple of 20 year old lottery picks.

That's not a wise path forward IMO.

I'm not sure what the plan is but we shouldn't just run it back... but what happens to the PG position if we miss out on Scoot, FVV, DLo, whoever else we're hoping for? I've seen enough of Fultz 'running' the offense. Forget the 3's. I'm not seeing him make the game easier for his teammates. Just not enough playmaking... on top of the lack of 3's. I bet he's back in the starting lineup if we miss out on our targets.

Yeah, if WeHam decide to keep this backcourt together it will be disappointing. #backcourtrebuild

[Optimus_Steel]

We're going to need improvement from the current core (Paolo, Franz, WCJ, Suggs). 1 of Paolo or Franz (preferably both) NEEDS to develop into a bonafide star. We need JI's defense or a replacement for that defense (defensive big). We need a PG that can run an offense and hit 3's. And finally, we need 2 or 3 VERY solid 3&D players.

We won't be able to max Paolo and Franz abilities until we surround them with an abundance of 3pt shooting. Right now it's like playing 3 on 5 or 4 on 5 on offense. There is no room, there is no spacing, everything is clogged and a grind.

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[thelead]

What's funny? Do you know better than NBA coaches?

I didn't realize we were analyzing a complicated subject

Are we discussing the intricacies of quantum gravity here?

[KillMonger]

I don't understand why our talking heads constantly want to praise Fultz

Trying to get him paid

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[Knightro]

I'm not sure what the plan is but we shouldn't just run it back... but what happens to the PG position if we miss out on Scoot, FVV, DLo, whoever else we're hoping for? I've seen enough of Fultz 'running' the offense. Forget the 3's. I'm not seeing him make the game easier for his teammates. Just not enough playmaking... on top of the lack of 3's. I bet he's back in the starting lineup if we miss out on our targets.

I will continue to say this until I'm blue in the face.

Markelle Fultz truly has a FANTASTIC backup point guard skill set. I honestly mean that as a compliment. What he's best at - pushing the ball in transition, finding shooters and cutters in semi transition and isolating into midrange jumpers and short layups in the halfcourt - all those things play up much better in a tight 18-20 MPG primarily against opposing 2nd units.

If he was making half of his current salary, like 8-9M per season, and working in Cole's spot - he'd pretty much be beloved by most everyone on this board.

He was genuinely really good last year in that exact role.

[flying_mollusk]

Better players will fix this. And the best shot for us to get better players is with better picks. It is what it is.

If we had lost 2 more games in 2018, we would have had Luka.

If we had loss 2 more games in 2022 we would have had Jabari.

The point is, the lottery is exactly that. You might position yourself for better odds but it still doesn't mean it will come your way.

But you still maximize your percentage. And the higher you are the less you fall. Do you just want us to be in the play in? Then that’s 0% to 10% of getting a top 4 pick as opposed to 40%.

This is my position. The one thing you can’t fix in the NBA easily is getting stars. The best way to get stars is through savvy drafting higher in the lottery. You can easily get a supporting cast via free agency and trades. And the bad supporting cast is our biggest problem. So we will fix that. Just be patient. This won’t be our team next year or the year after other than the best players. So why worry about the issues this team has when it clearly isn’t Paolo or Franz causing it

[thelead]

I'm not sure what the plan is but we shouldn't just run it back... but what happens to the PG position if we miss out on Scoot, FVV, DLo, whoever else we're hoping for? I've seen enough of Fultz 'running' the offense. Forget the 3's. I'm not seeing him make the game easier for his teammates. Just not enough playmaking... on top of the lack of 3's. I bet he's back in the starting lineup if we miss out on our targets.

I will continue to say this until I'm blue in the face.

Markelle Fultz truly has a FANTASTIC backup point guard skill set. I genuinely mean that as a compliment. What he's best at - pushing the ball in transition, finding shooters and cutters in semi transition and isolating into midrange jumpers and short layups in the halfcourt - all those things play up much better in a tight 18-20 MPG primarily against opposing 2nd units.

If he was making half of his current salary, like 8-9M per season, and working in Cole's spot- he'd pretty much be beloved by most everyone on this board.

I'm in 100% agreement. I actually like him. But not for 30+mpg and certainly not for 17 mil per.

[basketballRob]

The Bulls are tied with two other teams for the least amount of games played.

They'll probably look like the 72-10 Bulls tomorrow night after all the rest they've got. By next week, they'll look like the worst team in the league after playing a bunch of games in a short span.


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[jonbob17]

We're going to need improvement from the current core (Paolo, Franz, WCJ, Suggs). 1 of Paolo or Franz (preferably both) NEEDS to develop into a bonafide star. We need JI's defense or a replacement for that defense (defensive big). We need a PG that can run an offense and hit 3's. And finally, we need 2 or 3 VERY solid 3&D players.

My biggest fear truly is Weltman and Hammond being a little too pleased with the progress of this season.

I am terrified they're gonna be so content with their 33-34 wins this season that they opt to just run it back with the exact same group + a couple of 20 year old lottery picks.

That's not a wise path forward IMO.

I mean they have to have a plan, right? I am worried they might grow a little too attached and to some of the guys, maybe not as attached to others. I suspect they think they stole WCJ and MF. Like they are playing with house money on those guys. Where as Suggs kind of fell into their laps. I think they were going Giddey with pick 5, and Suggs just kind of got in their way. He’s the one we have to excercise patience with. If he just learns to shoot, he’s very good, if he figures out any more then look out. MF and possibly WCJ seem like solid floors, not sure how high ceilings are coming up on 25 and 24 respectively.

I think we gotta be patient and identify the right piece, barring some sort of luck that lands us Scoot or Wemby. Sure if someone becomes available, make the calls, but I mean if we were just to give up Suggs in a S&T for vanvleet or something it will just be desperation.

[thelead]

We're going to need improvement from the current core (Paolo, Franz, WCJ, Suggs). 1 of Paolo or Franz (preferably both) NEEDS to develop into a bonafide star. We need JI's defense or a replacement for that defense (defensive big). We need a PG that can run an offense and hit 3's. And finally, we need 2 or 3 VERY solid 3&D players.

Isn’t that what young guys do? Improve?

I do wonder how much better WCJ can be? He’s putting up nice stats on a bad team, but is he really a center on a good team.

I view WCJ as an Al Horford type of big. He'll work as a center on some nights but you'll likely want a bigger guy next to him on a lot of nights. That becomes a problem with Paolo and Franz taking up the PF/SF spots though. For now, he's part of the core and if we're lucky enough to win the Wemby sweepstakes, he goes to the bench or gets traded for a guard.

[Ducklett]

This is a great teaching loss. Even though the Spurs suck at basketball, anyone can win any night in the NBA. You gotta come to play each game or you lose.

[basketballRob]

It's all about who has their legs and who doesn't right now. Houston could blow out the Bucks if they caught them at the right time.

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[MasterGMer]

This is a great teaching loss. Even though the Spurs suck at basketball, anyone can win any night in the NBA. You gotta come to play each game or you lose.

Exactly, how many of these teaching losses we've already had? 1 to Houston, 2 to Detroit and 1 to SA Spurs? We could have beaten Portland and we could have beaten Jazz. We could have won against Pacers. All these losses, to me, seem like tanking. We just do not want to lose our lottery hopes

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I don't get why we even have post game conferences, especially with only one media person there when we're on the road. It's weird.

[thelead]

We packed the paint on drives and dared the Spurs to hit a lot of open 3's.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3M&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022201032&PlayerID=0&RangeType=0&Season=2022-23&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612759&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game