2023-2024 Regular Season Game 11: Orlando Magic (5-5) at Chicago Bulls (4-7) - 8pm

[drsd]

[drsd]

Box score thoughts.

Orlando LOST the FG% battle, yet won the game
The Magic did not out rebound on offense
The Magic did not out rebound on defense

This game was won because Orlando was the better defensive team AND forced more fouls.

The 24-30 FT stat line was the decisive box-score in this win.

And we should all thank Horme, the god of effort and energy, for ensuring Anthony would carry the bench this game.

[drsd]

Any game you can get a W and a building block is a good night.

This is the sort of game that will be forgotten in a week, but the W will last all season long. These are the games that playoff teams win.

Frankly: all road wins are good wins. This is a very nice W. If the Magic makes the playoffs, it is because Chicago did not (and Toronto). This win thus has double value.

[zaymon]

I agree that we play well when we push the pace and its all effort and then when we try to slow down it exacerbates all our weaknesses.
Its happening too often to be coincidence.
We cant really slow down if we want to win those games.

[JBSouthpaw]

A road win, on the back end of a B2B, take it in run. Can fault the players for being a bit gassed in the 2nd half, especially down 2 starters. JI’s minutes on defense were incredible! Black was pretty good on Zach too

[Knightro]

I agree that we play well when we push the pace and its all effort and then when we try to slow down it exacerbates all our weaknesses.
Its happening too often to be coincidence.
We cant really slow down if we want to win those games.

They’d be able to slow down easier and more effectively if they actually had a point guard capable of organizing everybody and actually running a set.

Basically every halfcourt set when the starters are in is “Black or Suggs dribbles the ball over halfcourt, passes to Paolo or Franz who initiate a straight isolation or a halfhearted pick and roll”.

And then everything is those two reading and reacting off that.

And because the Magic also lack shooting, those two are perpetually driving into clogged lanes where help defenders are in their path at all times.

It’s just not a recipe for good offense.

The Magic very badly need a point guard who can stabilize as things in the half court from a ball handling and playmaking perspective, but also be able to hit space the floor and actually hit a jump shot when Paolo and Franz are doing their thing with the ball.

[FrightCoward]

He is not lol

NOT IS HIM.

He can be a good NBA player without being a franchise player… I’ve never said he sucks, just don’t think he’s someone who can be the best player on a contending team—I don’t see it…

4-12 FG, 7-10 FT and the worst +/- on the team tonight… Give most NBA players volume with the ball in their hands and the opportunity and they will undoubtedly deliver sometimes… He’s a good player, just not a franchise player and they will put their eggs and money in the wrong basket…

Lol, always the same song and dance with you. He’s 11 games into his second season and has already made strides with his 3 point shooting and all around game - he’s currently shooting 40% from 3! For the record, most players don’t make that big leap to superstardom until their 3rd year in the league so we still have a long ways to go before we know his final product. What he is right now is a damn good young player and the best talent on a team poised to make a playoff run.

Didn’t you criticize him previously for not being clutch and now he has two game winners on the season already? Credit to him, he played poorly all game but stepped up when they needed him to the most. That’s all you can ask. Victor Wembanyama has been shooting bricks almost all season long but nobody criticizes his play, lol.

[eyriq]

I agree that we play well when we push the pace and its all effort and then when we try to slow down it exacerbates all our weaknesses.
Its happening too often to be coincidence.
We cant really slow down if we want to win those games.

They’d be able to slow down easier and more effectively if they actually had a point guard capable of organizing everybody and actually running a set.

Basically every halfcourt set when the starters are in is “Black or Suggs dribbles the ball over halfcourt, passes to Paolo or Franz who initiate a straight isolation or a halfhearted pick and roll”.

And then everything is those two reading and reacting off that.

And because the Magic also lack shooting, those two are perpetually driving into clogged lanes where help defenders are in their path at all times.

It’s just not a recipe for good offense.

The Magic very badly need a point guard who can stabilize as things in the half court from a ball handling and playmaking perspective, but also be able to hit space the floor and actually hit a jump shot when Paolo and Franz are doing their thing with the ball.

Franz is a disaster on offense so far.

[basketballRob]

Vuc was trying to call timeout after Paolo's shot even tho they didn't have any left. I'm glad they didn't call him for a technical and give us the ball back.

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[Bergmaniac]

Really ugly game, but we won away on a second night of a back to back so I am totally OK with it. But it never should have been so close with the Bulls struggling mightily on offense almost the whole night and Lavine looking like a minimum contract guy for most of the game. They have even worse playmaking than us when DeRozan is out.

Our late game offense was bad, but no worse than the offense during the rest of the game really, we struggled throughout. It's just tough to score against a good defensive team when you have so little shooting and playmaking. And Franz is in a clear slump offensively which is worrying. We lost the lead in the 4th largely because the Bulls finally hit some shots from 3 and our defense's level slipped somewhat, not because eour offensive level dropped significantly. Our fourth quarter offensive rating was 104.5, which was slightly higher than the one for the game (98.0).

[JoshuaPotter]

A wins a win and this will be statistical noise game by Playins.

6-5 guys is technically better then where we were thought we were so far. So I am OK with it.

[bigdogdylan5]

They’d be able to slow down easier and more effectively if they actually had a point guard capable of organizing everybody and actually running a set.

Basically every halfcourt set when the starters are in is “Black or Suggs dribbles the ball over halfcourt, passes to Paolo or Franz who initiate a straight isolation or a halfhearted pick and roll”.

And then everything is those two reading and reacting off that.

And because the Magic also lack shooting, those two are perpetually driving into clogged lanes where help defenders are in their path at all times.

It’s just not a recipe for good offense.

The Magic very badly need a point guard who can stabilize as things in the half court from a ball handling and playmaking perspective, but also be able to hit space the floor and actually hit a jump shot when Paolo and Franz are doing their thing with the ball.

They need to figure this out especially if this is going to be a nagging thing for Fultz. I think Black will get there but that is a future thing and this isn’t a him thing you can’t have a rookie PG when you are trying to win games. Who would your target be? Coming around to the idea of Brogdan but he is hurt now.

[basketballRob]

Black at the end of the season will be better than he is now. That's always true for all 19 year olds.

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[fendilim]

https://youtu.be/EdYsC9u5viI?si=qVaUdMa4e6ZTwCjQ

This is a good sign

[eyriq]

https://youtu.be/EdYsC9u5viI?si=qVaUdMa4e6ZTwCjQ

This is a good sign

Goshdarnit got me in my feels just watching it. Love this kid

[bigdogdylan5]

Black at the end of the season will be better than he is now. That's always true for all 19 year olds.

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No doubt and I think that is why I preach patience. The offense is going to be a work in progress but I think as the players play more they will have opportunities to get better. Again my biggest pet peeve on this board has been the insane expectations. We were a bottom 10 team last year and the defense looks to be even better. But that’s not sexy so people would rather say screw that I want a good offense. Instead of being fine with a 38-42 season which will be playin territory. People are rushing to get quick fixes for this year instead of thinking about the long term. Now if a star guard like Garland or Brunson becomes available yea you push your chips in. Baring that people are getting all up in arms about a starting lineup with an average age of 21.6 having some growing pains on offense…

[Residual-Heat]

Black at the end of the season will be better than he is now. That's always true for all 19 year olds.

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No doubt and I think that is why I preach patience. The offense is going to be a work in progress but I think as the players play more they will have opportunities to get better. Again my biggest pet peeve on this board has been the insane expectations. We were a bottom 10 team last year and the defense looks to be even better. But that’s not sexy so people would rather say screw that I want a good offense. Instead of being fine with a 38-42 season which will be playin territory. People are rushing to get quick fixes for this year instead of thinking about the long term. Now if a star guard like Garland or Brunson becomes available yea you push your chips in. Baring that people are getting all up in arms about a starting lineup with an average age of 21.6 having some growing pains on offense…

is 38 wins a good outcome though? I mean we won 34 last season while battling a **** ton of injuries and with a rookie Paolo. Fans want to see some real improvement. We can and should make a win now move. Black should continue to get playing time regardless.

[drsd]

[

The Magic very badly need a point guard who can stabilize as things in the half court from a ball handling and playmaking perspective, .....

... or needs dependable scoring from the 2, which achieves many of these same goals. Suggs 2-8 shooting line is a reminder, yet again, why he cannot be a starting-level SG in the NBA long term.

[VFX]

[

The Magic very badly need a point guard who can stabilize as things in the half court from a ball handling and playmaking perspective, .....

... or needs dependable scoring from the 2, which achieves many of these same goals. Suggs 2-8 shooting line is a reminder, yet again, why he cannot be a starting-level SG in the NBA long term.

Nah.

What Knightro said.

If your theory was right, then Gary Harris would solve all of the lineup issues on offense in a slowed down half court. You and I both know that 1 extra shooter on the floor isnt solving the problem.

[bigdogdylan5]

Black at the end of the season will be better than he is now. That's always true for all 19 year olds.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

No doubt and I think that is why I preach patience. The offense is going to be a work in progress but I think as the players play more they will have opportunities to get better. Again my biggest pet peeve on this board has been the insane expectations. We were a bottom 10 team last year and the defense looks to be even better. But that’s not sexy so people would rather say screw that I want a good offense. Instead of being fine with a 38-42 season which will be playin territory. People are rushing to get quick fixes for this year instead of thinking about the long term. Now if a star guard like Garland or Brunson becomes available yea you push your chips in. Baring that people are getting all up in arms about a starting lineup with an average age of 21.6 having some growing pains on offense…

is 38 wins a good outcome though? I mean we won 34 last season while battling a **** ton of injuries and with a rookie Paolo. Fans want to see some real improvement. We can and should make a win now move. Black should continue to get playing time regardless.

38 wins would mean we go over for Vegas and have an alright shot at the play in. Probably need to get in the 40s for that but way to take the low end of my number and run with it. Also 38 would be our second highest win total since Dwight left… So cool we’re scoffing at that now. I am all for a no brainer trade but you just contradicted yourself. If we trade for a veteran guard guess who won’t be playing… Black. I am fine replacing Fultz with a veteran if it makes sense and is cheap but if we’re keeping Fultz for this year I want to see the team stay pat (baring a garland level opportunity obviously) I want to see Suggs and Black work through their issues. Because the best outcome is either Suggs or Black take a leap then we only have to find one guard. I don’t want to make a trade that gives up Suggs Black or Jett that takes us from a 38 win team to a 42 win team for this year.