Game 32: Orlando Magic (19-12) @ Phoenix Suns (16-15) l Sunday Funday l 8:00pm l BSFL

[Rainwater]

This.

Intrigued to see how the Magic FO resolves this because our team potential is handicapped. Really feels like the Magic are playing two lanes towards natural growth/development and trying to win. Gotta commit to a direction at some point.

Completely agree

I don't.

OKC did both last year and didn't panic and are infinitely better this year.

It Kinda helped that Chet is now playing. I just feel like the Magic have hit the point where they need to add some pieces around Franz like Houston did and what Boston did around Tatum and Brown. Maybe it can wait until the offseason since the magic won't win this year but it needs to happen.

[orlando_joe]

Don’t ever tell me Tyus Jones wouldn’t help this team. We played as good as possible minus our G’s

We need a PG who can run an offense and settle us down to get a bucket or assist when needed.

and be the target for other teams to go after when on the floor

Stick Tyus next to Suggs at SG and we’ll be fine. Black is a rookie providing minimal, Gary is garbage 80% of the time and Cole is a midget microwave

jones is 2 inches shorter then cole...lol..talk about midget suns would have scored on at least 5 more times in last 6 min

[RookieStar]

What a stinker from Suggs. Well no one is perfect. Was jist thinking what would have happened if we sic Suggs on Beal instead of Booker.

[SOUL]

Like, we obviously need to make some personnel changes (mainly our injured guys/Gary), but the goal isn't to be the best we can be this year, it never has been. If we did that, it would require parting with way too many players that posters like around here. You want to set the table for bigger moves this offseason potentially.

What's the biggest gripe about the direction? Not playing Jett? Him not playing will hardly affect him and it's probably even good that he's getting reps in G-League and having to earn his stripes just like Bufkin, Amen, Hendricks, Dick, Jarace, etc.

[RichCollab]

We have made a jump since last season. We are moving.

[ibraheim718]

Though loss.

I have seen enough to say that shooting limits our ceiling. Our offense is heavily based on iso ball predicated on drives to put a pressure on the rim without kickouts. Opposing teams adjusted to simply pack the paint and force turnovers.

It is on FO to get this team to the next level.

Let them turn 25.

Can’t wait that long to get those guys some shooters. That would be malpractice.

I'm done.. the lack of perspective is too annoying tonight. Happy New year.

[RookieStar]

and be the target for other teams to go after when on the floor

Stick Tyus next to Suggs at SG and we’ll be fine. Black is a rookie providing minimal, Gary is garbage 80% of the time and Cole is a midget microwave

jones is 2 inches shorter then cole...lol..talk about midget suns would have scored on at least 5 more times in last 6 min

Ummmm Jones is probably the sane height as Cole? 6'0ish barefoot?

[basketballRob]

and be the target for other teams to go after when on the floor

Stick Tyus next to Suggs at SG and we’ll be fine. Black is a rookie providing minimal, Gary is garbage 80% of the time and Cole is a midget microwave

jones is 2 inches shorter then cole...lol..talk about midget suns would have scored on at least 5 more times in last 6 min

Exactly

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[SOUL]

[
It Kinda helped that Chet is now playing. I just feel like the Magic have hit the point where they need to add some pieces like Houston did and what Boston did around Tatum and Brown.

Sure, I agree in theory, but I think most people think that is the right direction. If it's a short-term piece though, it's probably a guy that doesn't move the needle enough and will just help us this season, which is fine, and if it's a long-term move, then we obviously have to make sure that they ARE the answer and we aren't just gambling on someone because of a panic trade.

[p0peye]

Still a team with a lot of holes and improvement areas.... One of them is our 4th quarter offense... Its like we play a certain way for 3 quarters then the 4th quarter comes around and it's a lot of dribbling and not enough passing.... It turns into an iso fest.... No body movement, no ball movement..... These kind of games frustrate me the most because it was right there for the taking

Sent from the phone in my hands

It's by design by defenses in the 4th. We have little offensive threats out there outside of Paolo/Franz and they pack the paint on what usually works and dare us to make shots. Infinitely harder, especially in half court, to do what worked in the 1st half.

To me that doesn't mean guys should just be standing around.... I'm yelling at my screen somebody cut.... Set an off ball screen.... Something..... Anything other than ball watching

Sent from the phone in my hands

They are staying away from paint as to pull their defender as well, so Franz/Paolo can do their thing. It still doesn't work as giving them open look is more preferable to letting Franz/Paolo do damage in the paint.

[basketballRob]

I still think this team can beat anyone if we're 100% healthy. It's been good for Paolo and Franz to have learned how to carry the offense while we've been short-handed.

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[ChosenSavior]

This.

Intrigued to see how the Magic FO resolves this because our team potential is handicapped. Really feels like the Magic are playing two lanes towards natural growth/development and trying to win. Gotta commit to a direction at some point.

Completely agree

I don't.

OKC did both last year and didn't panic and are infinitely better this year.

I get your angle SOUL, but man their guard talent is far superior along with them having several capable shooters.

I don't want the team blown up for minimal gain so hopefully my comment didn't portray that. We'll see how it plays out.

[Optimus_Steel]

Let them turn 25.

Can’t wait that long to get those guys some shooters. That would be malpractice.

I'm done.. the lack of perspective is too annoying tonight. Happy New year.

It’s not a lack of perspective. We are the worst 3pt team in the league percentage wise. Makes it harder to run the sets you are referring to. Not actively looking to improve it this summer is malpractice.

[Rainwater]

[
It Kinda helped that Chet is now playing. I just feel like the Magic have hit the point where they need to add some pieces like Houston did and what Boston did around Tatum and Brown.

Sure, I agree in theory, but I think most people think that is the right direction. If it's a short-term piece though, it's probably a guy that doesn't move the needle enough and will just help us this season, which is fine, and if it's a long-term move, then we obviously have to make sure that they ARE the answer and we aren't just gambling on someone because of a panic trade.

I agree, I feel the move should be a guy that grows with the current core into the future not just a win now type guy. I would disagree with guys like Brogdan or LaVine but would love a guy like Simons. I agree the magic aren't winning a title anytime soon but I would love to add pieces that would get us there and aids in in the issues that plague them. Drafting more young guys won't help the Magic, they barely get playing time as it is but adding player guys through F/A and trades just seem like the way to go.

[KillMonger]

It's by design by defenses in the 4th. We have little offensive threats out there outside of Paolo/Franz and they pack the paint on what usually works and dare us to make shots. Infinitely harder, especially in half court, to do what worked in the 1st half.

To me that doesn't mean guys should just be standing around.... I'm yelling at my screen somebody cut.... Set an off ball screen.... Something..... Anything other than ball watching

Sent from the phone in my hands

They are staying away from paint as to pull their defender as well, so Franz/Paolo can do their thing. It still doesn't work as giving them open look is more preferable to letting Franz/Paolo do damage in the paint.

Yeah paolo and Franz buddy ball stopped working when Phoenix adjusted by just packing the paint.... Why didn't we adjust?

Sent from the phone in my hands

[SOUL]

I get your angle SOUL, but man their guard talent is far superior along with them having several capable shooters.

I don't want the team blown up for minimal gain so hopefully my comment didn't portray that. We'll see how it plays out.

I get it though, like if we want it to make it as easy as possible for Franz/Paolo, having Black out there, as much good as he's done this season, isn't the best for this offense. I don't think the FO anticipated Fultz being hurt again.. which.. is probably stupid.. but that's another story.

With that being said, I've definitely advocated for moves that can get some semblance of a table-setter or floor spacer at PG and an upgrade to our shooting with a volume guy.

I just don't really categorize that line of thinking with choosing a direction because for me that implies like fully committing to the rooks or not, and I think we can still fit in AB into lineups (with less minutes) even with someone coming in and Jett can have a role next year and that's probably where things would be if everyone was healthy.

[Knightro]

Like, we obviously need to make some personnel changes (mainly our injured guys/Gary), but the goal isn't to be the best we can be this year, it never has been. If we did that, it would require parting with way too many players that posters like around here. You want to set the table for bigger moves this offseason potentially.

But do you trust that this is something they'll actually do? Like we've heard for two offseasons and two trade deadlines that they're just waiting for the next one to make something happen, ya know?

Also the cap flexibility they have right now is obviously finite.

[thelead]

We won the 3 pt battle tonight… in both shots made (+4) and percentage (+3%)… it’s not ALWAYS 3 point shooting…

[ChosenSavior]

We won the 3 pt battle tonight… in both shots made (+4) and percentage (+3%)… it’s not ALWAYS 3 point shooting…

The turnovers absolutely hurt tonight along with our offense dying out in the 4th.

[Rainwater]

We won the 3 pt battle tonight… in both shots made (+4) and percentage (+3%)… it’s not ALWAYS 3 point shooting…

It is hard watching this game and seeing how many open shots they missed and say 3 point shots didn't play a role. They missed a ton.