2023-2024 Regular Season Game 37: Minnesota Timberwolves (25-10) at Orlando Magic (21-15) - 7pm

[SOUL]

I defended Fultz last game but he played a poor game today.

he missed the a couple shots that he typically would have made. wouldn't call it a poor performance. Especially with how the entire team did. haha... cole had the best +/- at +2 in only 6 min... followed by fultz at -3 in 12 min. let's not get too crazy about everything on day #2 back after not playing for 2 months. Trust me ... i wish he was 100% too... but he will be eased in.

He pump faked an open three and then shot a contested 2 and he doesn't look to be looking for his offense anymore. He's basically a good ball-handler but not much more right now.

I advocated for Fultz when he played like he did last year, but his hitch is back and his role is only going to diminish on offense with the young guys deservedly getting more.

[ibraheim718]

Throw away game. The squad needs to get healthy. The wolves are frauds. They ain't winning anything this year. They're just a little tricky to figure out.. you beat them with speed... speed with the ball.. moving the ball fast and speed in player movement.. pushing the ball all the time.

[Rainwater]

I defended Fultz last game but he played a poor game today.

he missed the a couple shots that he typically would have made. wouldn't call it a poor performance. Especially with how the entire team did. haha... cole had the best +/- at +2 in only 6 min... followed by fultz at -3 in 12 min. let's not get too crazy about everything on day #2 back after not playing for 2 months. Trust me ... i wish he was 100% too... but he will be eased in.

I know its only been two games but there are just some things I don't believe will change. For example, on one particular play Paolo kicked it out to a wide open Fultz for 3, (maybe because of a lack of confidence in his shot) instead of shooting it Fultz drives it into traffic and misses. I doubt something like that changes when Fultz is completely healthy.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Seeing this game on the schedule and our injury report, I never thought we had a chance this game coming in

Their defense is too good, needed Franz to even have a shot this game.

I hope we are more healthy next game, I am going to the game in Miami.

[pepe1991]

Wolves are best defense in nba, and best by very big margin. They are also 6th most efficient offense by TS%.

We have too many injuries to compete against them. Okeke had hot shooting night vs Kings and since that point, he shoots 3-18 FG ( 3-16 for 3 ). Like, dude... get some layup.

[KillMonger]

If people wasn't seeing the writing on the wall with Fultz before I'm sure they're starting to see something now... Seems like the hitch is affecting his middy game, if the midrange shot becomes ineffective then we're looking at a player that can ONLY drive and pass.... When he's healthy of course and that isn't often.... I was thinking maybe we can keep him around as a bench guy but then that undermines any plans you may have for Anthony Black.... Best course of action may be to cut bait

Sent from the phone in my hands

[pepe1991]

So far, most unwatchable game of a season , at least to me.

[p0peye]

If people wasn't seeing the writing on the wall with Fultz before I'm sure they're starting to see something now... Seems like the hitch is affecting his middy game, if the midrange shot becomes ineffective then we're looking at a player that can ONLY drive and pass.... When he's healthy of course and that isn't often.... I was thinking maybe we can keep him around as a bench guy but then that undermines any plans you may have for Anthony Black.... Best course of action may be to cut bait

Sent from the phone in my hands

We adjusted and put Moe on perimeter while Fultz was taking dunker spot on several possessions last night. He's our third string C now. Way better than him acting as decoy in the corner, we saw how that goes once ball gets there.

[drsd]

Box score thoughts:

Orlando lost the FG% battle and lost the game.

Banchero's 2 rebounds is telling; he was not in this game energy wise; there are only so many games in a row one can cover-over Okeke's deficiencies.

The main stat that I am troubled with: FT%. This is the third game in a row with a sub 70% FT line. Yuck.

The good news: this game will soon be forgotten by us all.

[drsd]

So far, most unwatchable game of a season , at least to me.

Well now that we are past the Denver wand Minny games; Orlando officially has the easiest schedule of all teams to close out the final45 games. There's always a bright side!

[pepe1991]

Box score thoughts:

Orlando lost the FG% battle and lost the game.

Banchero's 2 rebounds is telling; he was not in this game energy wise; there are only so many games in a row one can cover-over Okeke's deficiencies.

The main stat that I am troubled with: FT%. This is the third game in a row with a sub 70% FT line. Yuck.

The good news: this game will soon be forgotten by us all.

Trust me ,you can't watch this game by numbers, game lasted 20 min, by that point it was already out of reach.

With 22 min to play ( near whole second half) it's 73:39

Our starters scored 16 points in first half

Houstan 1-5 FG
Banchero 3-13 FG
Goga 0-1 FG
Okeke 1-6 FG
Suggs 1-5 FG

[drsd]

Box score thoughts:

Orlando lost the FG% battle and lost the game.

Banchero's 2 rebounds is telling; he was not in this game energy wise; there are only so many games in a row one can cover-over Okeke's deficiencies.

The main stat that I am troubled with: FT%. This is the third game in a row with a sub 70% FT line. Yuck.

The good news: this game will soon be forgotten by us all.

Trust me ,you can't watch this game by numbers, game lasted 20 min, by that point it was already out of reach.

With 22 min to play ( near whole second half) it's 73:39

Our starters scored 16 points in first half

Houstan 1-5 FG
Banchero 3-13 FG
Goga 0-1 FG
Okeke 1-6 FG
Suggs 1-5 FG

33:16 first quarter and 34:21 second quarter. Ouch.

I want to know Mosley's logic in playing Banchero 35 minutes (the whole 3rd quarter and the middle third of the 4th). Was this just to accumulate scoring stats. If so: what a joke. This was THE GAME to rest Banchero in the second half. For example: why play him 4:26 in the 4th. Just let the scrubs get their minutes.

[pepe1991]

Box score thoughts:

Orlando lost the FG% battle and lost the game.

Banchero's 2 rebounds is telling; he was not in this game energy wise; there are only so many games in a row one can cover-over Okeke's deficiencies.

The main stat that I am troubled with: FT%. This is the third game in a row with a sub 70% FT line. Yuck.

The good news: this game will soon be forgotten by us all.

Trust me ,you can't watch this game by numbers, game lasted 20 min, by that point it was already out of reach.

With 22 min to play ( near whole second half) it's 73:39

Our starters scored 16 points in first half

Houstan 1-5 FG
Banchero 3-13 FG
Goga 0-1 FG
Okeke 1-6 FG
Suggs 1-5 FG

33:16 first quarter and 34:21 second quarter. Ouch.

I want to know Mosley's logic in playing Banchero 35 minutes (the whole 3rd quarter and the middle third of the 4th). Was this just to accumulate scoring stats. If so: what a joke. This was THE GAME to rest Banchero in the second half. For example: why play him 4:26 in the 4th. Just let the scrubs get their minutes.

stats won't padd themselfs

[jezzerinho]

Even with the injuries, this was a great lesson as to what awaits us in the playoffs.

Min had us in handcuffs, headlock and chokehold. Our very rudimentary offense in the halfcourt couldnt put a dent in them.

As someone said above, you beat them with speed, something we dont have much of, especially with the injuries.

This should hopefully serve to have the coaching staff look at refining our halfcourt offense when facing teams who arent scared by our length and paint presence.

Given the skeleton crew, I cant fault the players much. But the team needs to be aware that playoffs basketball is going to look a lot like last night, so they better adapt.

[KillMonger]

Read on Twitter

yeah man....this looks familiar

[T-Cat]

Even with the injuries, this was a great lesson as to what awaits us in the playoffs.

Min had us in handcuffs, headlock and chokehold. Our very rudimentary offense in the halfcourt couldnt put a dent in them.

As someone said above, you beat them with speed, something we dont have much of, especially with the injuries.

This should hopefully serve to have the coaching staff look at refining our halfcourt offense when facing teams who arent scared by our length and paint presence.

Given the skeleton crew, I cant fault the players much. But the team needs to be aware that playoffs basketball is going to look a lot like last night, so they better adapt.

You want the Magic to make the playoffs as currently constructed? We have so many holes on this team, barring playoff experience we would not do well in a playoff series against the better teams.

I don't see the FO playing JI too many games this season in hopes for a better off season with strength/conditioning and improving his game.

[pepe1991]

Even with the injuries, this was a great lesson as to what awaits us in the playoffs.

Min had us in handcuffs, headlock and chokehold. Our very rudimentary offense in the halfcourt couldnt put a dent in them.

As someone said above, you beat them with speed, something we dont have much of, especially with the injuries.

This should hopefully serve to have the coaching staff look at refining our halfcourt offense when facing teams who arent scared by our length and paint presence.

Given the skeleton crew, I cant fault the players much. But the team needs to be aware that playoffs basketball is going to look a lot like last night, so they better adapt.

You want the Magic to make the playoffs as currently constructed? We have so many holes on this team, barring playoff experience we would not do well in a playoff series against the better teams.

I don't see the FO playing JI too many games this season in hopes for a better off season with strength/conditioning and improving his game.

You want team to make playoffs to gain experience and also to get better picture what does and what doesn't work in playoffs.
Having good regular season team really doesn't mean much. You can have perrennial 50+ wins team that isn't constructed to pass rounds of playoffs but due depth & whatever gimmick works for them, makes them good regular season team. Pretty much Clippers team with Deandre, Griffin & Paul in nutshell.

[Bergmaniac]

Ugly game. I expected somethng like this, the Wolves are great this season and their defence is perfectly built to stop ours - elite rim protection, McDaniels to make Paolo's life miserable and enough discipline to know which shooters to leave open when necessary. And of course the injuries didn't help. Hopefully we get some guys back soon, underdog wins with deep bench guys are fun once in a while but the effects never last long.

Fultz clearly has no confidence in his jumper at all currently, he shot a few push shots from the paint but he just won't shoot outside of 12 feet no matter how open he is. That corner 3 he passed on to force a contested layup when there were 4 Wolves in the paint was only the most blatant of many examples. And of course our commentators refuse to mention this obvious major issue and always praise him to the heavens every time he makes a half decent pass.

There was a telling play with around 5:10 to go in the first quarter. Paolo got the ball at the 3 point line in semi-transition, he was matched against Gobert. He passed on the 3 at first and took a second to make a decision. During this time Ant, who was supposed to guard Fultz, took one look at him spotting up in the far corner, completely ignored him and went to Paolo's side of the court to zone up and help Gobert on the possible drive because he knew Fultz is no threat at all from outside. Paolo saw this and took a semi-constested step-back 3 and missed it.

[Skybox]

No way is Edwards 6'4, 225...he didn't look small next to Paolo...kid is a monster and really skilled offensively too.

[p0peye]

Ugly game. I expected somethng like this, the Wolves are great this season and their defence is perfectly built to stop ours - elite rim protection, McDaniels to make Paolo's life miserable and enough discipline to know which shooters to leave open when necessary. And of course the injuries didn't help. Hopefully we get some guys back soon, underdog wins with deep bench guys are fun once in a while but the effects never last long.

Fultz clearly has no confidence in his jumper at all currently, he shot a few push shots from the paint but he just won't shoot outside of 12 feet no matter how open he is. That corner 3 he passed on to force a contested layup when there were 4 Wolves in the paint was only the most blatant of many examples. And of course our commentators refuse to mention this obvious major issue and always praise him to the heavens every time he makes a half decent pass.

There was a telling play with around 5:10 to go in the first quarter. Paolo got the ball at the 3 point line in semi-transition, he was matched against Gobert. He passed on the 3 at first and took a second to make a decision. During this time Ant, who was supposed to guard Fultz, took one look at him spotting up in the far corner, completely ignored him and went to Paolo's side of the court to zone up and help Gobert on the possible drive because he knew Fultz is no threat at all from outside. Paolo saw this and took a semi-constested step-back 3 and missed it.

Oh, was that a play where Fultz passed the ball to Paolo, but he clanged the shot?