Anyone Else...Having Fun?

[Skin]

Fun! I was proud of them against the Mavs

[Skybox]

why do these threads meant to be positive and fun turn to crying fest...i want a trade waa..waaa..waaa
yes very fun love the growth games are all fun

Yay everything is great. Caleb = Klay. We’re good. Organic growth rules.

why to miss the point...i knew could count on you

lot of good klay and curry ..yet they have worse record? lol

If you have any serious aspirations for your team, it's actually more stressful when you finally have something to lose. I am enjoying that when they win, it's generally not a fluke or a freak offensive outing by a guy who doesn't usually score. But, bad losses and (right now), especially, missed opportunities to improve are much more engaging/stressful).

DET fans have no stress this season.

[pepe1991]

If you have no goals or bar for your goals is so low, everything you do will be stress free.
if you only goal in life is to brush teeth and not die from hunger, well.. you will probably be very happy for rest of your days.

If you aspire for bigger things, stress comes naturally.

There is song in my language that says "blessed ones who go mad while young, they spend whole their life care free".

That's same for NBA or any other sport.

What are your expetations ? It's individual really.

It's like finishing 3rd in race of 5. You are both :3rd worst and 3rd best, it's just your outlook that changes your own perspective on things.


Whole "playoff or bust " mentality is also flawed and dumb. Every year 16 out of 30 teams go to playoffs. Really, more teams make than ones who don't. You have seasons where teams make playoffs while being 5,6,7,10 games below .500 and where in other conference you have teams 5,6,7,10 above .500 missing it.

[drsd]

If you have no goals or bar for your goals is so low, everything you do will be stress free.
if you only goal in life is to brush teeth and not die from hunger, well.. you will probably be very happy for rest of your days.

If you aspire for bigger things, stress comes naturally.

.....

Whole "playoff or bust " mentality is also flawed and dumb. Every year 16 out of 30 teams go to playoffs. Really, more teams make than ones who don't. You have seasons where teams make playoffs while being 5,6,7,10 games below .500 and where in other conference you have teams 5,6,7,10 above .500 missing it.

It's even worse with the play-ins, as 20 of 30 teams will be given some sort of "hope" of a chance of an NBA title. That list will "always" include at-least four sub-50% teams.

But now to disagree with your logic, as I read it. There are three kinds of mediocre teams: the stuck, the declining, and the improving.

Let's look at the first as, for example, the NYKs. There is a zero point zero percent chance the Knicks can win a title this year or the next. The roster is built to win regular season games but this roster lacks capacity to win 4 playoff series" back to back. So, yes there will be quality playoff wins and a high standings, but for what. Certainly not a championship trophy.

The declining is rosters such as the Warriors and Lakers. The media will convince themselves that such teams can "get hot" in the playoffs. Maybe, but "torn ACL" for one of the stars is a more probable media report than Curry or James holding up (another) trophy. Aged teams are tough to move on from. But being over 30 means losing a step. In the NBA, that's a killer.

And finally the improving: the Magic, Pacers, Rockets, Pelicans, and Jazz all fit in this category. All such teams have real hope of getting to above mediocre in a year or two. And from then, this starts looking a lot like the Cavs, Sixers, Thunder, T'wolves as rosters that are darkhorse contenders.


I leave us all with this thought: there is a non-zero chance of a Cavs / T'wolves NBA finals this year. Would that be the worst watched championship series ever? It would have to be up there. But here's hoping for the Magic / Thunder finals next year. Silver might lose his mind!
The small market teams mostly have bright futures. And the two LA and NY teams do not. Hurrah!

[pepe1991]

"I leave us all with this thought: there is a non-zero chance of a Cavs / T'wolves NBA finals this year. Would that be the worst watched championship series ever? It would have to be up there. But here's hoping for the Magic / Thunder finals next year. Silver might lose his mind!"

I find it disgusting that nba media & their talking heads ever bring "small markets, uninteresting finals" in conversation.
You want to watch two of best teams that year clash. If those teams happend to be "small market" so be it.

But in reality it's not like that, nba makes most money when Lakers/ Knicks/Warriors type of markets are in finals. But i don't watch NBA to make billionaires more rich, but to be entertained with sport and get best product possible.

[drsd]

"I leave us all with this thought: there is a non-zero chance of a Cavs / T'wolves NBA finals this year. Would that be the worst watched championship series ever? It would have to be up there. But here's hoping for the Magic / Thunder finals next year. Silver might lose his mind!"

I find it disgusting that nba media & their talking heads ever bring "small markets, uninteresting finals" in conversation.
You want to watch two of best teams that year clash. If those teams happend to be "small market" so be it.

But in reality it's not like that, nba makes most money when Lakers/ Knicks/Warriors type of markets are in finals. But i don't watch NBA to make billionaires more rich, but to be entertained with sport and get best product possible.

I for one will enjoy Denver demolishing teams to defend their title. Here's hoping it is against the Bucks in the FInals. As that will be plain fun. (I really don't enjoy the Boston "product").

[JoshuaPotter]

My only issue thus far is how little management has changed.

Still don't like making splashes.
Still don't bust no 1 picks.

Finally got lucky in the lottery in terms of drafting core pieces that aren't no 1.

From a basketball point of view though. It is fun. While I was on record for saying 50 wins are within reach early in the season. I am not upset at all with our current record when I factor in injuries, veteran depth problems our team seems to have.

[Audi]

The fact that I can say I'm having fun this season says a lot considering it's been watching injuries plague two incredible players in Isaac and Fultz. With Isaac's overwhelming defense and Fultz's unique play style, we've been robbed of seeing some really entertaining basketball with them on the bench or playing at a fraction of their healthy capabilities.

And yet - even with those 'bummers' beneath the surface, it's still been the most entertaining basketball I've seen in many, many years. Even as the #1 pick, I believe Paolo has exceeded expectations. The fact that he's still not even close to done growing his game is so exciting. We haven't had an offensive presence like what he flashes since TMac, but the difference now is we have a much better supporting team around him and...we play to win. Also - having both Wagner bros on the team is incredibly special and something I hope we continue to keep together.

[drsd]

While I was on record for saying 50 wins are within reach early in the season.

50 wins was plausible if "the roster stayed healthy". That is not a realistic goal for any team and is flat unrealistic for this roster.

That said, Orlando can still win 50 games this season. It would require a consolidation trade. But perhaps management is phobic of that sort of move and would prefer natural growth.

[JoshuaPotter]

While I was on record for saying 50 wins are within reach early in the season.

50 wins was plausible if "the roster stayed healthy". That is not a realistic goal for any team and is flat unrealistic for this roster.

That said, Orlando can still win 50 games this season. It would require a consolidation trade. But perhaps management is phobic of that sort of move and would prefer natural growth.

It reminds me. Management going with Mr Fornier over Dipo is what originally drove me away to begin with.

It will take something special to blow up the roster in a similar way this time.

[yoyojw17]

If you’re not having fun watching a 2nd year star return the Magic to playoff contention then what’s the bar for you to have fun? People are kidding themselves if they think things will become more “fun” with player changes. That’s just when things will get more serious and people will start complaining about the next player who simply must be traded now or else the sky will fall.

The team is making progress that can be enjoyed if you allow it. If the season is ruined for you because we didn’t trade for Tyus Jones then I’d say you ruined it for yourself

It's all part of the growth of the team. OUR team is still super young and the building blocks for the team just became legal to drink in the last year. These experiences are what build character.... or tear em apart. But none the less.... they have to learn to keep their foot on the gas... stay dialed in.... stay engaged.... or a superstar or anyone else can come in and snatch the victory.

People want us to get a perimeter star because they will help with wins.... Luka is a perimeter superstar with experience (yes at the tender age of 24).... but he allowed his team to take the punches and came back in the second half to throw the gloves off. I missed the end of the game and was surprised that we lost.... but needless to say i watched it yesterday... they came back in the 3rd because we were not shooting 60% from three... and like 80% from the field. haha. They flipped it on us.... and we were not efficient throughout the entire 3rd quarter and they started making their shots and was going to the line often. BUT.... we still battled with them in that 4th and they pulled out the win. And on a second night of a B2B... yeah.... you might get gassed. Everything is a "planned loss" until it isn't just because there was a glimmer of hope.

I knew that hot start was going to bite us as we come down to a baseline. These experiences can help drive us for the rest of the season. Sometimes a good punch in the mouth... or a 9 hit combo can help set us straight again.... especially now that we are starting to get healthier.

but... I'm super proud of this team and what we've already achieved. This has been a fun season because the growth is evident... and we are on track. Let's just power through to the All Star game and hopefully we see some calmer seas as the schedule gets easier afterwards.

[mattdelray1220]

I made this thread before the Spurs meltdown. I had "fun" watching us compete with Dallas and Luka. Last night I was screaming at the TV.

[The-Stallion70]

Not really, to me the Magic have the talent to be a top 6 team and not just make the play in.

I am not happy with the recent skid and the hoarding of non shooting players has frustrated me. We have two guys who consistently draw double teams and not enough shooters around them.

[zaymon]

I am having more fun than in the last 3 years. Season when we made playoffs after beating Celtics was quite fun, and first game versus Raptors was great.
I expect more fun in the future. To be honest it will be hard to lose with what we got. Improving our backcourt is glaring need, no groundbreaking strategy required. Biggest trap is trying to improve too fast and using assets before Franz and Banchero are ready to contend but even now with so many holes we are competing on most nights.

[msmoore66]

"I leave us all with this thought: there is a non-zero chance of a Cavs / T'wolves NBA finals this year. Would that be the worst watched championship series ever? It would have to be up there. But here's hoping for the Magic / Thunder finals next year. Silver might lose his mind!"

I find it disgusting that nba media & their talking heads ever bring "small markets, uninteresting finals" in conversation.
You want to watch two of best teams that year clash. If those teams happend to be "small market" so be it.

But in reality it's not like that, nba makes most money when Lakers/ Knicks/Warriors type of markets are in finals. But i don't watch NBA to make billionaires more rich, but to be entertained with sport and get best product possible.

Out of interest, who said that? Need to ensure I avoid them.

[pepe1991]

"I leave us all with this thought: there is a non-zero chance of a Cavs / T'wolves NBA finals this year. Would that be the worst watched championship series ever? It would have to be up there. But here's hoping for the Magic / Thunder finals next year. Silver might lose his mind!"

I find it disgusting that nba media & their talking heads ever bring "small markets, uninteresting finals" in conversation.
You want to watch two of best teams that year clash. If those teams happend to be "small market" so be it.

But in reality it's not like that, nba makes most money when Lakers/ Knicks/Warriors type of markets are in finals. But i don't watch NBA to make billionaires more rich, but to be entertained with sport and get best product possible.

Out of interest, who said that? Need to ensure I avoid them.

Nick Wright " Jokic would be worst league's MVP in past 35 years" - 2 years ago

And casual nba fans, who make like 90% of nba fanbase, actually listen to those idiots and help them boost their narratives, because nba mainstream media is very, very VERY agenda driven.
Their agenda being making most money possible for their houses and by default- to themselfs. Problem is, they don't understand that nba market is way bigger than USA and that making product focused on nothing but LA/ Knicks/ Clippers/ Warriors actually hurts league.

This is execlly why Lebron James was talking point of every EPSN, FOX sports segment in past 20 years. They blew him to a moon, casual fans hardly ever hear about anybody else and since he is only player they are investing money into, fans only listen to segments about him.
Nowdays given Lebron is old and pretty much close to be done, they are forced to create narratives to boost his legacy.

Basically they have Stone Cold- The Rock- WWE problem: once you treated everybody else as second tear citizen, and main stars are gone, you have declining problem because you never bothered with promotion of new guys.

LIke, Jokic is so much better than current Lebron- and has been for past 3 years, yet Jokic is hardly ever called "best player in nba" by mainstream media. Why ? They refuse to acknowledge it. How can alleged GOAT, that they promoted for past 20 years, be , today, so much worst than fat white guy from Eastern Europe?
Jokic sweeps Lebron out of existence, they don't adress Jokic. They don't adress Lebron's decline. They just pin blame on Davis , who has been Lakers best player ever since he joined that team, but gets 0 credits for wins, 100% blame for losses


NBA mainstream media is very toxic, politically driven product. They are killing product and they aren't even aware of it. if talking points ever bother to talk about Luka, Giannis, Jokic, Embiid, Tatum , Booker , SGA, Hali etc they would not have that problem. But as long as those guys are not on Lakers or some other uber-team who happends to be big market, they will just elect to ignore them.

I went to see ESPN's videos list and in past two days they have around 10 videos about Lebron ( Giannis, Luka, Embiid, Durant, Curry -together have 3 - mainly due Embiid's injury)

So 25-25 team that goes nowhere and wil probably miss playoffs, led by Anthony Davis ( aftertought) is being talked about because of their second best player?
"Will Bronny & LEbron play together" ? Who cares, Bronny James , if his second name is Black or White or NotJames would never even be recruited for college hoops.

"Dillion Brooks should be ejected for kicking Lebron" .... Cool. Nobody cares. it's battle of playin fringe teams . Would it be news if Caruso smacked Franz? Nop.

"Lebron's future with Lakers". Because market for 40 yeras old player on $50M salary in year nobody has money must be really deep. Hornets or Lakers. The Decision vol 2.


It's definition of idiocracy. They literally are hurting nba as brand and nba executives like Silver are too dumb to understand it, or have some $$ interest tied into those sponsorship deals. You can't tell me that not promoting BEST PLAYERS is good strategy, at expense of a guy who will no longer play basketball in about a year. As his team continues to be irrelevant even today.

[drsd]

Dude needs to go all in an propose the OKC - Orlando finals.


..