Cavaliers vs Magic Series General Discussion Thread

[YosemiteSam]

The issue is that like 6 of the 10 guys who played were all very bad.

This is literally the only sentence that matters from yesterday. It’s great that we have a re-engaged fan base and all these discussions are relevant and true for our upcoming offseason, but we lost not because of of anything specific, but because our mediocre players couldn’t even play up to those standards and were just playing really, really bad. But honestly, that’s to be expected of a team new to the playoffs playing game one on the road against a team with a lot to prove. All of the home teams won yesterday, and if you look at the final scores we were right in the middle of respectability. And we have the best excuse for why we had the struggles we did.

[basketballRob]

The problem is that our best 2 players defend the SF position the best. Franz is a little too big to guard SGs effectively. Paolo's doesn't have the length to be a good defender at PF.

Against the Cavs, I think you go big. Play Wendell, Isaac, Franz, Paolo, and Suggs in the starting lineup. Actually, I prefer Goga over Wendell.

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[Residual-Heat]

I thought Paolo's defense was fine yesterday. I agree about playing WCJ, ISaac, Paolo, Franz, Suggs line up. The problem is i dont think WCJ is healthy.

[p0peye]

You can't just throw names out there, there are roles to fulfill for offense to be functional, each of them requiring certain skillset. Everyone watching Magic this season knew our guards are not even good role players outside of Suggs and Cole on a coin flip. I still expect them to play better at home, as all inferior players do, and help Paolo and Franz win at least one game.

This offseason Weltman needs to show he is not here collecting paychecks and waiting for retirement.

[KillMonger]

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[CocoaFan]

Our guards shot 4/33 and 1/16 from 3. They got outscored 53-17. You can't win ANY basketball game shooting that poorly.

[bigdogdylan5]

Yea it doesn’t really matter what lineup adjustments we put out there Paolo and Franz will get abused in the paint or double teamed if we can’t make outside shots to keep cavs honest. They played with no respect for any of the guards or Franz off ball. We do not have a serious NBA offense. Suggs Cole and Harris have to be better or our offense just won’t function. I know Franz has had a good season around the rim and on defense but his completely losing his three point shot was a total kick in the balls for this team. Teams are playing him like a little better than Fultz. Paolo and Franz as a duo will fail if they both can’t at least be league average at their positions shooting the ball from 3.

Going big just creates more problems. As Franz or Isaac would need to guard Mitchell or Garland all game.

I think the Magic are content with making and losing a first round series. Mosley playing Fultz and being the only coach to not shorten the rotation is a move that screams “Just get through with no injuries and don’t take risks.” Ok fine but if you’re going to wave the white flag then you better attempt to fix the issues for next year. Ingles can’t be brought back. He is cooked. Fultz and Harris have to go. You built a good defense that’s a start but now you need to build a professionally viable offense. You’re about to give maybe a combined 60 million dollars to Suggs and Franz. Right now they aren’t playing like that amount of money.

[PrimeThyme]

Listen, I'm not going to continue to pile on Mosely all weekend, but I thought his inexperience in these types of games was on display as much as any player this weekend.

Take a look at the box scores from around the league and show me another team that had 10 players with double-digit minutes. Nearly every coach so far has played a 7-8 man rotation.

This is not the regular season. Our coreplayers have youth on their side and I really see no benefit in going more the 8-9 deep. Just looking at it right now you could saw Ingles or Fultz out of the rotation next game. We've got to heavily lean on Franz/Paolo/Suggs and saw the deadweight off. That's what you do in late April.

Mosley not having the seasoning and wherewithal to really hammer down on a strong 8 guys leading into the playoffs is one of the biggest issues we are seeing.

[zaymon]

Listen, I'm not going to continue to pile on Mosely all weekend, but I thought his inexperience in these types of games was on display as much as any player this weekend.

Take a look at the box scores from around the league and show me another team that had 10 players with double-digit minutes. Nearly every coach so far has played a 7-8 man rotation.

This is not the regular season. Our coreplayers have youth on their side and I really see no benefit in going more the 8-9 deep. Just looking at it right now you could saw Ingles or Fultz out of the rotation next game. We've got to heavily lean on Franz/Paolo/Suggs and saw the deadweight off. That's what you do in late April.

Mosley not having the seasoning and wherewithal to really hammer down on a strong 8 guys leading into the playoffs is one of the biggest issues we are seeing.

Mosley wants to make everyone happy. Kind of coach he is. That has good side and bad side.
For this year i am ok with playing wider rotation. Our bench is on similar level in the end and JI, Harris and Suggs cant play 40 minutes.

[Redwood]

Our guards shot 4/33 and 1/16 from 3. They got outscored 53-17. You can't win ANY basketball game shooting that poorly.

And when you look at the resources invested in the position over the last few years, it's even more pathetic. This team needs to settle on a back court and stick with it, cut the dead weight and most of it is dead weight.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I would much rather the Magic play Kevon Harris than Fultz.

Fultz cannot play Game 2, cmon coach.

[UCFJayBird]

Only takeaway from game 1 for me: Outside Paolo, the rest of the team pretty much crumbled under their first playoff spotlight. A decent shooting night and we win that game easily. Even halfway decent and we're at least in it down the stretch.

Offense shows up, we can steal Game 2. If it doesn't, we're coming home down 0-2.

edit: And obviously Paolo had a lot of turnovers, but most of those I chalk up to him having to do everything because no one could take any pressure off him by making a shot.

[Knightro]

Listen, I'm not going to continue to pile on Mosely all weekend, but I thought his inexperience in these types of games was on display as much as any player this weekend.

Take a look at the box scores from around the league and show me another team that had 10 players with double-digit minutes. Nearly every coach so far has played a 7-8 man rotation.

This is not the regular season. Our coreplayers have youth on their side and I really see no benefit in going more the 8-9 deep. Just looking at it right now you could saw Ingles or Fultz out of the rotation next game. We've got to heavily lean on Franz/Paolo/Suggs and saw the deadweight off. That's what you do in late April.

Mosley not having the seasoning and wherewithal to really hammer down on a strong 8 guys leading into the playoffs is one of the biggest issues we are seeing.

I don't disagree with you on the concept that playing 10 guys is not wise and shouldn't happen.

But playing 9 or even 8 wouldn't have changed much in Game 1 specifically because of how bad some of the guys who would be in that 8 were.

Like if you cut all of Fultz and Ingles' minutes, that's just gonna be more minutes for Gary and Cole who were both absolutely awful, ya know?

Paolo played 41 and Franz played 38. There's not *that* much room for either of them to uptick any more than that.

[GameOver25]

One thing I'm looking out for is the all bench lineup. Hopefully Mosley got that out of his system, because it was just bad. Even with him being "inexperienced", he should know better to not do such a thing in the playoffs.

[Knightro]

Mosley's in a bit of a tough spot rotation wise with Isaac capped at about 28-30 MPG and Suggs seemingly unable to play more than 35 minutes (he's only topped 35 MPG just 9 times in 177 career games) due to his intense playing style.

Like yeah of course you can and should cut Fultz out because he stinks, but that just means more run for Cole.

[DiplomaticMagic]

One thing I'm looking out for is the all bench lineup. Hopefully Mosley got that out of his system, because it was just bad. Even with him being "inexperienced", he should know better to not do such a thing in the playoffs.

100%. And rotation needs to be shorter. Fultz cant play.

[GameOver25]

Mosley's in a bit of a tough spot rotation wise with Isaac capped at about 28-30 MPG and Suggs seemingly unable to play more than 35 minutes (he's only topped 35 MPG just 9 times in 177 career games) due to his intense playing style.

Like yeah of course you can and should cut Fultz out because he stinks, but that just means more run for Cole.

As much as Cole drives me insane, if additional Cole mins is necessary to remove Fultz out the rotation. Count me in.

[Rainwater]

Listen, I'm not going to continue to pile on Mosely all weekend, but I thought his inexperience in these types of games was on display as much as any player this weekend.

Take a look at the box scores from around the league and show me another team that had 10 players with double-digit minutes. Nearly every coach so far has played a 7-8 man rotation.

This is not the regular season. Our coreplayers have youth on their side and I really see no benefit in going more the 8-9 deep. Just looking at it right now you could saw Ingles or Fultz out of the rotation next game. We've got to heavily lean on Franz/Paolo/Suggs and saw the deadweight off. That's what you do in late April.

Mosley not having the seasoning and wherewithal to really hammer down on a strong 8 guys leading into the playoffs is one of the biggest issues we are seeing.

Mosley wants to make everyone happy. Kind of coach he is. That has good side and bad side.
For this year i am ok with playing wider rotation. Our bench is on similar level in the end and JI, Harris and Suggs cant play 40 minutes.

If we are being honest the bench won the Magic the majority of their games. I feel like Mosley wants to continue what got them to this point. And don’t get me wrong I want him to shorten the bench but he may think playing the bench will win them the series as it did during the season.

[SOUL]

All bench things just can't happen in the playoffs.

However, we're in a unique situation because our bench was kinda better than our starters most of the year.. but we're just gonna have to mix them more.

[Rainwater]

All bench things just can't happen in the playoffs.

However, we're in a unique situation because our bench was kinda better than our starters most of the year.. but we're just gonna have to mix them more.

I think that is the conundrum.