2024-2025 Regular Season Game 24: Orlando Magic (15-8) at Philadelphia 76ers (5-14) - 7:30pm

[VFX]

Not sure what people are talking about. Carter has looked abysmal in the last few games. Hes had a handful of good plays at most.

Goga being out against NY was a noticeable departure and Carter looks somehow better at PF despite making a negligible difference. He makes stupid fouls, complains to the ref, misses 20 games a year, and does absolutely nothing under the rim.

If Isaac wasn’t treated like a piece of historical artwork, by this FO and Mosely, Carter would never see the floor and nobody would notice.

Don't you dare besmirch my man Isaac like that again!

Lol

Seriously though Isaac thru injury just has such a notable impact he is just made of paper mache! I almost can't blame the org for making him a multi multi multi millionaire.

I love Isaac don’t get me wrong. I just wish he played more basketball because he’s good at it.

[RookieStar]

Not sure what people are talking about. Carter has looked abysmal in the last few games. Hes had a handful of good plays at most.

Goga being out against NY was a noticeable departure and Carter looks somehow better at PF despite making a negligible difference. He makes stupid fouls, complains to the ref, misses 20 games a year, and does absolutely nothing under the rim.

If Isaac wasn’t treated like a piece of historical artwork, by this FO and Mosely, Carter would never see the floor and nobody would notice.

But that's just who JI is in our team. Opponents know when JI checks in its gonna be chaos for them. They know the dude is gonna go all out in the minutes he is on the court and mentally they are gonna hesitate every time they see him. So they count the minutes when he sits down.lol

[Bensational]

“Eye test doesn’t match the stats” most likely means your eye test is wrong. It’s just a simple fact that the team gave up 10 points when Suggs and KCP were on the court, and 7 when WCJ was on the court.

So I rewatched the 2nd half of the Sixers game for argument purposes since I have Fanduel Sports, lol. And Carter played VERY STRONGLY in his time in from 10:33 from the 4th to when he fouled out at 1:21 in the 4th.

"Very strongly". Why can't you give WCJ an honest appraisal? Why pretend he was "good" when he was a big part in giving up an 8 point lead in the final 5 minutes of play.

I updated your footnotes below with truth.

Footnotes when watching.

- Issac left the game at 10:33 in the 4th. Magic were up 83-77. The highest the Magic were up by 10 points by 4:04 when the score was 97-87. The lead was 99-91 with 3:17 left to go on in the 4th.

- 8:55 Magic up 8, Wendell fumbles an airball out of bounds. Philly score off the inbounds because Wendell and AB switched defenders of a screen leaving AB to defend the paint. That's a TO resulting in 2 points.

- 8:20, Wendell hustles for an offensive rebound which TDS cleans up and scores off of. Good hustle.

- 7:30, Wendell with good offense, making the extra pass, catching the missed airball and putting it back. Good work.

- Wendell around the 7:15 minute mark in the 4th he was able to effectively stay in front of McCain and McCain missed a tough layup lay-up. This never happened. At 7:15 AB was left to defend McCain in the corner and Oubre on the elbow whilst Moe and TDS were getting lost on doubles and rotations. Wendell was guarding KJ Martin who was camped in the corner for most defensive plays. At 6:53 McCain took a 3 on the break but TDS was the defender who sailed past him.

- 6:20, Oubre left open for a 3 after Moe stuffs up his rotation, Wendell stopped his close out to defend the extra pass in the corner and let Oubre have the wide open shot.

- 5:55, Wendell defended McCain who missed the shot. Decent defense.

- 5:12, Wendell blocked Council out of bounds.

4:36, Wendell defends McCain on the perimeter and fouls him.

3:34, WCJ fouls Council IV whilst shooting.

3:03, Maxey blows right past WCJ for an easy layup.

2:40, WCJ fumbles an offensive rebound then stops to complain to the refs instead of running back.

2:25, Black called for foul, challenged, on review the foul is given to WCJ. Yabusele shoots FTs.

1:21, WCJ fouls out, sends Maxey to the line which allows Philly to close the gap to a 1 point lead.

- He was playing really good defense most of the second half on guys like Maxey and McCain. It was absolutely crazy he was able to stay in front of these guys until after the 3:30 minute mark of the 4th where he wasn't able to stay in front of them any longer.

Your "eye test" is absolutely busted dude. WCJ defended McCain and Maxey a total of 4 times. One time he played solid defense and forced a bad shot, one time he fouled McCain, the next time Maxey went straight by him for a layup, and finally he fouled out sending Maxey to the FT line and giving him the chance to bring the game within 1 point. And outside of these plays, he was largely defending KJ Martin in the corner and not actively involved in the defense.

I mean, you complain about bias, but then you want to pretend WCJ was "very good"? You've got zero credibility on this topic because you're just a Goga and Black hater. I don't need to show receipts, you should try show some proof that you've ever said anything as glowing about AB or Goga compared to how you're currently trying to describe WCJ's poor effort.

[SOUL]

WCJ was pretty bad last night, had some good offensive rebounds/plays late but otherwise also missed two FTs and tried to grab a ball with 0.4 seconds where they got a shot. He was good the two Nets games, bad the Chicago and Knicks games, he's still getting the rust off but ultimately, he's unreliable to be consistent big man which is hard to count on for anything BUT off the bench currently. I'm a fan of WCJ and I think his start to the season got massively underrated, and I do think he has his uses, but he's pretty mistake prone.

I do get why people defend him, because the board does get extreme when it latches on to a player they don't like that much. Either way, he can't get traded this year and he will be a fine bench big, hopefully, and I think Mose sees that too when Paolo comes back. If he does start it's because him and Goga somehow flip switches completely in the next few months.

I'd continue with the WCJ-Goga lineup though because I think it's a solid lineup until Paolo comes back.

[JF5]

“Eye test doesn’t match the stats” most likely means your eye test is wrong. It’s just a simple fact that the team gave up 10 points when Suggs and KCP were on the court, and 7 when WCJ was on the court.

So I rewatched the 2nd half of the Sixers game for argument purposes since I have Fanduel Sports, lol. And Carter played VERY STRONGLY in his time in from 10:33 from the 4th to when he fouled out at 1:21 in the 4th.

"Very strongly". Why can't you give WCJ an honest appraisal? Why pretend he was "good" when he was a big part in giving up an 8 point lead in the final 5 minutes of play.

I updated your footnotes below with truth.

Footnotes when watching.

- Issac left the game at 10:33 in the 4th. Magic were up 83-77. The highest the Magic were up by 10 points by 4:04 when the score was 97-87. The lead was 99-91 with 3:17 left to go on in the 4th.

- 8:55 Magic up 8, Wendell fumbles an airball out of bounds. Philly score off the inbounds because Wendell and AB switched defenders of a screen leaving AB to defend the paint. That's a TO resulting in 2 points.

- 8:20, Wendell hustles for an offensive rebound which TDS cleans up and scores off of. Good hustle.

- 7:30, Wendell with good offense, making the extra pass, catching the missed airball and putting it back. Good work.

- Wendell around the 7:15 minute mark in the 4th he was able to effectively stay in front of McCain and McCain missed a tough layup lay-up. This never happened. At 7:15 AB was left to defend McCain in the corner and Oubre on the elbow whilst Moe and TDS were getting lost on doubles and rotations. Wendell was guarding KJ Martin who was camped in the corner for most defensive plays. At 6:53 McCain took a 3 on the break but TDS was the defender who sailed past him.

- 6:20, Oubre left open for a 3 after Moe stuffs up his rotation, Wendell stopped his close out to defend the extra pass in the corner and let Oubre have the wide open shot.

- 5:55, Wendell defended McCain who missed the shot. Decent defense.

- 5:12, Wendell blocked Council out of bounds.

4:36, Wendell defends McCain on the perimeter and fouls him.

3:34, WCJ fouls Council IV whilst shooting.

3:03, Maxey blows right past WCJ for an easy layup.

2:40, WCJ fumbles an offensive rebound then stops to complain to the refs instead of running back.

2:25, Black called for foul, challenged, on review the foul is given to WCJ. Yabusele shoots FTs.

1:21, WCJ fouls out, sends Maxey to the line which allows Philly to close the gap to a 1 point lead.

- He was playing really good defense most of the second half on guys like Maxey and McCain. It was absolutely crazy he was able to stay in front of these guys until after the 3:30 minute mark of the 4th where he wasn't able to stay in front of them any longer.

Your "eye test" is absolutely busted dude. WCJ defended McCain and Maxey a total of 4 times. One time he played solid defense and forced a bad shot, one time he fouled McCain, the next time Maxey went straight by him for a layup, and finally he fouled out sending Maxey to the FT line and giving him the chance to bring the game within 1 point. And outside of these plays, he was largely defending KJ Martin in the corner and not actively involved in the defense.

I mean, you complain about bias, but then you want to pretend WCJ was "very good"? You've got zero credibility on this topic because you're just a Goga and Black hater. I don't need to show receipts, you should try show some proof that you've ever said anything as glowing about AB or Goga compared to how you're currently trying to describe WCJ's poor effort.

I'm done, lol... the lead expands to 10 with Carter on the floor at one point during the 4th and you cannot even concede that he played good defense during most of the time he was on the court. I concede Black played a good game. Yet, I'm a "Black Hater" and very biased...
.

[Bensational]

WCJ was pretty bad last night, had some good offensive rebounds/plays late but otherwise also missed two FTs and tried to grab a ball with 0.4 seconds where they got a shot. He was good the two Nets games, bad the Chicago and Knicks games, he's still getting the rust off but ultimately, he's unreliable to be consistent big man which is hard to count on for anything BUT off the bench currently. I'm a fan of WCJ and I think his start to the season got massively underrated, and I do think he has his uses, but he's pretty mistake prone.

I do get why people defend him, because the board does get extreme when it latches on to a player they don't like that much. Either way, he can't get traded this year and he will be a fine bench big, hopefully, and I think Mose sees that too when Paolo comes back. If he does start it's because him and Goga somehow flip switches completely in the next few months.

I'd continue with the WCJ-Goga lineup though because I think it's a solid lineup until Paolo comes back.

I’m not trying to make a case that WCJ is bad overall. I generally try to defend him because I think he’s a good player. I think the Goga and WCJ lineup is the best stopgap we’ve got until Paolo returns. But because he's good he should be held to standards, especially as a seasoned veteran now.

[Bensational]

I'm done, lol... the lead expands to 10 with Carter on the floor at one point during the 4th and you cannot even concede that he played good defense during most of the time he was on the court. I concede Black played a good game. Yet, I'm a "Black Hater" and very biased...
.

I posted it all above and highlighted his positive contributions in green. You completely invented a defensive play which never happened.

Also, you only have to “concede” to Black having a good game if your position is automatically against him to begin with. Aka, a hater. Your own words are confirming that right now, lol.

[JF5]

WCJ was pretty bad last night, had some good offensive rebounds/plays late but otherwise also missed two FTs and tried to grab a ball with 0.4 seconds where they got a shot. He was good the two Nets games, bad the Chicago and Knicks games, he's still getting the rust off but ultimately, he's unreliable to be consistent big man which is hard to count on for anything BUT off the bench currently. I'm a fan of WCJ and I think his start to the season got massively underrated, and I do think he has his uses, but he's pretty mistake prone.

I do get why people defend him, because the board does get extreme when it latches on to a player they don't like that much. Either way, he can't get traded this year and he will be a fine bench big, hopefully, and I think Mose sees that too when Paolo comes back. If he does start it's because him and Goga somehow flip switches completely in the next few months.

I'd continue with the WCJ-Goga lineup though because I think it's a solid lineup until Paolo comes back.

I agree with this with WCJr... I think if there was a big man that was like a younger Al Horford type who could stay on the court they'd move Carter for him in a heartbeat.

I'm assuming they're likely to draft someone in the next few years to replace him if he doesn't shape up.

Them running the big man position by committee is a huge plus. They don't have to rely in one big and can swap them out for whoever is playing good or when they're playing against a certain play style (which is what they've been doing the last few years).

[JF5]

I'm done, lol... the lead expands to 10 with Carter on the floor at one point during the 4th and you cannot even concede that he played good defense during most of the time he was on the court. I concede Black played a good game. Yet, I'm a "Black Hater" and very biased...
.

I posted it all above and highlighted his positive contributions in green. You completely invented a defensive play which never happened.

Also, you only have to “concede” to Black having a good game if your position is automatically against him to begin with. Aka, a hater. Your own words are confirming that right now, lol.

The defensive play where McCain missed a one handed left handed off balance layup over Carter? That did happen, lmao.

You put it down TWICE in your rebuttal analysis to make me look crazy.

Instead it was the wrong timestamp which you correctly, corrected me at 5:43 of the 4th quarter. I never put it down twice. YOU DID.

LMAO, This is the problem with arguments like this. People are so attatched to these players that they will defend then to the end. And if you don't agree with them you're just a hater.

Objectively looking at Black's stats for example. I'm a hater simply because I point out he's a bad offensive player? Because looking at his stats it shows that he is.

He hasn't made a 3 in 6 games and is shooting a blistering 27% from 3 for the season (Only made 3 Threes in the last 8 games), and is only shooting 42.4% from the field.

The only time he's scoring is when he's getting into paint. Which he's struggled to penetrate into since he has struggled to keep a live drive while getting to the basket over the last few weeks since the Clipper's game (which the most recent game against the Sixers was the first time he hasn't struggled with getting into the paint without losing the ball/turning it over).

On the season hs averaging 4.1 assist to 2.3 turnovers which is a horrible ratio.

I've always maintained he's a phenomenal defensive player. But he's just a bad offensive player right now who shouldn't be relied on to create shots for him or others (because stats and eye test wise indicate that). Like I don't understand how the hater narrative there, lmao.

[KillMonger]

Read on Twitter

[VFX]

fwiw I don't really have it out for Carter. I think he has his uses and on a decent contract he fills in nicely for the time being.

I just think if they are building around a Paolo & Franz core, then they have to be concerned with the Center position playing a very specific role. Goga does a little more than half of what that role requires.

The position for this roster has to be a very good rim protector and rebounder. Why? Because Paolo doesn't really provide those things despite how elite he is everywhere else. Orlando relies on their back court to put pressure on other teams, which is basically the entire identity on defense. The flaw in that plan is when opposing bigs can shoot or teams have bigger wings that can't be bullied off the line. (Isaac mitigates this, but he doesn't play 30mpg and plays the same exact position as Paolo so its irrelevant to Center.)

Basically I thought Carter was a very good trade option that has pretty much lost his value on the court due to the system. He wishes he was as solid defensively as Horford, he isn't.

Ultimately, the issue I have with Carter has more to do with this FO settling on guys that "kinda" work because they like them at face value, rather than finding guys that actually have skill sets that make sense next to their investments.

[basketballRob]

Read on Twitter

So much for all the crying from Nurse.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[RichCollab]

WCJ can’t be traded this season. He isn’t back to his aggressive self.

I’m hoping he stays healthy and gets aggressive again. He will provide valuable minutes on the court if that happens.

[JoshuaPotter]

fwiw I don't really have it out for Carter. I think he has his uses and on a decent contract he fills in nicely for the time being.

I just think if they are building around a Paolo & Franz core, then they have to be concerned with the Center position playing a very specific role. Goga does a little more than half of what that role requires.

The position for this roster has to be a very good rim protector and rebounder. Why? Because Paolo doesn't really provide those things despite how elite he is everywhere else. Orlando relies on their back court to put pressure on other teams, which is basically the entire identity on defense. The flaw in that plan is when opposing bigs can shoot or teams have bigger wings that can't be bullied off the line. (Isaac mitigates this, but he doesn't play 30mpg and plays the same exact position as Paolo so its irrelevant to Center.)

Basically I thought Carter was a very good trade option that has pretty much lost his value on the court due to the system. He wishes he was as solid defensively as Horford, he isn't.

Ultimately, the issue I have with Carter has more to do with this FO settling on guys that "kinda" work because they like them at face value, rather than finding guys that actually have skill sets that make sense next to their investments.

Carter will likely take another 5+ years for his mind to catchup with his body if injuries don't take him first. Opposite problem with Isaac, and therein is the issue that as usual we agree on. Goga isn't Mo, isn't Isaac, and isn't Wendell. Yet if Goga shot 33% from 3 I think he starts regardless, but in essence we never get him.

Goga #1 asset is he splits the difference between Wendell + Isaac and provides availability. Something with Carter I am really souring on given his role on the team. Carter is good, but he mentally isn't mature enough to reinvent himself into Brook Lopez. That will take such a long time. If his body doesn't completely crap out first.

To be fair, if Goga and Carter had the same or equal durability, we could get rid of Isaac. But we won't, because paper mache depth is still depth.

[VFX]

fwiw I don't really have it out for Carter. I think he has his uses and on a decent contract he fills in nicely for the time being.

I just think if they are building around a Paolo & Franz core, then they have to be concerned with the Center position playing a very specific role. Goga does a little more than half of what that role requires.

The position for this roster has to be a very good rim protector and rebounder. Why? Because Paolo doesn't really provide those things despite how elite he is everywhere else. Orlando relies on their back court to put pressure on other teams, which is basically the entire identity on defense. The flaw in that plan is when opposing bigs can shoot or teams have bigger wings that can't be bullied off the line. (Isaac mitigates this, but he doesn't play 30mpg and plays the same exact position as Paolo so its irrelevant to Center.)

Basically I thought Carter was a very good trade option that has pretty much lost his value on the court due to the system. He wishes he was as solid defensively as Horford, he isn't.

Ultimately, the issue I have with Carter has more to do with this FO settling on guys that "kinda" work because they like them at face value, rather than finding guys that actually have skill sets that make sense next to their investments.

Carter will likely take another 5+ years for his mind to catchup with his body if injuries don't take him first. Opposite problem with Isaac, and therein is the issue that as usual we agree on. Goga isn't Mo, isn't Isaac, and isn't Wendell. Yet if Goga shot 33% from 3 I think he starts regardless, but in essence we never get him.

Goga #1 asset is he splits the difference between Wendell + Isaac and provides availability. Something with Carter I am really souring on given his role on the team. Carter is good, but he mentally isn't mature enough to reinvent himself into Brook Lopez. That will take such a long time. If his body doesn't completely crap out first.

To be fair, if Goga and Carter had the same or equal durability, we could get rid of Isaac. But we won't, because paper mache depth is still depth.

Carter definitely has a storied issue with durability and availability. However, that’s not the entire reason I’m not a huge fan of him on this roster in particular given his role.

He would work great next to a guy like Mobley or JJJ. Some elite rim protecting switchable big that can get out on the perimeter. That isn’t Paolo defensively.

That’s really the issue at hand. He wants to play outside-in on offense and isn’t really a rim protector to cover what Paolo doesn’t do down low defensively.

Carter is very good defensively within the system because he’s still a huge body that can create space down low between himself and the basket. Anything outside of that and he’s cooked. Goga isn’t looking to score and the only reason he’s on the perimeter is by setting huge space eating screens for our poor shooters.