2024-2025 Regular Season Game 26: Phoenix Suns (12-10) at Orlando Magic (16-9) - 6:30pm

shadrock · Post #461 » by **shadrock** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 4:34 am

Great win. I enjoyed seeing Goga take a step forward and solidifying his starter role, meanwhile WCJ faded further into irrelevance. Way too much of a creative licence for Cole late, i dont know why he feels he needs to make hero plays when we just needed singles late. But tonight is not the night to go on and on about that...

shadrock · Post #462 » by **shadrock** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 4:38 am

GameOver25 wrote:Are we ready to put the Goga vs WCJr starting center debate to bed now, or is it still a thing?

Its going to be a thing until we see Mose give Goga the starting nod over WCJ when Paolo returns. For some reason Mose seems to see WCJ with rose tinted glasses, but i do feel everyone on this board is now agreeing WCJ is not a starter.

WCJ should be trade fodder along with a pick or two to get us another piece.

shadrock · Post #463 » by **shadrock** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 4:43 am

SHAQ32 wrote:Bench Black and Free Cole!

Bench Cole, free Cory Joseph.

Seriously, this team needs way more of what Cory brings, which is poise, proper point guard play, and no stupid hero plays.

BadMofoPimp · Post #464 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 4:49 am

Magic proven em all wrong again!!!

Skybox · Post #465 » by **Skybox** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 4:59 am

GameOver25 wrote:Tyus Jones
5-10 FG
4-5 3P
16 pts 5 asts

But but he’s not a lockdown defender :banghead:

Post #466 » by **SOUL** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 5:02 am

this last page lol

RookieStar · Post #467 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 5:28 am

Enjoy the win lads... after this, without paolo and franz, its gonna be biblical....

RichCollab · Post #468 » by **RichCollab** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 6:04 am

WCJ is here the remainder of the season. Hope he gets healthy and in game shape. He could be very important to the team in the playoffs.

I’m fine if we move him in the offseason if that’s what ends up happening.

pepe1991 · Post #469 » by **pepe1991** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 6:05 am

14 offensive rebounds played massive role in W.

Also Suns turnovers in 4th helped a lot. They had i think 3 possessions in a row with not really forced TOs.

We were also lucky that Suns wasted their challenge, within last min to play up by 3, Suggs elbowed Okogie in a face, it would be Suns ball and Suggs 6th foul

Message Boar · Post #470 » by **Message Boar** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 6:59 am

Very good win! I was hoping we would manage to get this one. Lots of guys stepped up and contributed, which is something we'll have to see more of. Make no mistake, there will be some rough weeks ahead, so whenever we're in a close one, we need to find ways to out-fight teams for the win. Because there will also 100% be nights where we just have nothing offensively and barely stand a chance.

RookieStar wrote:BTW... is there something? I noticed a lot of our players wore those white shirts underneath their jerseys...

Extra oblique protection? :sigh:

Bakomagic · Post #471 » by **Bakomagic** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 7:42 am

Skybox wrote:
GameOver25 wrote:Tyus Jones
5-10 FG
4-5 3P
16 pts 5 asts

But but he’s not a lockdown defender

He’s worse than just “not a lockdown” though, he is a traffic cone, Cole blew by him so many times.

Speaking of Defense, I feel like the Suns Tyus, Booker, Beal lineups are going to get torched when it matters (playoffs).

Imagine if Paolo and Franz were healthy, we could just set screens and matchup hunt them all night…bloodbath!

Hell, Beal fouled out and Booker had 5 fouls without having to deal with Paolo/Franz.

I mean….how do you think we are winning with Paolo out, Franz out, both of them out?

Rainwater · Post #472 » by **Rainwater** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 7:45 am

RichCollab wrote:Suns may have been the most beatable team out of the next 10 games.

Naw, after the next 6 they play Brooklyn, Det, Tor, and Utah. Those games should be easier than playing Phx

RookieStar · Post #473 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:00 am

Message Boar wrote:Very good win! I was hoping we would manage to get this one. Lots of guys stepped up and contributed, which is something we'll have to see more of. Make no mistake, there will be some rough weeks ahead, so whenever we're in a close one, we need to find ways to out-fight teams for the win. Because there will also 100% be nights where we just have nothing offensively and barely stand a chance.

RookieStar wrote:BTW... is there something? I noticed a lot of our players wore those white shirts underneath their jerseys...

Extra oblique protection?

I think they need to wear armor for that kind of protrction

drsd · Post #474 » by **drsd** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:12 am

richi_v25 wrote:But we're down our 2 best guys... oh well play the song!!!

So happy that this is worth a Duhon dance!

Watch on YouTube

drsd · Post #475 » by **drsd** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:14 am

SOUL wrote:KCP hasn't been amazing shooting wise by any stretch, but people really underrate why our wing/guard defense is the way it is. Having a steadying presence that hits a few threes as well is very helpful, that's why we were so good with Gary last year even though he wasn't *that* impressive.

And one to all Caldwell-Pope posts.

Look: he upgraded Fultz' slot. That is a quantum upgrade on offense!
Is 2024-Caldwell-Pope less than expected? Yes. Is he more than needed? Yes.

drsd · Post #476 » by **drsd** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:15 am

Optimus_Steel wrote:Shutout to Jett and Caleb who made strong contributions

They were both horrible in team defense. I cannot agree.

drsd · Post #477 » by **drsd** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:22 am

pepe1991 wrote:14 offensive rebounds played massive role in W.

Perfect segway to Box-score thoughts.

Orlando won the FG% battle and won the game.

Not only that, but the Magic dominated FGA and FTA. Actually the only reason this game was close is because Orlando missed 11 FTs. (the box-score hints that this should have been aabout 10-point win).

As pepe pointed out, the Magic was great on the offensive glass, and won the differential by +5.
Orlando also dominated the TO-differential battle (-6)
(thus the extra FGAs).

Final thought: now 10 and 0 at home !

Rainwater · Post #478 » by **Rainwater** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 8:27 am

Maybe they are trying to get Jett mins but he shouldn't be playing in front of Cole.

Post #479 » by **SOUL** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 9:05 am

Rainwater wrote:Maybe they are trying to get Jett mins but he shouldn't be playing in front of Cole.

Nobody's really playing in "front" of anyone. We just need bodies out there lol. For instance, Caleb was in first but that was because WCJ was the first sub out, and it wouldn't have made sense to play Cole or Jett at PF.

Jiwol · Post #480 » by **Jiwol** » Mon Dec 9, 2024 9:07 am

Suggs was a major disappointment in the early stages and pissed me off big time. Was very relieved after he stepped up. If I were him though, I'd use every opportunity to improve my handles. He would benefit a lot after tightening up his dribbling. Still would lack vision to be a full time PG but his overall performance just cries for a better command of the ball.