2024-2025 Regular Season Game 46: Portland Trail Blazers (15-28) at Orlando Magic (23-22) - 7pm

[OrlandoDream]

This wasnt just a bad loss, it was a panic level loss. Idc if Paolo/Franz not up to conditioning and Suggs/Goga not back. Scoring 79 points on 76 attempted FG while shooting 34% is embarrassing and beyond fixing by two guys coming back. The defense will improve as franz get more conditions and suggs/goga returns but this putridly historically bad offense cant continue.

KCP disappointment resumes and AB is basically Fultz 2.0. We need to upgrade backcourt and add some shooting and some players that can help make some halfcourt playmaking. There are so many guys on the market right now that can help us. I will be very surprised if we pass the deadline without making a move.

At this point, trade for Simons. Idc about the contract just figure it out later. We have the players and picks. Weltman has a responsibility to address this.

[pepe1991]

Silver lining, East is so bad that you raise in standings by losing

[SOUL]

I just watched turnovers and misses on NBA.com because I always hear "nobody is moving" in the offense (yet we move a **** ton every play) - I actually think we move TOO much sometimes.

Paolo has a mismatch in the point, WCJ is late getting back and instead of stopping at the three point line, brings an extra guy that Paolo doesn't need, Paolo spins and runs into Grant and loses the ball.

Then another play Paolo has a fairly open elbow jumper and KCP is rotating around TOWARDS Paolo giving him another defender he doesn't need contesting.

A few Paolo and Franz turnovers are just from WCJ randomly running in next to them and one was defenders literally leaving Anthony Black and WCJ and Joseph wide open to commit three on ball.

Ton of plays where we have an open shot and pass one or two more times for some last second shot for no reason.

It's just impossible to get consistent offense with nobody respecting our shooting rn. Obviously Paolo needs to play better and finish better as well but it's kinda sad watching WCJ run around having no place on the floor since he's not comfortable inside or outside.

[GelbeWand09]

I know the focus is understandably on the offense, but the Magic were No. 3 in DRTG at 106.4 when Suggs got injured.

Since then they're 18th in DRTG at 114.3.

The offense was bad either way, it's gotten slightly worse, but the defense has just fallen off the cliff in January.

Them playing too hard on defense got them hurt in first place, you can't just grind out every game for 82 games.
You need reliable offense to win to expand margins of errors.

And also when you grind out and you still are losing, or have hardly any lead, due fact you can't score at all, your effort will go down as well eventually because people get frustrated and make more errors.


We scored 79 points, talking about defense is silly. You can't keep somebody under 70 points in modern era, teams score 30 points a quarter.

It's just a brainfart strategy in general to go all in (like signing a 3&D SG for big money despite having Suggs) on one side of the basketball and ignoring the other, while relying on the health of Isaac & 29 mpg/always having at least small injuries Suggs. That's selfimploding time bomb strategy.
That doesn't even include that almost all real contenders in history where top 10 in offense and defense. Many even top 5.

[Husky1]

The first change has to be to trade for another big so we can give WCJ DNPs. We cannot compete with him. As sad as it is

[dsg2021]

I don't get why ORL doesn't explore slowing the game down dramatically. It happens in the Playoffs a lot as it is. And we don't have to make it our one-trick bag either. But we're talking about a team that expels the league-highest effort on defense. And then the assistant coach at halftime wants us to go even faster and harder in offense. Like what?! I would prefer to slow the pace of the game down, make it an 80, 90 point game, and make it so that when Franz and Paolo scores, it feels triple the impact to them.

[pepe1991]

I know the focus is understandably on the offense, but the Magic were No. 3 in DRTG at 106.4 when Suggs got injured.

Since then they're 18th in DRTG at 114.3.

The offense was bad either way, it's gotten slightly worse, but the defense has just fallen off the cliff in January.

Them playing too hard on defense got them hurt in first place, you can't just grind out every game for 82 games.
You need reliable offense to win to expand margins of errors.

And also when you grind out and you still are losing, or have hardly any lead, due fact you can't score at all, your effort will go down as well eventually because people get frustrated and make more errors.


We scored 79 points, talking about defense is silly. You can't keep somebody under 70 points in modern era, teams score 30 points a quarter.

It's just a brainfart strategy in general to go all in (like signing a 3&D SG for big money despite having Suggs) on one side of the basketball and ignoring the other, while relying on the health of Isaac & 29 mpg/always having at least small injuries Suggs. That's selfimploding time bomb strategy.
That doesn't even include that almost all real contenders in history where top 10 in offense and defense. Many even top 5.

Warriors are worst offense (2022) to win title in past decade, ranking 16#.
But only reason for it was fact that Curry missed 18 games, Klay 48 games. But once playoffs rolled they were 4th best offense.

[pepe1991]

I don't get why ORL doesn't explore slowing the game down dramatically. It happens in the Playoffs a lot as it is. And we don't have to make it our one-trick bag either. But we're talking about a team that expels the league-highest effort on defense. And then the assistant coach at halftime wants us to go even faster and harder in offense. Like what?! I would prefer to slow the pace of the game down, make it an 80, 90 point game, and make it so that when Franz and Paolo scores, it feels triple the impact to them.

Pace vise, we are slowest team in nba. I highly doubt it's possible to play any slower.

We are rulers of most shots taken with expiring clock. That's how slow we are. Our already painfully bad shooting becomes primary school basketball level bad shooting with expiring clock- 4 sec or lower on clock ( below 20% for 3 , 35% overall ).

It would be more logical to play faster and get some transition points given how young majority of roster is.

[drsd]

This wasnt just a bad loss, it was a panic level loss. Idc if Paolo/Franz not up to conditioning and Suggs/Goga not back. Scoring 79 points on 76 attempted FG while shooting 34% is embarrassing and beyond fixing by two guys coming back. The defense will improve as franz get more conditions and suggs/goga returns but this putridly historically bad offense cant continue.

KCP disappointment resumes and AB is basically Fultz 2.0. We need to upgrade backcourt and add some shooting and some players that can help make some halfcourt playmaking. There are so many guys on the market right now that can help us. I will be very surprised if we pass the deadline without making a move.

At this point, trade for Simons. Idc about the contract just figure it out later. We have the players and picks. Weltman has a responsibility to address this.

Losing at home to Portland to solidify a 5-game losing streak is awful. But I really think you are missing the point. Orlando is losing because Bitadze is out. The Magic has no big-depth AT ALL. The Magic has had since M-Wagner went down to get a new combo-big or bona fide center. This problem is all on WePark, and is of their making.

From Dec 22 to this game Jan 23: Orlando has had a month to find a big. A big that would set screens, rebound, and play defense. And only that. Orlando lacks all three of those things, currently.

What are we talking about? Something like Bismack Biyombo on a pro-rated, vet-min deal to close out the season. This is not a difficult management move that "changes the future of the roster".

Yes Houstan needs to be waived to bring in a 4/5 or 5. So what. a) he sucks. b) the Magic has Howard to play that role.

For gosh-sake: just sign Colin Castleton to a 2-way deal if management is so risk adverse to waiving Houstan. Come on WePark. You are failing this team by failing to give Coach basic roster depth.

[drsd]

Box-score thoughts; this is depressing.

Out

[SloNick Russia]

I hope Paolo was sick, have no other logical explanation to his performance.
Smart move by WCJ to hire Mike Miller to be his agent, Mike used his influence on FO to get WCJ that extension which looks about as bad as Cole's now.

[drsd]

I don't get why ORL doesn't explore slowing the game down dramatically. It happens in the Playoffs a lot as it is. And we don't have to make it our one-trick bag either. But we're talking about a team that expels the league-highest effort on defense. And then the assistant coach at halftime wants us to go even faster and harder in offense. Like what?! I would prefer to slow the pace of the game down, make it an 80, 90 point game, and make it so that when Franz and Paolo scores, it feels triple the impact to them.

Pace vise, we are slowest team in nba. I highly doubt it's possible to play any slower.

We are rulers of most shots taken with expiring clock. That's how slow we are. Our already painfully bad shooting becomes primary school basketball level bad shooting with expiring clock- 4 sec or lower on clock ( below 20% for 3 , 35% overall ).

It would be more logical to play faster and get some transition points given how young majority of roster is.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Box-score thoughts; this is depressing.

Out

Let’s just wait and see AGAIN guys it’s fine.

[dsg2021]

I don't get why ORL doesn't explore slowing the game down dramatically. It happens in the Playoffs a lot as it is. And we don't have to make it our one-trick bag either. But we're talking about a team that expels the league-highest effort on defense. And then the assistant coach at halftime wants us to go even faster and harder in offense. Like what?! I would prefer to slow the pace of the game down, make it an 80, 90 point game, and make it so that when Franz and Paolo scores, it feels triple the impact to them.

Pace vise, we are slowest team in nba. I highly doubt it's possible to play any slower.

We are rulers of most shots taken with expiring clock. That's how slow we are. Our already painfully bad shooting becomes primary school basketball level bad shooting with expiring clock- 4 sec or lower on clock ( below 20% for 3 , 35% overall ).

It would be more logical to play faster and get some transition points given how young majority of roster is.

I do have to clarify what I mean because I said it a little bit wrong.

When I mean slow it down, I also meant the offensive sets and plays. We passed around way too much for nothing productive and shot clock expiration shots where the player had the ball for 3 seconds total.

When I say slow it down, I mean Paolo and Franz are going to have the ball for 17 of the 24 seconds. There’s going to be 0-3 passes total. And it’s going to be some type of Paolo or Franz action. Period.

No 7 pass possessions and low shot clocks before the first penetration. No getting raked in the passing lanes like an open book. No playing games with an ORL offense that sucks.

Make POR score excruciatingly difficult and deep into the clock. Cover their transition offense fully. Make our offense a grind it down, sleepy pounding the ball into low pass, heavy Usage possessions of our star forwards. 70, 80 point game. You don’t have to play into the energy of these younger teams when you have more skillful players.

[byeganyo]

AB was 12-3-5 with a steal and great defense overall. Good night for the young man.

12 pts on 11 shots in 34 minutes in 23 pts loss is nothing in todays nba. at some point this hype becomes annoying and you are making people hate him.
Coulibaly just had 15-5-1 with 3 steals for Washington against clippers, where are the headlines for that?

[pepe1991]

AB was 12-3-5 with a steal and great defense overall. Good night for the young man.

12 pts on 11 shots in 34 minutes in 23 pts loss is nothing in todays nba. at some point this hype becomes annoying and you are making people hate him.
Coulibaly just had 15-5-1 with 3 steals for Washington against clippers, where are the headlines for that?

Kel'el Ware for Heat last 3 games:
22 ppg
11 rpg
2 bpg
27/51 =53% FG

Rookie, younger than Black.

We passed the part of rebuild where we should be clapping for empty stats of young players in blowouts.
Black has catching up to do. Either develop fast enough to be contributor, or be part of a trade within year or two.

[Redwood]

This wasnt just a bad loss, it was a panic level loss. Idc if Paolo/Franz not up to conditioning and Suggs/Goga not back. Scoring 79 points on 76 attempted FG while shooting 34% is embarrassing and beyond fixing by two guys coming back. The defense will improve as franz get more conditions and suggs/goga returns but this putridly historically bad offense cant continue.

KCP disappointment resumes and AB is basically Fultz 2.0. We need to upgrade backcourt and add some shooting and some players that can help make some halfcourt playmaking. There are so many guys on the market right now that can help us. I will be very surprised if we pass the deadline without making a move.

At this point, trade for Simons. Idc about the contract just figure it out later. We have the players and picks. Weltman has a responsibility to address this.

Losing at home to Portland to solidify a 5-game losing streak is awful. But I really think you are missing the point. Orlando is losing because Bitadze is out. The Magic has no big-depth AT ALL. The Magic has had since M-Wagner went down to get a new combo-big or bona fide center. This problem is all on WePark, and is of their making.

From Dec 22 to this game Jan 23: Orlando has had a month to find a big. A big that would set screens, rebound, and play defense. And only that. Orlando lacks all three of those things, currently.

What are we talking about? Something like Bismack Biyombo on a pro-rated, vet-min deal to close out the season. This is not a difficult management move that "changes the future of the roster".

Yes Houstan needs to be waived to bring in a 4/5 or 5. So what. a) he sucks. b) the Magic has Howard to play that role.

For gosh-sake: just sign Colin Castleton to a 2-way deal if management is so risk adverse to waiving Houstan. Come on WePark. You are failing this team by failing to give Coach basic roster depth.

I mentioned this last year, and I'm still in favor of it. Dwight Howard would not be a bad addition. Nobody can tell me he'd be a liability given what his contract would be, give him 15-20 mins a night and see what happens. No reason not to, he'd bring some interior defense and rebounding. WCJ does not, in any realm or dimension, bring more to this team than Dwight would, even at 82 or however old he is.

[I Rasharted]

Magic shooting accuracy reminding me of Ricky Vaughn's pitching

[doct3r dr3]

I wonder what we could get for Franz and Paolo!

Probably someone who can defend but cannot shoot.

So, Giannis?

[MagicStarwipe]

This isn't complicated. We can't shoot.