2nd take on Evans and Cook

DiplomaticMagic · Post #1 » by **DiplomaticMagic** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:51 am

I'm really liking Maurice Evans now. Kid has been hustling since he first got here..he goes after loose balls..and he likes to dunk it down. The only problem I had with him at first was his shot selection and he was a bit trigger happy. But it seems like he has cooled down here. I'm looking foward for us to re-sign him in the off-season.

BRIAN COOK! He has played very limited minutes here in Orlando. But the guy's work ethic is great. Stan said he has to be better on defense and today vs. Portland really shows his progress. He even rebounded well today. I don't know why he sat him out for the rest of the game. But If he keeps playing like this I expect a bigger role. But now he needs to keep it up to get more minutes. And another problem with him. He seems to be a chucker. Same problem I had with Evans at first. He doesn't need to chuck up shots. And get better shot selection.

Has yall opinion changed with Cook and Evans?

Shishnizzle · Post #2 » by **Shishnizzle** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:04 am

Evans has been a huge upgrade for us at the 2. I like what he is giving us. He fit's what we are trying to do better than Ariza did.

Jury is still out on Cook. All players can improve and he has some ability. Just have to wait and see with him.

richi_v25 · Post #3 » by **richi_v25** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:19 am

For everyone that kept saying the Ariza trade was a steal for lakers bc they got a starter well we got a starter out of it too so its not too bad. I mean i loved ariza i even met him and he was a nice guy and they play similar but he wasn't getting any minutes here. At least evans has and he has a 3 pt shot so thats a plus. Cook has been playing better and i hope he keeps it up bc he would be huge help at the 4 spot. he even rebounded today so yay and had a block shot!

MagicFan3 · Post #4 » by **MagicFan3** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:25 am

I was one of the people who wasn't completely sold on the Ariza trade, but we definitely got a good deal.

Post #5 » by **magik9113** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:27 am

lol how opinions can change so many times

DiplomaticMagic · Post #6 » by **DiplomaticMagic** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:30 am

MagicFan3 wrote:I was one of the people who wasn't completely sold on the Ariza trade, but we definitely got a good deal.

Ditto.

magik9113 wrote:lol how opinions can change so many times

Ahh, the life of a magic fan.

knappy · Post #7 » by **knappy** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:53 am

I like the way Evans is playing - I liked the way he finished tonight - when he was near the basket he dunked 3 times - makes it a little tougher to defend and he created some offense for us which we sorely needed - Hedo is not good to shoulder all on his own - he isn't good at it.

Hedo didn't create as much tonight - still scored the same, but he didn't try to over do, which is better for him.

Cook - like others have said - too early to tell - he didn't play too bad in the last two games he played - he looked alright, but more time is needed to see.

Regarding Ariza - I think the kid is going to be a stud in this league at some point. I do like Evans starting in front of Bogans, but I would have been cool with Ariza starting, but SVG and Otis weren't going to start Ariza.

I'd like to see Evans keep it up - he has been looking good. That doesn't downplay trading Ariza - I think Ariza will be very good - the Magic felt that Evans was further along than Ariza and I was hoping he would be good - the Lakers liked him, but he doesn't look so great when he replaces Kobe when you compare him to Kobe, but he looks pretty good when you compare him to Bogans - no slam on Bogans, but Bogans should be coming off the bench and hopefully we get the effort from him tonight most nights.

MagicFan4Lyfe · Post #8 » by **MagicFan4Lyfe** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:02 am

Cook sucks. He always has a few decent games a season then goes back to sucking.

I like Evans and likes what he brings to the table. If he can contribute on the defensive end, he will be a key player for the Magic.

DiplomaticMagic · Post #9 » by **DiplomaticMagic** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:17 am

GortatExpress wrote:Cook sucks. He always has a few decent games a season then goes back to sucking.

But he's not being one-dimensional..He's playing defense..he's rebounding..he's doing nothing but working to get better

Cammo101 · Post #10 » by **Cammo101** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:28 am

I liked the trade when we made it and I still like it. Evans is solid and Cook is knocking down threes. Otis for Exec of the Year.

theTHIEF · Post #11 » by **theTHIEF** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:51 am

man, I love Evans and Cook might just surprise us yet...he had 8 points and 5 boards, plus a block in 10 minutes and he only gave up 4 points in the paint in those 10 minutes...

MoGrAdY · Post #12 » by **MoGrAdY** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:59 am

This is why the Magic board drives me crazy. You guys hop ship so many damn time. When we made this trade I loved it. When Cook wasnt getting any PT and everyone declared the trade a rip in favor of LA I loved the trade. And now that Cook appears to be getting acclimated to our system and Mo has been great, I love the trade. Its so annoying though because Ive seen dudes on here like the deal when it happened then turn around and say we got screwed and now say its pretty good again. If Cook can keep up the solid play he will be a very nice bench player for us come playoff time. And another bonus to the trade IMO was Mo an Cook both have alot of playoff experience which could come in handy.

MagicFan32 · Post #13 » by **MagicFan32** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:40 am

I still do not like the trade, and the story of cooks career has been inconsistancy.

but Mo looks good, I have no idea why hes not getting more minutes.s

Post #14 » by **Howard Mass** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:51 am

Thoughts on trades and players are always up and down throughout the season.

Remember last season when everyone kept juggling on which point guard to start?

In this situation, we all knew Trevor Ariza was the best player in this deal and it sucked telling Laker fans the news and how happy they were tto get the better player.

However, Ariza just did not fit in here anymore.

This deal was a better player for better fits.

Mo Evans has proven to be a solid role player and when Brian Cook is on, he is on.

Both fit well into this team and while people will still waver throughout the season, this was a good deal for the Magic.

Cammo101 · Post #15 » by **Cammo101** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:32 am

MoGrAdY wrote:This is why the Magic board drives me crazy. You guys hop ship so many damn time. When we made this trade I loved it. When Cook wasnt getting any PT and everyone declared the trade a rip in favor of LA I loved the trade. And now that Cook appears to be getting acclimated to our system and Mo has been great, I love the trade. Its so annoying though because Ive seen dudes on here like the deal when it happened then turn around and say we got screwed and now say its pretty good again. If Cook can keep up the solid play he will be a very nice bench player for us come playoff time. And another bonus to the trade IMO was Mo an Cook both have alot of playoff experience which could come in handy.

x2

Post #16 » by **craig01** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:45 pm

Patience.

mhectorgato · Post #17 » by **mhectorgato** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:27 pm

I especially like Evan's ability to find the open spot in the defense, typically right near the rim. Hope we're able to retain him. Do we have his rights?

Cook - the jury is still out for me - looks to be new Garrity for us (as called by drsd). He's a 4 off the bench the can knock down the outside shot.

Last Guardian · Post #18 » by **Last Guardian** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:48 pm

I have always liked Evans part of the deal more than Cook. Evans is very athletic and being less of a blackhole then he was before.

Cook is doing okay though in his limited minutes.

maginno · Post #19 » by **maginno** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:19 pm

Solid Snake wrote:I have always liked Evans part of the deal more than Cook. Evans is very athletic and being less of a blackhole then he was before.

Cook is doing okay though in his limited minutes.

Cook hasn't shown us anything that Laker fans hadn't told us. Occasionally during the season he will show up. Evans as you said then as now is the only thing that makes the trade palatable. Given his free agency status Evans could have been had for nothing next season. An injury exception, Ariza and even one of our guards could have gotten us something more substantial than Cook.

LA got the better of the deal. There is little doubt they will have Ariza next year and he's fitting in just nicely with his stats up in almost every category.

DiplomaticMagic · Post #20 » by **DiplomaticMagic** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:46 pm

MoGrAdY wrote:This is why the Magic board drives me crazy. You guys hop ship so many damn time. When we made this trade I loved it. When Cook wasnt getting any PT and everyone declared the trade a rip in favor of LA I loved the trade. And now that Cook appears to be getting acclimated to our system and Mo has been great, I love the trade. Its so annoying though because Ive seen dudes on here like the deal when it happened then turn around and say we got screwed and now say its pretty good again. If Cook can keep up the solid play he will be a very nice bench player for us come playoff time. And another bonus to the trade IMO was Mo an Cook both have alot of playoff experience which could come in handy.

I was one that thought it could work out for the better and was willing to give a chance. I liked Evans since Day 1..but when Cook was playing I wasn't liking it. I did gave him the chance..and he wasn't producing. Therefore he was being benched. But I never knew how good his work ethic was. Stan is reaching out to him. And he said "if you want to play you have to defend as good as Rashard" which granted isn't exactly good..but good enough to display his shooting. And yesterday he was hustling. I even met Brian Cook during warm-ups vs. Houston game. He's a really class guy. He seems to love the fans and speaks with them.