Bold Statements for 2015-2016 Magic Season

[The Real Dalic]

My bold predicitions are that the Magic not only make the playoffs, but they end up with a winning record like Skiles expects them to.

The other one is that we will be sending at least one of our guys to the All-Star game.

[The Real Dalic]

Shabbazz and Smith are more garbage as players than KOQ or Harkless by far. I think the delusion of High Expectations for KOQ and Harkless has warped a players actual value. Harkless and KOQ are doing very well with their new teams. How is Smith and Napiers doing? I understand how the "Henny is God" people can't believe he could actually make mistakes n all, but he can.

wow, so KOQ has a good game against the Wiz and some team from Brazil in preseason, and he is some super steal huh? Harkless had to move, he had a head thing here he couldnt get past. He had opportunities and couldnt cash in on them.

I bet they will both be decent rotation players in this league.

KOQ? Yes. Harkless? Definitely not. He's weak minded and not ready for this league.

[shadrock]

Shabbazz and Smith are more garbage as players than KOQ or Harkless by far. I think the delusion of High Expectations for KOQ and Harkless has warped a players actual value. Harkless and KOQ are doing very well with their new teams. How is Smith and Napiers doing? I understand how the "Henny is God" people can't believe he could actually make mistakes n all, but he can.

Napier has been doing pretty darn well sofar actually...

[NBAchamps2017]

For as much as I love to see our beloved Magic team to compete for playoff spot, I can reasonably say that "we will NOT win more than 33 games this season".

[MagicStarwipe]

I haven't really seen anything in pre-season yet that suggests we are about to make a big jump. But it's still early and I'm hopeful.

[eyriq]

My prediction is that Vucevic makes 3rd team all NBA and the all star game on the way to winning the rebounding title

[Def Swami]

Bold predictions:
- We start the season with Oladipo/Fournier/Harris/Gordon/Vucevic. Payton comes off the bench.
- Oladipo's efficiency improves; he averages 19/5/5 on ~45% shooting.
- The Magic will be more than 7 games under .500 by mid-December and realize their goals of the playoffs are out of reach; they'll trade Vucevic + Harris + 2016 1st to Sacramento for Demarcus Cousins (you said bold, right?)
- Aaron Gordon wins 2016 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
- The Magic finish with 35 wins on the season and 10th in the East.

[zaymon]

-Aaron Gordon wins most improved player, becomes centerpiece of the magic(love the guy)
-somewhere in the season Mario starts to play acceptable defense
-Watson plays more minutes than Payton
-magic keep Fournier

[SOUL]

- Payton has a great year, much to the surprise of 40% of Orlando posters this year.

[Patrick1978]

-Aaron Gordon wins most improved player, becomes centerpiece of the magic(love the guy)
-somewhere in the season Mario starts to play acceptable defense
-Watson plays more minutes than Payton
-magic keep Fournier

I totally agree

[drsd]

My wild prediction: everything clicks and the Magics talent and depth is rewarded by a season largely injury free. Skills new commitment to defense accentuates the running style: Orlando wins 50 games and earns the 4-seed in the playoffs. After winning round one, the team's dream season comes to a halt to 5-seed Milwaukee.

[J-Ville Smoke]

Bold statements shouldn't have qualifiers attached that allow you to wiggle out of taking the rap when they don't pan out.

"Aaron Gordon blah blah blah IF HE GETS 30 MINUTES A GAME"

Thats not bold at all. If he's getting 30 minutes a game its because he's massively improved and therefore will absolutely get MIP consideration.

The bold statement would be, "AG will be in the top voting for MIP" or "AG will average 30/mpg".

That's how its done.

[rusoopE]

Bold statement: 1. Harkless wins MVP
2. Rob is fired

[ezzzp]

Here's my bold statements for this season:

- Aaron Gordon will finish in the Top 5 for Most Improved Player if he is given 30+ MPG.

Spoiler:

This kid reminds me so much of Shawn Marion its scary. The difference is, AG has a much more natural shot, and seems to possibly have better handles. His understanding for the game is very impressive for a 20 year old. If the Magic actually play at the high pace Skiles wants, AG could really see his numbers soar on broken plays created by Victor and Elfrid. I think AG has the potential to be a guy you can give the ball and clear out for (as he showed in Summer League), which is something Marion never really was. His shooting touch has improved tremendously after working with coach Love, and his FT shooting looks to be on the right track. The question comes down to whether or not he can hang in there and guard NBA 4’s. The Magic can only hope the ultimate question will be “Can NBA 4’s guard him?”

Agree, he is the most vital piece to the Magic puzzle. He and Payton are the ones that make Skiles' philosophy of defense into offense actually seem possible. Both are also key for his aspirations of a top 5 defense. Gordon allows for many lineups to work, allowing Skiles to give floor time to some of the less defensively gifted but offensively necessary.

- Jason Smith will be a bust of a signing.

Spoiler:

I hated this signing when it happened, not because I don’t think Jason Smith can be a part of a winning team, but more because it makes a soft interior team even softer. His skills are redundant to both Channing and Andrew as a spread 4, and when he plays at the 5, he repeatedly gets pushed under the hoop and outmuscled. The smarter move was to bring back Kyle O’quinn, and use Frye off the bench backing up AG. The good news is, Smith carried a low price tag, but I feel he exacerbates our problem of weak interior play, especially on defense.

Don't Agree. Smith is an intelligent and mobile team defender. In the four games, he made very few mistakes, this can be traced to his cumulative +18: Miami +4, Houston +19, Miami + 3, and Charlotte -8. Also his shooting has not been bad 11- 25 44% + he has rebounded decently (5 RPG off the bench). His also a very good passer - you could see that skill shine vs Houston (5 assists) - that will fit with Skiles passing mandate. He'll be a solid bench big.

As far as O'Q, you don't know what cap strategy RH has. He could be planning to go after a specific max level free agent while being able to retain the core and a long term contract like OQ's might have risked his strategy. Or OQ might have asked to be let go. Or Skiles might have pointed to his lack of mobility (something needed for type of team defense and offensive system he's planning) and advised Rob that he wasn't ideal. Point is very few know what the actual circumstances were behind that decision - its not really something that can be judged with any sort of accuracy.

- Tobias Harris is what he is.

Spoiler:

I don't think he'll ever be a dominant go to guy, but he can exploit mismatches in the post, get to the line, and spread the floor. His shot looks like he has spent some time in the gym improving his consistency, which should help guys like Vuc in the post. He still has defensive quickness issues which are going to be a night to night problem depending on the opponent. I don’t think he’ll ever exceed an 18-8-3 ceiling.

I Agree, if he continues to grow on both ends he's a solid starter on a playoff calibre team; if not - he's a perfect 6th man on a playoff calibre team. His contract is structured nicely for trade purposes. Harris is a Win Win.

- Devyn Marble could possibly get more minutes than Mario Hezonja this season.

Spoiler:

Now before you blow a gasket, remember the goal of the season is not to develop but to win. And as of this moment, Mario is no where close to where Marble is defensively. Add in the improved shooting RDM is showing in the pre-season, and his style of play matching what Skiles looks for, he could be seeing a lot of minutes next to Fournier on that second team. Could be a situation close to the Tobias/Mbah a Moute situation in Milwaukee when he was a rookie.

Don't agree. Hezonja's defense was nice last game. He is just now learning Skiles defense, while Marble has been at it all summer. Already you can see that once it becomes second nature to him - Skiles will turn his size, athleticism and desire to win into a very good defender. Those physical and mental traits along with his elite shooting and passing capacities are taylor made for the system Skiles is proposing.

- Mario Hezonja is the best three point shooter on this team, hands down.

Spoiler:

Fournier has looked amazing in the preseason. Oladipo and Tobias have definitely improved their touches as well. However, the large frame high release point added to the jumping ability of Mario gives his pure stroke that much more of an advantage. His range is unbelievable due to his size and he can use his athleticism to create space quickly and rise over guys. I've notice in the preseason he has shied away from the ball, and has preferred to be a spot up shooter. This has to change if he is going to be a player worthy of that 5th pick we spent on him. He can't be deferring to CJ Watson and RDM with 7 seconds on the shot clock. They don't have the natural skills he possesses. This is up to Skiles to instill that confidence in him. This is a bit worrisome as Skiles has not been known to show patience with young guys.

He's playing within the lines of what Skiles has him doing- but those will loosen up and as they do he'll become more assertive. Skiles knows he's learning a new game and a new system - and is a rookie...the information and responsibility is given gradually not all at once.

- Dewayne Dedmon will be the most important big man off the bench.

Spoiler:

His energy and defense are going to be important in holding 2nd units under control. We don’t have any other shot blocking big men on the roster outside of Double D. With O’quinn gone, Dedmon is going to have the opportunity to play his way into the heart of Skiles with his hustle and defense. Dedmon could become a Bo Outlaw like player for this team, who is so sorely needed. The odd-men-out come middle of the season could well be Smith and Nicholson.

Agree, and have been saying this. Dedmon will be key.

- The Magic will finish in the 9th seed.

Spoiler:

This might be more optimistic than some, but if the team stays healthy, I see the offseason improvements of Oladipo, Payton, and Gordon being the difference makers. I feel that the bench backcourt has improved tremendously with the additions of Watson, Napier, and Hezonja, and the improvements shown in Marble and Fournier. The weak part of this team lies in the plethora of weak/soft big men stockpiled on the bench. Hennigan has really failed in securing the paint. The East has improved no doubt, but so has this team through maturation and hard work in the offseason. The beginning of our schedule is absolutely brutal, so don’t get discouraged if we start out 1-7. It’s not only possible, it’s highly probable. I’ll say we finish 38-44, and hit our stride late. There’s no excuses to not be better than teams like Brooklyn, Boston, Detroit, New York and Milwaukee. Making or Missing the playoffs will come down to whether or not we are better than Indiana or Charlotte.

This sounds about right...as long as health issues don't derail things like they did last year.

[MagicFan32]

i like our talent but is it matured enough? AG and Dipo have to make the leaps they are capable of, if they do i think we can make the playoffs.

dedmon i think is going to be a factor if we improve our defense, our depth is good, we just need a couple guys to hit that borderline star level

[glennathan]

My bold prediction: The Magic win the Southeast Division.

[Optimus_Steel]

-Magic

-parade

-Orange

-Avenue

-June

[gumbyr24]

Jason Smith is the same type of FA signing as Ridnour, B Gordon, Willie G.
I don't think you can bust when you're a end of the bench scrub signing.
Maybe his salary will be filler for some deal later in the year, or we're
able to flip him for 2nd

[Crabman]

I like the OPs predictions. Except maybe about Tobias. He's a hard worker and i think he has more potential on the defensive end than most people think. I think he can be a good defender. I also think he can improve his shooting/efficiency.