Game Thread: Magic (19-17) @ Nets (10-25) 7:30 Tipoff

[rcklsscognition]

First-year coach Scott Skiles hasn't been afraid to tinker with the lineup, and Victor Oladipo could be a long-term fix at point guard regardless of Elfrid Payton's health.

We may hear about our lineup at either 11:15am at shootaround or 6pm during pre-game coach availability.

Can the Magic continue climbing back on defense? Can their offense produce like they were in early to mid December?





[tweet]https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/685599947669024770[/tweet]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc[/youtube]

[SOUL]

First-year coach Scott Skiles hasn't been afraid to tinker with the lineup, and Victor Oladipo could be a long-term fix at point guard regardless of Elfrid Payton's health.

[Def Swami]

If they drop this one, things gonna get real ugly.

[SOUL]

Honestly, has Skiles started doing bath salts after that coach of the month award? Does Monte Mathis run an opium den? What in the utter **** is going on. I hope that's just speculation from Schmitz.

edit: Really nice GT, we're away though.

[MagicStarwipe]

Skiles can't be that dense can he?

[OrlChamps2030]

First-year coach Scott Skiles hasn't been afraid to tinker with the lineup, and Victor Oladipo could be a long-term fix at point guard regardless of Elfrid Payton's health.

[SOUL]

First-year coach Scott Skiles hasn't been afraid to tinker with the lineup, and Victor Oladipo could be a long-term fix at point guard regardless of Elfrid Payton's health.

[Blue_and_Whte]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

[MagicStarwipe]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

People are reacting like they are because Elfrid is clearly the best PG and perhaps player on the team. Not because they think he has pretty eyes. Dude struggles playing on 2 bad wheels and Skiles just couldn't wait to demote him smh.

[SOUL]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

Lol wtf, it gave us 19 wins, we looked horrible the last two games without a real PG, and Elfrid was playing on two sprained ankles the two off games he had against Wizards/Cavs while playing steady ball the entirety of November.. this has nothing to do with an "Elfrid fan club".

There's literally results of him being needed starting and how bad we look when he's injured/not playing.. this isn't an Oladipo/Frye situation where we don't know what will happen.

edit: Hell, if we had a capable PG I absolutely wouldn't mind Payton getting run with Hezonja and AG as long as he gets starters minutes off the bench.

[MagicStarwipe]

For the record, I think this is all media assumption. I'm going to give Skiles the benefit of the doubt until it actually goes down.

[SOUL]

I'm actually sure that 99% of the board wants Elfrid starting, and they're more sure about his security in the lineup than anybody else currently.

[Blue_and_Whte]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

People are reacting like they are because Elfrid is clearly the best PG and perhaps player on the team. Not because they think he has pretty eyes. Dude struggles playing on 2 bad wheels and Skiles just couldn't wait to demote him smh.

Yeah that's it. Skiles has an agenda against EP and was just itching to "demote", I'm sure of it. He woke up and was like "I really look forward to demoting EP. Playing him 28 minutes instead of 29." If it generates wins then that's what needs to happen. It's bigger than EP and he's hardly the best player on the team right now. Clearly the best PG? agreed.

[MagicStarwipe]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

People are reacting like they are because Elfrid is clearly the best PG and perhaps player on the team. Not because they think he has pretty eyes. Dude struggles playing on 2 bad wheels and Skiles just couldn't wait to demote him smh.

Yeah that's it. Skiles has an agenda against EP and was just itching to "demote", I'm sure of it. He woke up and was like "I really look forward to demoting EP. Playing him 28 minutes instead of 29." If it generates wins then that's what needs to happen. It's bigger than EP and he's hardly the best player on the team right now. Clearly the best PG? agreed.

He's in love with Evan, so it's not a stretch to say he could have bias against other players . Coaches, like all people, have biases, so you never know. I still don't believe he'll do it though.

[Blue_and_Whte]

If it generates wins then he needs to do it. I value the team winning over a players personal stats. I'll say the same thing I did when Dipo was moved to the second unit. He'll likely get the minutes just in a different capacity so the elf fan club can relax. No need to take it personally. Victor has been the better defender although we'll miss the playmaking. We'll see how it pans out.

Lol wtf, it gave us 19 wins, we looked horrible the last two games without a real PG, and Elfrid was playing on two sprained ankles the two off games he had against Wizards/Cavs while playing steady ball the entirety of November.. this has nothing to do with an "Elfrid fan club".

There's literally results of him being needed starting and how bad we look when he's injured/not playing.. this isn't an Oladipo/Frye situation where we don't know what will happen.

edit: Hell, if we had a capable PG I absolutely wouldn't mind Payton getting run with Hezonja and AG as long as he gets starters minutes off the bench.

No I agree with you. I'm just saying we should wait to see what happens before some of you guys start jumping off buildings. Skiles has turn this club into a winning team but the minute he sits Elfrid. "ITS ALL OVER. NO OF IT MATTERS. WORST COACH IN ALL OF BASKETBALL."

[Blue_and_Whte]

People are reacting like they are because Elfrid is clearly the best PG and perhaps player on the team. Not because they think he has pretty eyes. Dude struggles playing on 2 bad wheels and Skiles just couldn't wait to demote him smh.

Yeah that's it. Skiles has an agenda against EP and was just itching to "demote", I'm sure of it. He woke up and was like "I really look forward to demoting EP. Playing him 28 minutes instead of 29." If it generates wins then that's what needs to happen. It's bigger than EP and he's hardly the best player on the team right now. Clearly the best PG? agreed.

He's in love with Evan, so it's not a stretch to say he could have bias against other players . Coaches, like all people, have biases, so you never know. I still don't believe he'll do it though.

Were you cool with benching Dipo for Fournier? Seems like that paid off. I will say that I'd like to see Skiles get AG in there more if Harris is struggling again.

[MagicStarwipe]

Yeah that's it. Skiles has an agenda against EP and was just itching to "demote", I'm sure of it. He woke up and was like "I really look forward to demoting EP. Playing him 28 minutes instead of 29." If it generates wins then that's what needs to happen. It's bigger than EP and he's hardly the best player on the team right now. Clearly the best PG? agreed.

He's in love with Evan, so it's not a stretch to say he could have bias against other players . Coaches, like all people, have biases, so you never know. I still don't believe he'll do it though.

Were you cool with benching Dipo for Fournier? Seems like that paid off. I will say that I'd like to see Skiles get AG in there more if Harris is struggling again.

He benched him for Frye, not Fournier. Ideally I wanted an EP/Dipo backcourt for that athleticism and defensive potential, but Dipo was just shooting too poorly and Evan deserved the spot.

[Tayswagzzz]

The overreaction is real. So what if Skiles plays Dipo at the PG long-term? He's experimenting. He's trying to find something that results in W's. Payton off the bench surrounded by shooters could be better with the roster make-up.

AG needs more minutes too, especially if Harris is struggling.

[rcklsscognition]

This was a fun game thread to do. I might go this route for the rest of the season. Adding Gordon's huge head to anything makes it awesome.

[MagicStarwipe]

The overreaction is real. So what if Skiles plays Dipo at the PG long-term? He's experimenting. He's trying to find something that results in W's. Payton off the bench surrounded by shooters could be better with the roster make-up.

AG needs more minutes too, especially if Harris is struggling.

So what? Have you seen Oladipo play PG. We have. That's what