Celtics @ Magic 1/31/16 6pm

[rcklsscognition]

Game Preview

Boston has won a season-high five in a row and eight of its last 10 games. Meanwhile, Orlando has lost eight straight and 12 of its last 13 games. After winning coach of the month honors in December and sitting at 19-13, seemingly destined to make the playoffs, Orlando stumbled off the block in January managing to accumulate just 1 win before racking up 13 losses, a stunning 18 game difference to their earlier record.

For Boston, fighting for a 4th or 5th seed seems a realistic destination for their season. The Magic look poised to enter the draft lottery again, despite a renewed focus on a .500 record and competing for a spot in the playoffs.

Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynk, and Jared Sullinger each had their way against the Magic in Friday's lopsided Boston victory and the Magic will look to limit these three from the outset. Celtics coach Brad Stevens had no trouble attacking Orlando's weak pick and roll defense and is expected to do the same this Sunday. Will Orlando be able to make a defensive adjustment while keeping all 5 of its players on the same page? That is the question. If they can, the Magic have the weapons to handle this Boston team, but if they cannot make the defensive adjustments be ready for another bad loss.

Today's game likely represents the best chance our squad has to pick up a victory before the All-star break. The Magic will head off to San Antonio for Monday's game, then face OKC, LAC, and ATL before the break.

Game Odds



Social Media

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/693838587285086208[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JohnDenton555/status/693826575771537408[/tweet]

The Orlando Magic are currently 20-25...At this point last season, Orlando was 15-30…The Magic didn’t win their 20th game last season until Mar. 6.

By the Numbers

[j-ragg]

Good thread. More effort was put into it than our team will give tonight, unfortunately.

[Mc-o]

I predict Mario to break out !! Gordon get a triple double . Elf goes 8/8 from three , Vuc has 10 blocks ! And Napier plays 3 minutes !!!! Go magic

[FloridaHoosier]

Going to the game tonight, but will be in our seats in the nosebleeds. Couldn't figure out why the upgrades were so much. We upgraded for Boston last time and it wasn't. Could it be because of India Night? JAI HO, MAGIC!

[Dennis Reynolds]

Fire Skiles!!!! Go Magic!!

[thelead]

I predict Mario to break out !! Gordon get a triple double . Elf goes 8/8 from three , Vuc has 10 blocks ! And Napier plays 3 minutes !!!! Go magic

Now I know you're crazy

I hope you're right though.

[rcklsscognition]

Going to the game tonight, but will be in our seats in the nosebleeds. Couldn't figure out why the upgrades were so much. We upgraded for Boston last time and it wasn't. Could it be because of India Night? JAI HO, MAGIC!

Probably Orlando knows this is their last chance to get a win this season, so they jacked up the prices.

[Mc-o]

I predict Mario to break out !! Gordon get a triple double . Elf goes 8/8 from three , Vuc has 10 blocks ! And Napier plays 3 minutes !!!! Go magic

Now I know you're crazy

I hope you're right though.

Hahahahhaha man can dream !!! Lol

[ChosenSavior]

Great thread. Very detailed graphic used. I gotta say that I did like to see Skiles taking some responsibility and stated that he will try to be more of a teacher to these guys so they know what it takes to win in this league. Him actually doing it will be the question going forward. Hopefully we start playing with more fire and intensity from now to the end of the season. Tired of this damn losing streak.

LET'S GET IT!!!

[SD2042]

Would be decent to break out this losing funk for a change.

[Gomagic44]

My expectations are low. My hopes-dashed. I wouldn't be mad if we won on the back of players raising their value or Mario and Gordon rising up though!


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[Viper1500]

Just play Gordon and Hezonja

[King-]

Just play Gordon and Hezonja

Yep. I'm at that point now.


We're 1-13 in our last 14 games..... Losing to teams like the Sixers.


At this point I just want to keep losing so that Skiles will get fired and we can actually get a modern-day coach who understands how to relate to players and get the most out of them, while not being stubborn as hell and actually play the players who are going to be our future.


Fire Skiles. I'd rather lose every game from here on out IF it'll mean Skiles is canned and never steps food in a Magic locker room again, then win with Napier and Smith and Fournier chucking every shot they come across and make the playoffs as an 8th seed and have him sign a 5 year coaching extension or some crap and be stuck with him. I NEVER thought I'd say that- even when we were "tanking" I didn't want to tank and just wanted to smell the playoffs. THAT is how bad Skiles is.

No more defending him. Dude's gotta go.

[j-ragg]

WAIT NO GUYS WE CANT PLAY HEZONJA. WERE IN WIN NOW MODE. DIDNT YOU WATCH DECEMBER WHEN WE BEAT LOTTERY TEAMS AT HOME??

[rcklsscognition]

Very interesting game we have tonight. Likely the breaking point for the season. You have to wonder if Skiles would be willing to pack it in for the rest of the year, if he even needs to, in order for us to finish somewhere between 25-30 wins. Does Hennigan cut the cord?

At the beginning of the season, we stated that our goal is to make the playoffs with the expectation that we’d compete for a playoff spot all season long. So far, we’re in that mix, but there’s a long way to go. And if you told me at the beginning of the season that we’d be around .500 at the halfway point, I think everyone would classify that as considerable progress. These next five games certainly represent a key stretch for us. It’s a critical time for us to get back on track.

That was January 21st, 2016, 4 games ago, tonight being the 5th night. I think Hennigan knows if we can't turn it around before heading to San Antonio and beginning a brutal stretch of games, we're out of the playoffs. It's realistic and I agree with this approach.


What he does with this, who knows, but tonight is the last night of the season for THIS Orlando Magic team if we lose.

[King-]

WAIT NO GUYS WE CANT PLAY HEZONJA. WERE IN WIN NOW MODE. DIDNT YOU WATCH DECEMBER WHEN WE BEAT LOTTERY TEAMS AT HOME??

Seriously.


I remember posting in December and a handful of posters thinking it's ludicrous for them to play, because they'd hurt the team and their development isn't important because ultimately we're winning and they'll get their time in a couple years.

I tried to tell them that you're going to be in for a rude awakening when we start losing, because Napier, Smith, Nicholson getting the minutes that AG and Mario should of had is not going to work forever.... and god forbid, if we DO NOT end up making the playoffs, AND Mario and AG spend the majority of the season riding the pine and watching other young players they got drafted with making impacts on their teams (whether winning or losing teams), is going to be the definition of a wasted season. Really, I mean can you think of anything worse then not even making the playoffs, AND not even playing our last two #5 picks all season? That would be so painfully bad.

Wanna know the irony about all that? The posters who were saying those things, are the same ones now who are saying our team simply sucks and has no talent or that Hennigen constructed a broken roster, and that it's not Skiles fault. How weird is that? Must be Skiles family members or something.

[LBPTarHeel27]

Boston is really well coached and playing much better basketball right now. Playing just the other night does not work in our favor, at home or not. We will be fortunate to keep this one close.

[Mc-o]

WAIT NO GUYS WE CANT PLAY HEZONJA. WERE IN WIN NOW MODE. DIDNT YOU WATCH DECEMBER WHEN WE BEAT LOTTERY TEAMS AT HOME??

Seriously.


I remember posting in December and a handful of posters thinking it's ludicrous for them to play, because they'd hurt the team and their development isn't important because ultimately we're winning and they'll get their time in a couple years.

I tried to tell them that you're going to be in for a rude awakening when we start losing, because Napier, Smith, Nicholson getting the minutes that AG and Mario should of had is not going to work forever.... and god forbid, if we DO NOT end up making the playoffs, AND Mario and AG spend the majority of the season riding the pine and watching other young players they got drafted with making impacts on their teams (whether winning or losing teams), is going to be the definition of a wasted season. Really, I mean can you think of anything worse then not even making the playoffs, AND not even playing our last two #5 picks all season? That would be so painfully bad.

Wanna know the irony about all that? The posters who were saying those things, are the same ones now who are saying our team simply sucks and has no talent or that Hennigen constructed a broken roster, and that it's not Skiles fault. How weird is that? Must be Skiles family members or something.

Pretty sure Aaron Gordon is starting , Mario has been getting opportunities , not sure how people act like they are not getting playing time . Mario is still raw and needs to be more assertive but give him time to learn he is still in his first season! Not sure why people think we are not trying to develop our young players because we play mainly players 25 years or younger!

[Jameerthefear]

Very interesting game we have tonight. Likely the breaking point for the season. You have to wonder if Skiles would be willing to pack it in for the rest of the year, if he even needs to, in order for us to finish somewhere between 25-30 wins. Does Hennigan cut the cord?

At the beginning of the season, we stated that our goal is to make the playoffs with the expectation that we’d compete for a playoff spot all season long. So far, we’re in that mix, but there’s a long way to go. And if you told me at the beginning of the season that we’d be around .500 at the halfway point, I think everyone would classify that as considerable progress. These next five games certainly represent a key stretch for us. It’s a critical time for us to get back on track.

That was January 21st, 2016, 4 games ago, tonight being the 5th night. I think Hennigan knows if we can't turn it around before heading to San Antonio and beginning a brutal stretch of games, we're out of the playoffs. It's realistic and I agree with this approach.


What he does with this, who knows, but tonight is the last night of the season for THIS Orlando Magic team if we lose.

I doubt Rob makes a move the morning after the game. We play San Antonio tomorrow.

[rcklsscognition]

Very interesting game we have tonight. Likely the breaking point for the season. You have to wonder if Skiles would be willing to pack it in for the rest of the year, if he even needs to, in order for us to finish somewhere between 25-30 wins. Does Hennigan cut the cord?

At the beginning of the season, we stated that our goal is to make the playoffs with the expectation that we’d compete for a playoff spot all season long. So far, we’re in that mix, but there’s a long way to go. And if you told me at the beginning of the season that we’d be around .500 at the halfway point, I think everyone would classify that as considerable progress. These next five games certainly represent a key stretch for us. It’s a critical time for us to get back on track.

That was January 21st, 2016, 4 games ago, tonight being the 5th night. I think Hennigan knows if we can't turn it around before heading to San Antonio and beginning a brutal stretch of games, we're out of the playoffs. It's realistic and I agree with this approach.


What he does with this, who knows, but tonight is the last night of the season for THIS Orlando Magic team if we lose.

I doubt Rob makes a move the morning after the game. We play San Antonio tomorrow.

I know it was a figure of speech. I underlined it but didn't know how to make that point a better way. It's basically over for them and they'll be broken up as soon as it is possible.