Game Thread #53: Orlando Magic (23-29) vs Dallas Mavs (29-26) 2/19 7PM

[Dennis Reynolds]

I just can't stress enough how much I hate his rotations. If guys like Fournier and Oladipo totally suck and shoot like 1/10 and play bad D he will still give them significant minutes before benching them but the moment the guys who were subbed in for them string 2 mistakes even though they were playing really well before that,Skiles will take them out and put Dipo and Fournier back in. I can't understand that.

[ezzzp]

Good thread. If Skiles doesn't **** up the rotations once again,we winnin!!!!

I don't care what you think because your basketball knowledge is laughable. Will you show us some expectation poll again the next time we lose as a result of Skiles taking out our best player for no reason?

The moment we reach the expected number of wins he should just put our D-league team on the court and we should be all fine with it since we weren't expecting to do more. Great logic. Show us some video to keep us guessing the next time Skiles decides to put zero shooters on the court when we need a 3 late in the game.

It's like you don't watch the games dude. Do you think we will keep winning games with guys playing around 40 minutes while shooting 20% from the field? Skiles is a pathetic coach. We are much more talented then Boston and they will easily end up as a playoff team while we are going to be counting the lottery balls again.

Their style of play is also so fun to watch. We are playing ugly ass basketball and the only guys who Skiles keeps holding accountable are our most talented players while others can get away with playing hero ball 24/7. They aren't getting the minutes they deserve and even when they get to play,they barely see the ball.

But what do I know,you are probably going to show me some lame chart again and act like you are the smartest person around here while we are pretty far away from playoffs and our chances of making it are close to none. Good thing you are happy!!!!

Funny cause every time you post I marvel at how stupid you're comments always are...and I have not missed a single Magic game since the 2002 season; and have been a fan of the Magic since day 1 of the organization as I grew up in Orlando.

Coaches are hardest on rookies in all sports. That you don't know that tells a lot about your ignorance of the game. Coaching situations also dictate different strategies towards accountability. Stan Van Gundy didn't pull Hedo when he jacked up ill advised shots or constantly took plays off on the defensive end - meanwhile JJ couldn't make a single mistake...why? because SVG's goal was to win the game and that has priority. Accountability isn't a crisp line - only a fool in life would think that.

[Mc-o]

We are losing anyway so sure,I would prefer them to get more minutes and touches. efg% AG- .500 Dipo - .468 This whole thing about AG not being much of an offensive player is so overblown. He is shooting better at the rim than Dipo(who isn't),he is better at drawing fouls and if given the same amount of freedom he might even show us he is a better shooter. Dipo's usage rate is also the highest on the team and he is one of the least efficient players we have. Payton is the only less efficient player than him who plays significant minutes. I am saying we can get Mario and AG more involved and actually have better results. I just don't understand how some guys can't wrap their head around that.

AG is really involved , his percentage is higher because he takes less shots and gets a lot of put back dunks and wide open threes , if he had to create shots for himself his percentage wouldn't be so high . Now I think AG AND MARIO will be better and their roles are continuing to grow , I just don't think they are being neglected and that Skiles has something against them ! AG had oppurtunities on offense and doesn't really have any go to moves , doesn't have a great post up game or doesn't drive by bigger opponents , he is still working on that part of his game . but we can agree to disagree ! Either way go magic , I want us to win and don't care who is playing to make it happen!

What does Dipo do well,what are his go to moves? He can't finish at the rim,he isn't much of a shooter,until recently he couldn't get to the line at all and his passing skills aren't something to brag about. He still has the highest usage rate and is allowed to play through his 1/13 games like he is some kind of a superstar.

If he has it going let him shoot but Skiles just has a system in which some players get all the freedom for no reason. He will keep feeding them whether they have it going or not. He will also bench guys who are on fire for them. We don't have superstars on this team and Skiles shouldn't treat some players like they are one. The guys who have it going that night should play most minutes and close the game. That almost never happens.

when does he bench guys who are on fire ?!? That's where we don't agree , yeah OLADIPO isn't always on fire or even good on offense but he does make big plays for us ! last game towards the end of the 4th Skiles benched OLADIPO for Mario to add another shooter and he has done that before in other games but you conveniently ignore that . My point is Skiles is a good coach and he isn't the reasons for our losses , our players inexperience is !

[doct3r dr3]

Game #1 of the Skiles-Jennings Orlando era closes with Elfrid (and the finally healthy Watson) on the bench, and guess who in at PG instead...

[ORL_on_FIRE]

Game #1 of the Skiles-Jennings Orlando era closes with Elfrid (and the finally healthy Watson) on the bench, and guess who in at PG instead...

Jennings himself said he didn't expect to come back in. It's going to be interesting to see how Skiles uses the balance he has between Compton and EP.

[Mc-o]

Game #1 of the Skiles-Jennings Orlando era closes with Elfrid (and the finally healthy Watson) on the bench, and guess who in at PG instead...

And we won , what's the problem? We added another shooter that the defense have to respect , all Payton has to do is hit his shots and perform , if Jennings outplays him than he deserves to play !

[Dennis Reynolds]

AG is really involved , his percentage is higher because he takes less shots and gets a lot of put back dunks and wide open threes , if he had to create shots for himself his percentage wouldn't be so high . Now I think AG AND MARIO will be better and their roles are continuing to grow , I just don't think they are being neglected and that Skiles has something against them ! AG had oppurtunities on offense and doesn't really have any go to moves , doesn't have a great post up game or doesn't drive by bigger opponents , he is still working on that part of his game . but we can agree to disagree ! Either way go magic , I want us to win and don't care who is playing to make it happen!

What does Dipo do well,what are his go to moves? He can't finish at the rim,he isn't much of a shooter,until recently he couldn't get to the line at all and his passing skills aren't something to brag about. He still has the highest usage rate and is allowed to play through his 1/13 games like he is some kind of a superstar.

If he has it going let him shoot but Skiles just has a system in which some players get all the freedom for no reason. He will keep feeding them whether they have it going or not. He will also bench guys who are on fire for them. We don't have superstars on this team and Skiles shouldn't treat some players like they are one. The guys who have it going that night should play most minutes and close the game. That almost never happens.

when does he bench guys who are on fire ?!? That's where we don't agree , yeah OLADIPO isn't always on fire or even good on offense but he does make big plays for us ! last game towards the end of the 4th Skiles benched OLADIPO for Mario to add another shooter and he has done that before in other games but you conveniently ignore that . My point is Skiles is a good coach and he isn't the reasons for our losses , our players inexperience is !

He has been doing that more lately,I agree but why did it take him so long? Is it so hard to put shooters on the court when we need a 3 or our best defenders when we need to stop the other team from scoring?

Mario had it going against the Spurs and he got benched because the ref robbed him. It wasn't even his mistake and even if it was,it was just 1 play. Skiles decided to close the game with Dipo and Fournier. They both got blocked a few times and had a few turnovers.

Mario also got benched when he had it going in some other game. Skiles decided to leave Napier on the court and he was being his useless self again. He was 1/4 from the field and his decision to help for no reason in 2 situations gave away 2 crucial 3s.

He also decided to put Fournier on the court instead of Gordon who was maybe our best player in that game which went to overtime. Fournier kept playing like **** and of course we lost. Things like this just happen way too often for my liking.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I don't care what you think because your basketball knowledge is laughable. Will you show us some expectation poll again the next time we lose as a result of Skiles taking out our best player for no reason?

The moment we reach the expected number of wins he should just put our D-league team on the court and we should be all fine with it since we weren't expecting to do more. Great logic. Show us some video to keep us guessing the next time Skiles decides to put zero shooters on the court when we need a 3 late in the game.

It's like you don't watch the games dude. Do you think we will keep winning games with guys playing around 40 minutes while shooting 20% from the field? Skiles is a pathetic coach. We are much more talented then Boston and they will easily end up as a playoff team while we are going to be counting the lottery balls again.

Their style of play is also so fun to watch. We are playing ugly ass basketball and the only guys who Skiles keeps holding accountable are our most talented players while others can get away with playing hero ball 24/7. They aren't getting the minutes they deserve and even when they get to play,they barely see the ball.

But what do I know,you are probably going to show me some lame chart again and act like you are the smartest person around here while we are pretty far away from playoffs and our chances of making it are close to none. Good thing you are happy!!!!

Funny cause every time you post I marvel at how stupid you're comments always are...and I have not missed a single Magic game since the 2002 season; and have been a fan of the Magic since day 1 of the organization as I grew up in Orlando.

Coaches are hardest on rookies in all sports. That you don't know that tells a lot about your ignorance of the game. Coaching situations also dictate different strategies towards accountability. Stan Van Gundy didn't pull Hedo when he jacked up ill advised shots or constantly took plays off on the defensive end - meanwhile JJ couldn't make a single mistake...why? because SVG's goal was to win the game and that has priority. Accountability isn't a crisp line - only a fool in life would think that.

I know very well most coaches are harder on rookies but I thought we were trying to win. Taking out our best player because he made 1 mistake and leaving some other guy in even though he has been 10 times worse isn't going to help us win. People make mistakes and learn from them. If you aren't allowed to do that,your improvement is going to be much slower. You also need to be careful because you can kill player's confidence and make him scared to do anything and we have seen that happen to our players.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I mean,there are so many excuses for not letting Mario and AG play. We are trying to win now,when they play well and make 1 mistake people say we have to hold them accountable,some say they are too young,they can't do this or that. It is ridiculous.

One would think they are surrounded with all time greats playing on a contender who just made the NBA finals. We suck and we better stop treating role players like superstars and give AG and Mario an equal chance.

They kept their mouth shut,worked their asses off and improved. They are ready and their time is now. They need consistent minutes and a bigger role. Oladipo and Fournier as top option hasn't bring us a lot of joy. It is time to reduce their roles,especially Dipo's.

[doct3r dr3]

Game #1 of the Skiles-Jennings Orlando era closes with Elfrid (and the finally healthy Watson) on the bench, and guess who in at PG instead...

And we won , what's the problem? We added another shooter that the defense have to respect , all Payton has to do is hit his shots and perform , if Jennings outplays him than he deserves to play !

We were winning when Andrew Nicholson and Tobias Harris were playing over Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja, but folks here seemed to care more about "developing" the "young core"...

Just an observation...

[Mc-o]

I mean,there are so many excuses for not letting Mario and AG play. We are trying to win now,when they play well and make 1 mistake people say we have to hold them accountable,some say they are too young,they can't do this or that. It is ridiculous.

One would think they are surrounded with all time greats playing on a contender who just made the NBA finals. We suck and we better stop treating role players like superstars and give AG and Mario an equal chance.

They kept their mouth shut,worked their asses off and improved. They are ready and their time is now. They need consistent minutes and a bigger role. Oladipo and Fournier as top option hasn't bring us a lot of joy. It is time to reduce their roles,especially Dipo's.

And they are getting their minutes !!! AG is a starter !!! And Mario is one of our main bench players! They are getting equal opputunities !

[Mc-o]

I mean,there are so many excuses for not letting Mario and AG play. We are trying to win now,when they play well and make 1 mistake people say we have to hold them accountable,some say they are too young,they can't do this or that. It is ridiculous.

One would think they are surrounded with all time greats playing on a contender who just made the NBA finals. We suck and we better stop treating role players like superstars and give AG and Mario an equal chance.

They kept their mouth shut,worked their asses off and improved. They are ready and their time is now. They need consistent minutes and a bigger role. Oladipo and Fournier as top option hasn't bring us a lot of joy. It is time to reduce their roles,especially Dipo's.

AG and Mario are both playing ! Stop acting like they are buried on the bench !!! Mario is playing more minutes than he did in Spain ! Stop making things up

[Dennis Reynolds]

They deserve much more.

[MagicStarwipe]

I will say I don't like that Oladipo is becoming a less talented Monte Ellis with better defense. If this is who he is offensively from here on out, then his role does need to be reduced on that end.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I will say I don't like that Oladipo is becoming a less talented Monte Ellis with better defense. If this is who he is offensively from here on out, then his role does need to be reduced on that end.

Totally agree.