Game 59: Magic (21-37) vs Blazers (23-33) 2/23 7PM ET TERRENCE ROSS DAY

[crazytown]

The tank is strong for Dennis Smith Jr.

Him or Fultz and this pathetic season would be all worth it

[zuppafly]

I never liked the idea of tanking, it sets a bad precedent and culture.

But I'm all for it if it means we get a future guard star in this draft in Fultz, DSmith or Lonzo.

[zelenooq]

i am not that pleased with mario
yes,his shooting was excellent but i want at least 5-10 rim attacks to get at least 4-6 ft's
then i will be pleased with his offense
not just shooting

[shadrock]

I honestly think Ross is a better passer than Elfrid.

[drsd]

Mario should play at least 20 minutes tonight.

Hezonja had a strong game. Playing the end of the 1st and 3rd into the early 2nd and 4th, he played within himself and helped the team on both ends of the court. Continued play like this will help his case to be a regular rotational player!


..

[drsd]

If tonight's game is anything to go by, Vogel has found his big 3 in Vuc, Fournier and Ross. We can likely expect the offense to run through them to close out the season.

Being able to run offesnive sets through three players will help this team. Gordon can focus on picks and offensive rebounding. And Pyton can simplify his game. I like this starting five .

[pepe1991]

Vučević was awful on defense, no much effort, allowed Nurkić to work down low.
Gordon at PF gives you offensive rebounds and putbacks. And at PF he doesn't shoot that much 3s, and that's good thing,he simply can't shoot ( 28% for career,same percentage as this year ).
Mario had good game, he shows much more energy in general and plays better defense.
Payton should attack rim more, and pass more.
Jeff Green actually had good game. And he wasn't usual self- dead body on defense.

There are much worst ways to lose game than getting runned over by Lillard.

Hope Ross gets more catch and shoot looks, less shots where he tries to create for himself. Look to be better passer than Toronto days would tell us.
Evan got his.

[Skybox]

My view from the 9th row...

Nurkic is a straight up hockey goon...he really got under Vuc's skin, but I liked Vuc's fight. I was very surprised to see Vuc's box score. He seemed really (unusually) inefficient-he's the one guy you expect to make each shot. He was no robot though, pissed off and continuing to fight.

So many games this year, Hezonja looked like a fan who wandered on the court. He was part of the game last night. Long way to go, but contributing...success can breed success with him-keep shooting!

Payton (I've always been a supporter) and DJ are woeful. I would've preferred a gimpy Reggie Jackson. I don't know why EP doesn't push with the gazelles he's now paired with. A guy who can't shoot has no business walking it up and setting up the half court O. I don't know what's in his head. Is the game plan not suited to his strengths. At this point, I turn it over to him and let him sink or swim. I'm not as hopeful as I've been about Elf.

Biz, I thought, looked good. He had two sweet blocks that were negated by fouls on the floor (by others). He was engaged on both ends, setting hard picks, etc. I think he can really contribute when this team runs and guns. I'm not inviting a contract value debate, thanks.

Ross...I love it. Creating his own shots, not afraid to take big ones. Fighting on D. Couple of great passes. In the 4th, when they fell apart-he, to me, looked like the one still fighting. I was surprised to read his box score (opposite of Vuc). I'm excited. I guess the knock historically is that he brings it every other game. We'll see.

Gordon figuring out PF. Some real nice interaction with Ross. Wish he would levitate around the rim more instead of the perimeter. Still too much Jeff Green. I don't hate him - I just want less of him.

CJ Mcollum can finish around the rim like a superstar. Lillard is a badass! Seemed quiet all game then took over when it mattered. Draining 26 footers with swagger. All of sudden has 31.

I guess it's a good game. Some positives, but a loss on the books.

[BadMofoPimp]

Ross may have missed his shots, but he proved he can create his own shots. He just needs consistency. Time will help as he gets acclimated. He is going to be very good here.

[Nemesis21]

Fire Hennigan

You must be salty, that your boy Nicholson was traded to the Nets.

[BlueMagician]

Ross showed some tremendous energy out there last night, but I am hoping it wasn't all just because he had some extra adreneline being on a new team. I will give him a pass for the shooting line he posted because of that. He seemed to force a lot of shots, which again, may just be the extra energy he had. I can definitely see Ross leading this team in scoring the rest of the year if he plays the way he did last night. He was exciting to watch, which is something we have been missing all year.

[magic321]

My view from the 9th row...

Nurkic is a straight up hockey goon...he really got under Vuc's skin, but I liked Vuc's fight. I was very surprised to see Vuc's box score. He seemed really (unusually) inefficient-he's the one guy you expect to make each shot. He was no robot though, pissed off and continuing to fight.

So many games this year, Hezonja looked like a fan who wandered on the court. He was part of the game last night. Long way to go, but contributing...success can breed success with him-keep shooting!

Payton (I've always been a supporter) and DJ are woeful. I would've preferred a gimpy Reggie Jackson. I don't know why EP doesn't push with the gazelles he's now paired with. A guy who can't shoot has no business walking it up and setting up the half court O. I don't know what's in his head. Is the game plan not suited to his strengths. At this point, I turn it over to him and let him sink or swim. I'm not as hopeful as I've been about Elf.

Biz, I thought, looked good. He had two sweet blocks that were negated by fouls on the floor (by others). He was engaged on both ends, setting hard picks, etc. I think he can really contribute when this team runs and guns. I'm not inviting a contract value debate, thanks.

Ross...I love it. Creating his own shots, not afraid to take big ones. Fighting on D. Couple of great passes. In the 4th, when they fell apart-he, to me, looked like the one still fighting. I was surprised to read his box score (opposite of Vuc). I'm excited. I guess the knock historically is that he brings it every other game. We'll see.

Gordon figuring out PF. Some real nice interaction with Ross. Wish he would levitate around the rim more instead of the perimeter. Still too much Jeff Green. I don't hate him - I just want less of him.

CJ Mcollum can finish around the rim like a superstar. Lillard is a badass! Seemed quiet all game then took over when it mattered. Draining 26 footers with swagger. All of sudden has 31.

I guess it's a good game. Some positives, but a loss on the books.

Thanks for the perspective! That vibe I got from my living room.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[The Real Dalic]

I can't watch the Magic because then I really get mad just because I can't watch and cheer for a loss. I do better with the losses without watching but I wanna watch because of Ross and AG at the 4. Idk what to do.

[Blue_and_Whte]

My view from the 9th row...

Nurkic is a straight up hockey goon...he really got under Vuc's skin, but I liked Vuc's fight. I was very surprised to see Vuc's box score. He seemed really (unusually) inefficient-he's the one guy you expect to make each shot. He was no robot though, pissed off and continuing to fight.

What? "Soft" Vucevic getting pissed off and fighting? You don't say?

So many games this year, Hezonja looked like a fan who wandered on the court. He was part of the game last night. Long way to go, but contributing...success can breed success with him-keep shooting!

I'm ready for Vogel to give him all the minutes he can handle. I knock him around a lot but I don't believe he's regressed.

Payton (I've always been a supporter) and DJ are woeful. I would've preferred a gimpy Reggie Jackson. I don't know why EP doesn't push with the gazelles he's now paired with. A guy who can't shoot has no business walking it up and setting up the half court O. I don't know what's in his head. Is the game plan not suited to his strengths. At this point, I turn it over to him and let him sink or swim. I'm not as hopeful as I've been about Elf.

I know he started this game but that's now 3 coaches who have benched him. Twice this season. He walks the ball up the court because he's inconsistent and not always engaged. Along with Henny, I think his tenure here may be coming to an end. Its just way too important that a team has a PG that can consistently shoot, not for the sake of being able to make a three, but because it spaces the floor, allows for better PnR action and if they commit to Biyombo and AG it would just be a better fit.

Biz, I thought, looked good. He had two sweet blocks that were negated by fouls on the floor (by others). He was engaged on both ends, setting hard picks, etc. I think he can really contribute when this team runs and guns. I'm not inviting a contract value debate, thanks.

Biz doesn't fit on this team as a big minute guy as currently constructed. We need elite perimeter talent in order to tolerate someone who brings nothing on offense.

Ross...I love it. Creating his own shots, not afraid to take big ones. Fighting on D. Couple of great passes. In the 4th, when they fell apart-he, to me, looked like the one still fighting. I was surprised to read his box score (opposite of Vuc). I'm excited. I guess the knock historically is that he brings it every other game. We'll see.

I was really impressed with Ross as well. I remember him being a good, engaged defender, and obviously a good shooter but I didn't realize he had that type of court vision. I'm really impressed with him.

Gordon figuring out PF. Some real nice interaction with Ross. Wish he would levitate around the rim more instead of the perimeter. Still too much Jeff Green. I don't hate him - I just want less of him.

I think eventually we will as we lose more and more games. I could see him being waived at some point.

CJ Mcollum can finish around the rim like a superstar. Lillard is a badass! Seemed quiet all game then took over when it mattered. Draining 26 footers with swagger. All of sudden has 31.

I guess it's a good game. Some positives, but a loss on the books.

I wish we had a PG like Lillard. Maybe DSJ if we get a high enough pick.

[Skybox]

What does the green print mean? I'm sure I'm missing something...

My big take from last night...Having a Lillard-like threat with the ball in his hands is clearly an awesome advantage. The defense is immediately and constantly on their heels, waiting for the explosion. Everyone else on his team is at a huge advantage (than they would be without him) whether it be for open shots, open lanes, open rebounds and tip ins, etc...He so clearly illustrates the new NBA (Kemba Walker, John Wall, Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas, etc)....I'm so leery of the draft, in general, but it's so clear now that this is the way to go...the fallback is a second tier version (Bledsoe, Reggie Jackson, Jrue)...eye opening to me. Lillard would make Fournier, Ross, Biz, Gordon all markedly better than any other kind of position upgrade. We need to find our Lillard.

[Veyron]

This fking DJ Augsting is killing me, such a fking ballhoger selfish prick.

This team have too much ball stoppers.

[magicfan4life88]

I'm sure it's been discussed but I don't feel like going through 30+pages, but take aways from last night's game? We played better as a team then we had in a while, we shot poorly the whole game yet lead most of it before we ran out of gas, Terrence Ross is a play maker, he had what one assist, but 5 or 6 other very nice passes that lead to free-throw line trips, that's another thing, we shot poorly from free-throw too, the whole team shot poorly Ross included, but there are positive take aways from last night's game, the ball needs to be in Ross's hands more then Fournier's simply because he makes plays, ep4 definitely needs to be replaced with our draft pick, Mario looked real good in the first but hardly touched the ball in the second, if we some how make the playoffs I won't be mad cuz it means this team has promise, and we can add to that, but I want a top pick so I want us to compete bit lose, we need Fultz or Ball, unless Dennis Smith Jr is the next Chris Paul or Isaiah Thomas I want nothing to do with a tiny PG

[magicfan4life88]

This fking DJ Augsting is killing me, such a fking ballhoger selfish prick.

This team have too much ball stoppers.

Yes we need him gone next year

[j-ragg]

Nurkic is a straight up hockey goon...he really got under Vuc's skin, but I liked Vuc's fight. I was very surprised to see Vuc's box score. He seemed really (unusually) inefficient-he's the one guy you expect to make each shot. He was no robot though, pissed off and continuing to fight.

Vuc has been pretty bad on offense all year and hasn't been efficient really at all.

Defensively he's been fine to his credit, but offensively it's kind of a joke how much he continues to get the ball almost every play.

[BadMofoPimp]

Nurkic is a straight up hockey goon...he really got under Vuc's skin, but I liked Vuc's fight. I was very surprised to see Vuc's box score. He seemed really (unusually) inefficient-he's the one guy you expect to make each shot. He was no robot though, pissed off and continuing to fight.

Vuc has been pretty bad on offense all year and hasn't been efficient really at all.

Defensively he's been fine to his credit, but offensively it's kind of a joke how much he continues to get the ball almost every play.

I reckon going 25/9 is a complete joke considering nobody else on the team could score.