Game 60: Atlanta Hawks (32-25) @ Orlando Magic (21-38) - 7:00 PM ET

[Last Guardian]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

[Optimus_Steel]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

I wonder too was Ibaka such a bad influence in this team? Did players not like him? Feels like a rain cloud has been lifted. Now the small, quick lineup helps but seems there were deeper issues.

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

[Blue_and_Whte]

That's true. Well it was good to see Payton, ag and Nik play well along with Ross. PAyton seems to play well against his buddy Schroeder. Fournier had a bad game but I though he played good defense so he wasn't giving anything up, he'll bounce back. That Ross Fournier combo can be good. Biyombo can't guard big centers people keep looking for positives to justify his contract but it's just not there. He had some good blocks but Nik is so much better than him.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I think your the only one on this board that still defends Skiles boyz aka Fournier. Sorry but the team looked sooooooo much better when he just doesn't touch the ball and plays off ball. Terrence Ross is a much better fit at that SG. I expect him to be moved unless he wants to be our 6th man.

I love Fournier and defend him as well. He's been one of our best players for sure. I do not want us to trade him unless we get a decent pick or an allstar.

Skiles boyz? You're just trying to associate something negative to Fournier despite its irrelevance to this discussion. Skiles has no correlation to Fournier outside of coaching him.

He was here before Skiles who btw is one of two coaches that put the ball in Fourniers' hands, so there's no need for me to "defend" him. I'm also clearly not the only one who understands the position he was put in. You're obviously completely over exaggerating by saying he shouldn't touch the ball at all. That would be a idiotic decision on the part of Vogel considering Evan is one of our best scorers and not a likely scenario.

That said I actually like the idea of playing him more off the ball now that we've added another competent scorer along with a decent passer at PG. I don't think he's at his best dominating the ball because, while He was put into a position of being a primary ball handler and scorer, I don't think he's equipped to do that full time imo. That puts the ball in Paytons and Ross's hands and allows Evan for more catch and shoot situations while being able to create when he needs to.

I simply stated something about this particular game that was 100% fact, and that was that while Fournier wasn't shooting the ball well, he played good team defense and didn't get burned. Not sure why you're getting so offended by that considering it would be something Payton fans would gladly hang their hats on, which of course would be "ok".

If Vogel is the GOAT coach everyone was making him out to be, he can figure out how Ross and Evan can augment each other. Payton usually plays well when one or two other guys are also shooting the ball well which was the case here with Ross, Nik, and AG scoring for us. While I want us to lose games, I could see one or two of Evan , Ross, or Nik having a good scoring nights and someone who's not a strong scorer, Like Payton and AG, taking advantage of the attention.

I love Fournier and defend him as well. He's been one of our best players for sure. I do not want us to trade him unless we get a decent pick or an allstar.

I don't think you can get an All Star or even a top pick in this draft for just Fournier. If they can package him with someone else for a nice return which clearly represents an upgrade for us then Im all for it. As of right now though he can clearly and easily play SG next to Ross and I'd rather we stop giving away young talented players for nothing. I think as a whole this roster is being re-evaluated so its best not to get attached to any one player imo.

[The Other Ankle]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

It's good to see them playing loose and with energy. But I'm sure they'll also take it "cautiously" with any minor injuries and let Mario and maybe Zim show what they have for the remainder of the season. It's a delicate balance between progress/chemistry and draft position. But I think we can look better and compete while still losing plenty of games.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I hate the showboating behind the back Mario passes. They never work out. That isn't always his fault but it just doesn't look good when so much of his game needs so much work. Stick to the fundamentals. Don't worry about being flashy.

Don't worry, I'm sure his teammates will stage an intervention and take care of those attitude issues.

Love your sig bro...

thx

[PrimeThyme]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

I wonder too was Ibaka such a bad influence in this team? Did players not like him? Feels like a rain cloud has been lifted. Now the small, quick lineup helps but seems there were deeper issues.

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

I think that's a part of it but the biggest part is getting to go smaller and having so much more shooting and spacing on the floor. Every position is a threat to shoot it now. AG is creating mismatches at the PF with his quickness and we are now able to get out on the fast break and get easy buckets. The offense is just coming so much easier.

[Mc-o]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

I wonder too was Ibaka such a bad influence in this team? Did players not like him? Feels like a rain cloud has been lifted. Now the small, quick lineup helps but seems there were deeper issues.

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

imo Ibaka never wanted to be here and none of the guys were thrilled with him being here because it pushed everyone into roles they were not comfortable with except for Ibaka .

[SD2042]

Given the reason why the Ibaka trade from last summer shouldn't have happened. At least now the situation has been resolved and the Magic got a better player in Ross and a pick out of the deal.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[woosah]

What?? Dwight is definitely not a hall of famer cmon now what was really accomplished here or anywhere by him? A slam dunk contest title?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using RealGM mobile app

Are you kidding me? 3 time DPOTY, ton of all defensive teams, ton of all NBA teams, ton of all star selections. Basketball reference has his hall of fame probability at 99%. He's a lock.

I hate Dwight as much as anybody but he's a lock for the HOF. He has all those accolades to go along with being the all time scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking leader in Orlando Magic history. He was also included in a recent all time 50 greatest player list. He's a lock.

It's easy to forget his greatness because of the dwightmare and everything that he's done in his career since then but at one time he was no doubt a very great and dominant player.

Really top 50? That is surprising. If Yao made it then i guess Dwight should. *shrug*

He does need to get over people having things to say about him. It is what it is.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Got a chance to watch the game last night. Not sure what the deal with Ibaka was, but all of a sudden we look competitive without him? Was he just a jerk or something and no one wanted to play with him? Well whatever the case is, it is nice to see this team playing with some fire.

The defense was good, but the passing is really standing out. Everyone except Fournier is a willing passer. Got to love the way they are playing.

As for Ross, he looks pretty deadly out there. To be honest, I’m not sure how this bodes well for the draft. We might be winning some games.

I wonder too was Ibaka such a bad influence in this team? Did players not like him? Feels like a rain cloud has been lifted. Now the small, quick lineup helps but seems there were deeper issues.

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

I think that's a part of it but the biggest part is getting to go smaller and having so much more shooting and spacing on the floor. Every position is a threat to shoot it now. AG is creating mismatches at the PF with his quickness and we are now able to get out on the fast break and get easy buckets. The offense is just coming so much easier.

We have shooting at the 2,3, and 5


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[BadMofoPimp]

Cool, I'm looking forward to 35 wins for the next 5 years.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

It is about building a Winning Culture as opposed to a losing culture.

How did that silly winning culture thing work out last year. We got rid of half the team and got a crap pick that we traded. Woulda been much better off losing and drafting a guy like Jamar Murray.

Tanking fails to build contenders 9 times out of 10.

Smart GM's who draft well, make smart trades, lure Free Agents and DEVELOP players and a winning culture are what contends.

And, there is only (1) or (2) Lebron's/Shaq's/Curry's/Durants every 10 years, so tanking NEVER guarantee's we get lucky and WIN one because we tank for 5 years in a row.

But, building a winning culture lures free agents and builds potential all-stars out of your players both in confidence and ability.

Praying to get lucky enough to win elite talent is the worst type of GM.

[BadMofoPimp]

Given the reason why the Ibaka trade from last summer shouldn't have happened. At least now the situation has been resolved and the Magic got a better player in Ross and a pick out of the deal.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Imagine how much more the Magic could have gotten for Dipo/11th Pick/Illy!!!

Maybe, gotten Ross their Pick and even more in a 3 team trade!

[npiper17]

It's not on Frank. He said he would have played Gordon at PF at the beginning of the season if Ibaka was not here.

I disagree. If Frank felt so strongly about it then he should have found a way to get Aaron more minutes at the 4. Bench Biz or Vuc if necessary. If he honestly felt it was holding the team back (and it clearly was) then he should have done something about it.

Side note: in the big picture I feel this team needs a star to build around so I'm quite happy with losing.

Its not that easy to just bench guys. These are people, not robots. I think we all saw how Vuc reacted to it.Plus with Gordon playing so inconsistently, how do you justify that benching to the team? That's how people lose a locker room. The way this went is the best way. The players are happy now and enjoying themselves. This could easily have gone south with Vogel losing the locker room if things were mismanaged.

Because ultimately if it's better for the team (which would therefore produce more wins), it's a lot easier to tell a player they're either not playing or will play less.

I agree you have to manage the locker room carefully but having a locker room that 'believes' in you as a coach but loses is less preferable than having a locker room where one or two guys don't believe in the coach but they win. Stan in his Orlando years is a good example of this.

[SD2042]

Given the reason why the Ibaka trade from last summer shouldn't have happened. At least now the situation has been resolved and the Magic got a better player in Ross and a pick out of the deal.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Imagine how much more the Magic could have gotten for Dipo/11th Pick/Illy!!!

Maybe, gotten Ross their Pick and even more in a 3 team trade!

Anything could've been possible around the time of draft or perhaps this past trade deadline. Could've gotten more for their buck. At this point, just be thxful for getting back any value back at all and hope for the best.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app