Game 22: El Clásico (Orlando vs Oklahoma City, 7:00 PM EST)

[PrimeThyme]

Gordon has to be our number one option from now on. That's also the best game I've seen from Biz.

He needs to be consistently good to be a #1 option even on this team. Minimize the valleys. Spectacular game for him tonight. Still feel he has a long way to go to become a star.

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Maybe on a championship team or playoff contender, but seriously who the heck should be the number one on this team? Fournier or Vuc? We already know the result of those two being number one options. There is absolutely zero reasons for why he shouldn't be the number one option on this team. He is just as qualified as Vuc or Fournier to be the number one and is more talented.

[Mr Magic Fan]

Elf giving Vuc props on D in post game!

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He deserves it. I thought Vuc played solid on D and was decent on the boards. (The team, collectively, were still weak on boards). He hustled well tonight. And on offense he moved the ball well.

That's the kind of Vuc I want to see more of.

Agreed. Vuc is best focusing on rebounding, defense, and setting good screens. Letting the offense come to him as a floor spacer is when he scores efficiently vs running through him.

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[nymets1]

There was about 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and OKC got called for illegal defense? Where's video to show illegal defense? And what is illegal defense?

[Nemesis21]

Last few games, Biz raising what little trade value he has.

[rcklsscognition]

Do you guys actually think Vuc makes the team run the offense through him or are we criticising Vogel through Vuc?

[Audi]

Kudos to AG.

I did not watch this game and only followed the thread. I will watch the highlights when they come out.

However,
If AG got 40 on cuts and easy stuff that normal playoff focused D can tighten up(something an older veteran team likely would give up in a regular season game) then it is a sign that he could just be a system scorer.

He actually got 40 on regular basketball plays and normal shots. Not garbage looks or putbacks or cuts but just normal shots and all but a couple shots unforced and natural within the flow.

Like that play drawn up for him that was a 3 at the top of the arc opening the 4th quarter...was a thing of beauty.

[Mr Magic Fan]

Do you guys actually think Vuc makes the team run the offense through him or are we criticising Vogel through Vuc?

Probably more of a criticism of coaching. But there are times when Vuc goes into post up mode when he's so much better setting good screens and rolling or popping.

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[TBbucmagicORL]

Looks like the Carmelo cancer is infecting OKC


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[Audi]

There was about 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and OKC got called for illegal defense? Where's video to show illegal defense? And what is illegal defense?

Pretty sure that's just another (more old school) term for 3 seconds violation (camping in the paint for 3+ seconds without guarding your man).

[Xatticus]

There was about 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and OKC got called for illegal defense? Where's video to show illegal defense? And what is illegal defense?

It just means someone was standing in the paint for 3 seconds and not defending anyone.

[Optimus_Steel]

One can only hope. Don't forget after AG's 41 against the nets in a win, Evan said we needed to share the ball more.

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He was not wrong, we barely escaped that game due to alot of dribbling. We just came out of a 9 game losing streak where the ball movement was awful.

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When your teammate goes off for a career high, you should give him props. Not **** in his corn flakes.

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That's not what happened. He didn't crap on AG that nite. The Nets were ahead most of that nite mostly resulting from our terrible ball movement. AG kept us closer but our offense was crap for 3+ quarters. When they started moving the ball in the 4th they won it and he correctly pointed that out. I know a lot of people feel that Evan has some beef with AG but I dont see that, when AG makes good plays Evan recognizes him.

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[Bensational]

Do you guys actually think Vuc makes the team run the offense through him or are we criticising Vogel through Vuc?

Probably more of a criticism of coaching. But there are times when Vuc goes into post up mode when he's so much better setting good screens and rolling or popping.

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Vuc never sets good screens. He always slips them.

But these days he slips them and gets open for a 3, which I don’t mind as a shot at all.

I love his passing most of all. I wish he averaged 7 assists a game, because I feel like we win games when he’s hitting others and they’re hitting shots.

[Optimus_Steel]

Looks like the Carmelo cancer is infecting OKC


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Yea idk why they say they have 3 stars. They have 2, Carmelo's lazyness spreads.

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[OrlandO]

What a great way to snap the losing streak.

Gordon had a fantastic game. Aggressive most of the game, yet stayed in control. Didn't force too many jumpers. Made the right passes and got himself a handful of assists to go along with the points. And stayed engaged on D. This is how he should play every night whether he gets 20 shots or 10 shots or anything between.

Vuc was great, too. Passing wizard with 7 assists and 0 turnovers. Was going after blocks and took a lot of shots in the paint. The home court stat keeper must hate him because they gave him credit for 0 blocks when he had 2 or 3. He's been giving more effort on D recently, but tonight he bumped it up a level.

EP looked like march/april EP. That ankle breaker on Westbrook... good lord...

Fournier didn't force too much and had some surprise defensive moments.

Biggest shocker of the game - Biz passed for a big 3 in crunch time. Wish he'd think to pass out more often when he doesn't have the wide open dunk.

Surprised Simmons only took 3 shots in 33 minutes. Trying to learn not to force next to starters?

Afflalo and Mario are both poop.

Wish we could get this all around effort and smart play on a consistent basis. I'm expecting the team to let us down again soon, but I'll enjoy this win tonight.

[nymets1]

But they called illegal defense not 3 seconds. It's not the same thing. Those are 2 different calls. By the way that rule is stupid the 3 seconds in the paint without guarding your man. Pass it to the open guy and make the defense pay. Nobody calls 3 seconds or illegal defense in a pickup game, just traveling, carrying, out of bounds and fouls.

[yoyojw17]

Bold Predictions:

Magic Win Against GS

Isaac returns in time to help the win.


on another note..... hope Ross is OK!

[Bensational]

But they called illegal defense not 3 seconds. It's not the same thing. Those are 2 different calls. By the way that rule is stupid the 3 seconds in the paint without guarding your man. Pass it to the open guy and make the defense pay. Nobody calls 3 seconds or illegal defense in a pickup game, just traveling, carrying, out of bounds and fouls.

Illegal defense is the defensive equivalent of 3 seconds. The reason it's there is to discourage teams from camping someone in the paint who could just block shots all night and stop shots at the rim. With more and more C's shooting 3's these days, though, there's less incentive for teams to do it, anyway.

[Xatticus]

But they called illegal defense not 3 seconds. It's not the same thing. Those are 2 different calls. By the way that rule is stupid the 3 seconds in the paint without guarding your man. Pass it to the open guy and make the defense pay. Nobody calls 3 seconds or illegal defense in a pickup game, just traveling, carrying, out of bounds and fouls.

It is the same thing. It used to be different when the illegal defense rule was more complicated. Before it was revamped, illegal defense could be called on anyone that was floating between two offensive players. You had to commit to one or the other, but they simplified it.

Now it simply means that you can't camp in the paint unless you are defending (close to) an offensive player.

[JasonBlanchard]

I hope they realized a couple things tonight.

Gordon needs to get 20 shots a game

Gordon needs to get himself a nice contract extenstion. I hated the pick when we made it, and he hadn't lived up to that selection, but looks like a totally different, very confident player this year. I honestly think he is going to be a real star in this league

[thelead]

I can’t believe we have a top 4 pick at 22, who’s capable of putting up 40 point games and has developed into a good shooter and there are ‘fans’ that still want to minimize his accomplishment and abilities... what the f is going on here?

That said, at least one guy is courageous enough to look blatantly wrong in front of the entire fan base here just to stick to their guns.