Game 27: Afflalo's Kobe Game (Nuggets @ Magic, 7:00 PM EST)

[Rainwater]

I agree that he might not be doing as well here but I think that has to do with culture and opportunity. There is no one for him to fight for the alpha role in Indy.

That said, we would be much better off with Victor than Evan. He had plenty of great games for us. Right now, Indy is a much more attractive situation to free agents than Orlando is when you look at what's going on. That's why it matters.

Was there really an alpha to compete with during his time in Orlando? To this day that role is still up for grabs. Has been the case since Dwight left.

I still think that Turner is the future of that Ind team.

I mean, AG is fighting Evan and Vuc this season... We had Tobias, Dipo, Evan and Vuc fighting for their alpha role... and had AG laying in the weeds waiting for his turn.

Question, if you think that Victor was fighting for the Alpha position with Evan and Vuc when he first got here, how do you know that would change with a Vuc, Evan, and now AG if Victor had remained?

I really do believe a change was needed for all parties. That is just how it goes sometimes.

[Bensational]

Nuggets were -22 and -14 the previous games in the paint... +16 tonight.

Why can't we play defense under Vogel? And this was a game where we played good defense in the first half.

How many years in a row will we have to watch weak defense and not think to change the one constant that’s been a part of all those poor defensive teams?

I thought we’d turned a corner on that front last year. And now we’re still ‘evaluating’.

Meanwhile, Vuc is about to become an expiring at the end of the season. Are we expecting that to be his true value as a trade piece?

You mean the whole team? Because none of them play an iota of defense except Isaac and Simmons.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Ross plays great defense, too. And AA. Gordon can, but he’s become disappointingly lazy on that end this season.

Vuc is the main holdover through all those teams, though. Payton is also another main proponent.

Vuc actually played great defense in the 1st half against the Nugz. But same with Elf’s inconsistency, I think we’re all aware of Vuc’s defensive inconsistencies. I don’t trust he’ll ever be a good full time defensive player on this team.

With Elf, I kinda feel the same. I don’t have faith that he’ll motivate himself to play hard every night. And whatever the defensive strategy has been for him and Vuc to defend PnRs hasn’t worked yet for us, but neither seem to be making a great effort to change that.

The only guy who I think might be able to help EP out is Isaac, if he played C. I’d be interested to try that before the deadline, but I doubt we’ll see it.

[PennytoShaq]

I don't think this team is great by any means, but my god, we have been plagued with injury. I don't think I can remember anything like this.