How Would You Grade Our New Coach Through Our 1st 24 Games?

OrlandoSaban · Post #1 » by **OrlandoSaban** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:22 pm

So far, I am very impressed with Coach. I think I see a LOT more fire in their bellies this year then I have seen in a very long time. I don't have time to write much more about my thoughts at this time... Trying to get out of the office.

I think I give him a good solid B+

He is trying very hard to develop Mo Bamba but he is also trying to win games. That is very encouraging.

Magic4champ · Post #2 » by **Magic4champ** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:40 pm

He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He push AG and Vuc to maximize their individual strengths

EAS Law · Post #3 » by **EAS Law** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:40 pm

I gave him an A+.

Considering the lack of success we’ve had in recent years, he has been able to take a team that most wrote off as talentless and mold the tangible and intangible characteristics of our most important players in a positive direction. AG, Vuc, JI all look like they’re playing within a winning mindset and their production has improved enough for us to be a competitive team almost every night.

I don’t see any games thus far that we’ve lost due to poor coaching or bad coaching decisions. Can’t ask for more from Cliff.

OrlandoSaban · Post #4 » by **OrlandoSaban** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:45 pm

I just love watching his interviews and Press Conferences. He is very knowledgeable and very easy going

yoyojw17 · Post #5 » by **yoyojw17** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:59 pm

I went with A+... he came in... and took pretty much the same players from last year that was in the lottery and reprogrammed them and i making them take strides mentally and on the court. that group has played one of the toughest beginning schedule... had many close games against great teams, won some games against great teams.... and are now at .500. The brain wash isn't over.... as you are seeing the players mature game to game. And we still haven't had the fournier of old... bamba is working his was to being a factor... and augustin is solid but once in a while does his best "mighty mouse" impression.

He also made haters into believers..... sooooo..... A+ it is!!

Driguez · Post #6 » by **Driguez** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 11:46 pm

He's been solid. Such a pleasant surprise.

Xatticus · Post #7 » by **Xatticus** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 12:10 am

A-

I'm largely happy with what he has done. He isn't afraid to tinker with lineups and he values and rewards effort. I like that he rides the players that are playing well on a given night. He has Ross and Vucevic playing better than they ever have at any point in their respective careers. I like that he is sticking with Bamba in the rotation despite his struggles.

He hasn't figured out what Fournier can and can't do. Fournier has had carte blanche on the offensive end the last few years and he seems to think of himself as something far more than a catch-and-shoot specialist. That hasn't changed this year and he has been nothing short of a disaster.

MagicStarwipe · Post #8 » by **MagicStarwipe** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 7:44 am

B+

There's always room for improvement and Vogel/Skiles/Vaughn isn't exactly a hard act to follow. But I've been very pleased with him so far.

pepe1991 · Post #9 » by **pepe1991** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 7:49 am

I gave him A -

some minor complains about rotations but it's hard to rotate players when you have like 3 good players and 6 below average ones. 2-3 of them being pathetic.

orlando1214 · Post #10 » by **orlando1214** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 8:47 am

I went with a B+.

Overall, I'm very happy with Cliff and he has definitely exceeded my expectations in many ways. He's done wonders with Ross and Vuc, and generally, he just understands his player's strengths and weaknesses. He has the players playing very hard and smart every game. He's done well with adjustments, especially at halftime. Remember dreading 3rd quarters under Vogel because they always seem to play terribly no matter what the score was? I don't feel that way with Clifford. Really though, to take a team that has struggled so much the past several years and has them playing to the point where I feel like the playoffs are a real possibility, that takes some very good coaching.

I think my only real complaint is with Fournier and Simmons. Both are given a long leash and freedom to do whatever they want. Obviously, there isn't much talent to replace them with, so it's hard to yank them, but there have been some games where they have really hurt this team because they are allowed to do whatever. I can definitely think of a handful of games where either one of them went into selfish mode when they were up and cost the Magic the lead. So that's the thing I would like to see cleaned up some as the season goes along.

Also, not a negative at this time, but a big part of my final season grade for Clifford will depend on how he develops Mo. It's hard to blame Clifford right now because Mo is so raw in so many ways, so he's going to struggle at times. I hope to see by the end of the season though, Mo becoming more comfortable and figuring out things that work offensively, and being smarter defensively. I think Mo is a several year project, but I hope Clifford can get him to the point where he looks comfortable and confident out there on both ends of the floor and he can do more than just the occasional block and 3 pointer.

fendilim · Post #11 » by **fendilim** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 10:04 am

I'll say B+, I expected us to have 0 loss.

Seriously though, I like it. Reminds me too much of SVG. Honest, straight to the point and holds everybody accountable. He plays everybody to their strength. And I think this is a mark of a great coach, because he doesn't force somebody to play a role they are not capable of playing. LIke Frank when he used Gordon as a playmaker, that was stupid.

Just look at Vucevic now, who knew he was this good of a passer? We know the guy can score, but did we know he can pass? No coach has maximized this. Clifford has also managed to mask Vuc' deficiencies on the defensive end, and has made schemes to cover those weaknesses.

Gordon being a catch and shoot, cutter type of guy fits really well to his game. He isn't a guy who can create, and its refreshing to our coach recognize this.

We've seen less DJ Augustin ISO plays, and better offensive schemes setting up open shots.

What I like most, which I think has been overlooked at, is how good of a coach Clifford is coming off timeouts. We usually end up with open shots, and he uses a lot of misdirections on those plays which is really nice and makes the opponents second guess.

Post #12 » by **Knightro** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 1:37 pm

A-

Most of my quibbles with Clifford are things he doesn't have a whole lot of control over. He has leaned on Fournier, Simmons and Grant much too hard, but there's no real in house options better than them, so I don't think he has too much of a choice.

His ATO plays have been excellent. He's installed an offense with a TON of off ball movement and it's unlocked so many cutters and wide open jumpers off curls and pin downs.

The most surprising thing to me is that one of Clifford's main pillars of coaching, defensive rebounding, has actually not been very good this year compared to his Hornets teams.

JBSouthpaw · Post #13 » by **JBSouthpaw** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 4:13 pm

Gave the B+, feel guilty not giving an A. BUT, he was here during the off-season, and gets a bit of the knock on the roster of PGs and Bench players.

(Management would Get a C- from me)
Negatives for PGs
Positives for Roster $$ trades and draft

Mauro Pedrosa · Post #14 » by **Mauro Pedrosa** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 6:43 pm

A+, after a shaky start

VFX · Post #15 » by **VFX** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 6:50 pm

B+

He’s done his job as a coach and has gotten everyone to buy into winning. I’m deducting a grade for not implementing Bamba and Isaac more, not moving Ross to the starting lineup over Fournier, and having Isaac come off the bench for Simmons and Iwundu. Maybe that says more about Isaac being a PF only. Who knows.

Cliff has done his job with this lukewarm roster off of big games from Ross, Vuc, and the occasional AG. Even though I disagree with the hire, because this team isn’t done rebuilding, he’s done what he was hired to do.

Max Power · Post #16 » by **Max Power** » Fri Dec 7, 2018 12:43 am

I’d give Coach Clifford a B, and only because the Magic still have a losing record. If they beat Denver last night it’s an A. He’s managing to develop Bamba while Vuc is playing the best ball of his career, getting great production from guys like Ross and Augustine and has this team playing with guys.

My only real criticism is more towards the player than coach and that is shot selection. Specifically guys like Gordon, Fournier, Ross and Simmons. Despite having 24 points last night, Fourniers shot selection needs to get him benched. I’m incredibly sick of his 27 foot 3 pointers. I think this team is better without him on the floor. Ross is becoming indispensable for this team. If Clifford could get Gordon’s ball domination out of him I believe this team can make a serious challenge for a playoff spot. But Clifford has been a great hire thus far. The improvement even at sub .500 is significant

Post #17 » by **SOUL** » Fri Dec 7, 2018 1:24 am

B+

I like the rotations most nights, I realize no coach will be perfect in this area. I like his demeanor and honesty and what he demands out of our players. I think he's still a little stubborn with certain players/lineups, but it's his first year here.

We can't keep getting away with Simmons in the starting lineup though.

PrimeThyme · Post #18 » by **PrimeThyme** » Fri Dec 7, 2018 5:27 am

yoyojw17 wrote:I went with A+... he came in... and took pretty much the same players from last year that was in the lottery and reprogrammed them and i making them take strides mentally and on the court. that group has played one of the toughest beginning schedule... had many close games against great teams, won some games against great teams.... and are now at .500. The brain wash isn't over.... as you are seeing the players mature game to game. And we still haven't had the fournier of old... bamba is working his was to being a factor... and augustin is solid but once in a while does his best "mighty mouse" impression.

He also made haters into believers..... sooooo..... A+ it is!!

I wouldn't consider myself a hater and I was critical of the hire. There were a lot of reasons to believe that a recently fired win-now coach with a below .500 record for his career might not be the best hire for us after Vogel. I think there are other people that held that position that aren't "haters" either.

At the end of the day, he has come in here (so far) and changed the culture and is truly getting the best out of the players on this roster. The rotations have been shaky at times, but the good has by far outweighed the bad. I'll never care about being wrong when it comes to the success of this team because at the end of the day, I want to see this franchise succeed again.

drsd · Post #19 » by **drsd** » Fri Dec 7, 2018 7:57 pm

Well B+ wins and a A- average is obvious.

I guess we Magic fans are happy with the upgrade to mediocrity. I AM HAPPY THE MAGIC BECOMES MEDIOCRE.

This is the first step all teams must take to stop being bad. It is ultra rare for a sub-30 win season to a 50-win season. I know of only one: the Spurs the year the Admiral went down to injury and the team brought him back the next year with a bonus of Duncan's rookie year.

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drsd · Post #20 » by **drsd** » Fri Dec 7, 2018 7:59 pm

[list=][/list]Well B+ wins and a A- average is obvious.

I guess we Magic fans are happy with the upgrade to mediocrity. I AM HAPPY THE MAGIC BECOMES MEDIOCRE.

This is the first step all teams must take to stop being bad. It is ultra rare for a sub-30 win season to a 50-win season. I know of only one: the Spurs the year the Admiral went down to injury and the team brought him back the next year with a bonus of Duncan's rookie year.

..