Regular Season Game 26: Indiana Pacers (14-10) at Orlando Magic (12-13)

[OrlandO]

I wonder what Cliff is afraid of when it comes to benching Simmons. It's not like he's having ups and downs... he's been consistently performing like he's playing with a broken hand. 6.8 ppg on 7.3 fga. 32 fg%. 21% 3pt%. He is obviously not right this year. He's got the WORST fg% and 3pt% of anyone in the league who's played at least 400 minutes (still bottom 8 in both stats among players with at least 100 mins). We are talking about being ranked 414 out of 414 in scoring/shooting among players that get consistent minutes. You cannot start somebody like this unless maybe they're a DPOY candidate.

[ChosenSavior]

Cliff said the only people who were trying hard on defense this game were Evan Fournier & Jonathon Simmons



Isaac and Gordon were the only ones even showing a pulse on that end imo.

I'm totally assuming here but I think he singled those two out because both of those guys are low confidence players especially Evan. Both of them are starting to press as their season from an individual standpoint continues to be a nightmare.

Coach has to do what he can to instill some positive reinforcement while they still remain on the roster. That's my take on it as calling them out on their horrid play would only make things worse.

[rcklsscognition]

I wonder what Cliff is afraid of when it comes to benching Simmons. It's not like he's having ups and downs... he's been consistently performing like he's playing with a broken hand. 6.8 ppg on 7.3 fga. 32 fg%. 21% 3pt%. He is obviously not right this year. He's got the WORST fg% and 3pt% of anyone in the league who's played at least 400 minutes (still bottom 8 in both stats among players with at least 100 mins). We are talking about being ranked 414 out of 414 in scoring/shooting among players that get consistent minutes. You cannot start somebody like this unless maybe they're a DPOY candidate.

I thought back when they decided to start him it had to have been for trade bait. I thought he had been 3rd stringed right before it happened and I still don't understand why they would screw around with what was working. Maybe someone was out a game and they had to, but he needs to put Simms back out of the rotation.

[Furinkazan]

Cliff said the only people who were trying hard on defense this game were Evan Fournier & Jonathon Simmons



Isaac and Gordon were the only ones even showing a pulse on that end imo.

he forgot to add green font

[OrlandO]

I wonder what Cliff is afraid of when it comes to benching Simmons. It's not like he's having ups and downs... he's been consistently performing like he's playing with a broken hand. 6.8 ppg on 7.3 fga. 32 fg%. 21% 3pt%. He is obviously not right this year. He's got the WORST fg% and 3pt% of anyone in the league who's played at least 400 minutes (still bottom 8 in both stats among players with at least 100 mins). We are talking about being ranked 414 out of 414 in scoring/shooting among players that get consistent minutes. You cannot start somebody like this unless maybe they're a DPOY candidate.

I thought back when they decided to start him it had to have been for trade bait. I thought he had been 3rd stringed right before it happened and I still don't understand why they would screw around with what was working. Maybe someone was out a game and they had to, but he needs to put Simms back out of the rotation.

He was out of the rotation for like a game and we got blown out by the nuggets... then suddenly he's starting a couple games later. Nobody was out... he just replaced Iwundu in the lineup.

[Optimus_Steel]

Ugly effort all around.

We'll see how they respond these next few games.

This game and several others this year have unfortunately reinforced the idea that the Magic are not a particularly tough basketball team and really struggled with physical play.

Cupcake team like every year. Same crap in December. They lose a couple of tough ones and they snowball it. Bunch of softminded losers. Saw a bunch selfish, who cares I'm getting mine play.

Idk if I've ever seen someone jump from one end of the spectrum to the other as fast as you do lol. One day you like what you're seeing from everyone and what the coach is doing and then the next day everyone on the team are the worst soft-minded losers you've ever seen.

I actually find it humorous, but I feel like being more level-headed might benefit you. They aren't as bad as we saw tonight and they aren't as good as we've seen other nights. They will finish somewhere in the middle and most likely win 35-40 games this year.

Its frustration of seeing this team revert back to losing habits of the past 6 years. I'm frustrated of seeing meaningless, uninteresting games for 6+ years now. I want to see good meaningful basketball, its been tough to watch this team for years. And it always seems to happen at this time of the year so you get that sense that it can happen again at any moment. Until they prove otherwise you have to think that most likely they will revert back unless they develop the toughness to overcome adversity and fatigue. We shall see how this team has reacted by Jan 1.

And Cliff is doing a great job but he is limited with what he has to work with and these guys have a bad track record.