Regular Season Game 62: Orlando Magic (28-33) at New York Knicks (12-48)

[VFX]

Issac and Bamba will be better for sure. But niether of their ceilings are the star player we need. Fultz is a wild card and Im not depending on that at all. Im not expecting anything, so anything he does is a bonus. So to me next year if we keep this roster in tact its gonna be about the same. A boarderline playoff team. Meanng our only hope to get to another level is to either get extremelly lucky in the draft or find the cure for Yips. I dont love those odds.

This is how I see it as well.

It all depends on how much you believe in the what the Magic have done since they settled on this current rotation.

They've played like a legitimate playoff team, not a borderline playoff since pretty much mid January. That's a good 20+ game sample size.

Now granted, they've been pretty healthy this whole year, but if you believe the Magic (going off what this current rotation has accomplished) could be a... 42 or 43 win team over the course of an entire season, then basically you're throwing whatever you can get out of Fultz and Bamba right on top of that.

So who knows?

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

[KillMonger]

Game last night really shows why we need an Alpha, true stars take over the game when things are getting out of hand like that. Maybe lottery-like odds but i'm praying fultz can be that, if Fultz can come back good, we're good.

[IllMagic04]

Game last night really shows why we need an Alpha, true stars take over the game when things are getting out of hand like that. Maybe lottery-like odds but i'm praying fultz can be that, if Fultz can come back good, we're good.

This is true. Fultz is a powerball ticket. Its unlikly to hit but if it does everything changes.

[KillMonger]

Game last night really shows why we need an Alpha, true stars take over the game when things are getting out of hand like that. Maybe lottery-like odds but i'm praying fultz can be that, if Fultz can come back good, we're good.

This is true. Fultz is a powerball ticket. Its unlikly to hit but if it does everything changes.

Thing about lottery is at some point somebody wins, we've been in the s#itter for a long time. It's time we got the golden ticket for once

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[Optimus_Steel]

We just don't have the talent to be a true playoff team yet. I haven't been posting much cause I don't wanna crap on everyone's playoff hopes as I understand why ya'll wanna make the playoffs. My thing is I wanna make the playoffs when we have a playoff caliber roster. The only reason we may make the playoffs this year is because the east so bad a the bottom that somebody has to make it. That's not success to me. We lost yesterday primarily because Ross had a bad game. Let that sink in, we lost to one of the worst teams in the league when we are trying to make the playoffs because TERRENCE ROSS had a bad game. That should tell you all that you need to know about the level of talent on this team. Its not a strong draft but Id rather take my chances in the lottery. Better then putting our hopes that a PG with the Yips is going to be our savior next year.

Ross was awful. But cannot underestimate just how horrible Grant was. Total inability to get the team going on offensive sets, its was sad him looking just hapless and hopeless, and really held the team back down to his awful level (sans Ross he held himself back with his own terrible play). Having a competent backup PG is incredibly important and sometimes underestimated.

[IllMagic04]

We just don't have the talent to be a true playoff team yet. I haven't been posting much cause I don't wanna crap on everyone's playoff hopes as I understand why ya'll wanna make the playoffs. My thing is I wanna make the playoffs when we have a playoff caliber roster. The only reason we may make the playoffs this year is because the east so bad a the bottom that somebody has to make it. That's not success to me. We lost yesterday primarily because Ross had a bad game. Let that sink in, we lost to one of the worst teams in the league when we are trying to make the playoffs because TERRENCE ROSS had a bad game. That should tell you all that you need to know about the level of talent on this team. Its not a strong draft but Id rather take my chances in the lottery. Better then putting our hopes that a PG with the Yips is going to be our savior next year.

Ross was awful. But cannot underestimate just how horrible Grant was. Total inability to get the team going on offensive sets, its was sad him looking just hapless and hopeless, and really held the team back down to his awful level (sans Ross he held himself back with his own terrible play). Having a competent backup PG is incredibly important and sometimes underestimated.

I agree with that too. But then your saying we lost to one of the worst teams in the league because ISAIAH BRISCOE was hurt. . My point still rings true. We need more talent before we should be guning for the playoffs.

[Knightro]

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

Sure. And the Magic have been really healthy all things considered. Vucevic, Augustin, Ross, Fournier and Gordon have all pretty much been available all year.

I just don't really know what choice they have other than resign Vucevic/Ross and try like hell to help Isaac/Bamba/Fultz develop into their full forms.

If they let Ross or Vucevic (especially Vooch) walk, you're looking at like 20 to 25 wins, which will probably put them picking about 5th depending on what other teams decide to full blown commit to the tank next year.

Clifford won't go for that. I can't imagine Weltman and Hammond are interested in going from 35-40 wins this year to 20-25 wins next year.

The merits of this can be debated, but I think the plan is going to end up being this...

1. Win as many games as humanly possible this year in an effort to make the playoffs
2. Resign Vucevic and Ross.
3. Make buying moves this summer (maybe trade Gordon for a wing upgrade, possibly trade the 1st round pick for an immediate upgrade somewhere, use the MLE to add a quality depth piece).
4. Maximize development of Fultz, Bamba and Isaac

You add all of that up and I think the goal next year is to win 40-45 games and be a sure playoff team.

[VFX]

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

Sure. And the Magic have been really healthy all things considered. Vucevic, Augustin, Ross, Fournier and Gordon have all pretty much been available all year.

I just don't really know what choice they have other than resign Vucevic/Ross and try like hell to help Isaac/Bamba/Fultz develop into their full forms.

If they let Ross or Vucevic (especially Vooch) walk, you're looking at like 20 to 25 wins, which will probably put them picking about 5th depending on what other teams decide to full blown commit to the tank next year.

Clifford won't go for that. I can't imagine Weltman and Hammond are interested in going from 35-40 wins this year to 20-25 wins next year.

The merits of this can be debated, but I think the plan is going to end up being this...

1. Win as many games as humanly possible this year in an effort to make the playoffs
2. Resign Vucevic and Ross.
3. Make buying moves this summer (maybe trade Gordon for a wing upgrade, possibly trade the 1st round pick for an immediate upgrade somewhere, use the MLE to add a quality depth piece).
4. Maximize development of Fultz, Bamba and Isaac

You add all of that up and I think the goal next year is to win 40-45 games and be a sure playoff team.

I agree that all of this is probably their direction. I don’t think the w/l numbers will reflect that next year though unless they do pull an AG trade.

[yoyojw17]

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

Sure. And the Magic have been really healthy all things considered. Vucevic, Augustin, Ross, Fournier and Gordon have all pretty much been available all year.

I just don't really know what choice they have other than resign Vucevic/Ross and try like hell to help Isaac/Bamba/Fultz develop into their full forms.

If they let Ross or Vucevic (especially Vooch) walk, you're looking at like 20 to 25 wins, which will probably put them picking about 5th depending on what other teams decide to full blown commit to the tank next year.

Clifford won't go for that. I can't imagine Weltman and Hammond are interested in going from 35-40 wins this year to 20-25 wins next year.

The merits of this can be debated, but I think the plan is going to end up being this...

1. Win as many games as humanly possible this year in an effort to make the playoffs
2. Resign Vucevic and Ross.
3. Make buying moves this summer (maybe trade Gordon for a wing upgrade, possibly trade the 1st round pick for an immediate upgrade somewhere, use the MLE to add a quality depth piece).
4. Maximize development of Fultz, Bamba and Isaac

You add all of that up and I think the goal next year is to win 40-45 games and be a sure playoff team.

Just 2 and 4 alone in my opinion will get us to that level.... number 2 being part of the stabilizer and number being what pushes us over the top. Shoot.... i know there is tons of pessimism right now.... but wouldn't be surprised if we were 38-41 wins this season. And say keep the pick and select the BPA... while crossing fingers that it coincides mainly with a wing scorer. haha

[Viper1500]

The bench isn’t bad, the problem is T Ross basically is the bench. So, when he is off, we lose.


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[407Junkie]

This is how I see it as well.

It all depends on how much you believe in the what the Magic have done since they settled on this current rotation.

They've played like a legitimate playoff team, not a borderline playoff since pretty much mid January. That's a good 20+ game sample size.

Now granted, they've been pretty healthy this whole year, but if you believe the Magic (going off what this current rotation has accomplished) could be a... 42 or 43 win team over the course of an entire season, then basically you're throwing whatever you can get out of Fultz and Bamba right on top of that.

So who knows?

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

If they resign Vucevic I’m done.

[Knightro]

If they resign Vucevic I’m done.

Seems severe.

Feels like the odds are a lot more likely that they do bring him back than don't.

Unless of course he wants to leave.

[OrlandO]

If they resign Vucevic I’m done.

Great news! I will hold you to this.

[VFX]

It all depends on how much you believe in the what the Magic have done since they settled on this current rotation.

They've played like a legitimate playoff team, not a borderline playoff since pretty much mid January. That's a good 20+ game sample size.

Now granted, they've been pretty healthy this whole year, but if you believe the Magic (going off what this current rotation has accomplished) could be a... 42 or 43 win team over the course of an entire season, then basically you're throwing whatever you can get out of Fultz and Bamba right on top of that.

So who knows?

Yes. However, it’s been a very inconsistent team leaning more toward the positive off performances from Ross and Vuc. The two players we must now resign to maintain this level of “success”. Isaac and Bamba will get undoubtedly better, but I don’t think we can rely on Fultz at this juncture.

I agree with your assessment of AG for a SG/SF upgrade. We shouldn’t be banking on great games out of Vuc and Ross for wins. That’s a bad template moving forward.

If they resign Vucevic I’m done.

The trade deadline was the last chance of getting rid of him. Not going to happen if WeHam don’t want to lose their first allstar since Dwight for nothing. I too wanted to see Orlando with a differently run offense, not going to happen now. It’s a slim chance that we walks or isn’t on the team next season.