Regular Season Game 78: Orlando Magic (38-39) at Toronto Raptors (54-23)

[thelead]

I'll be eating crow in regards to Iwundu if this continues... he's becoming a legit bench player.

[Xatticus]

I'll be eating crow in regards to Iwundu if this continues... he's becoming a legit bench player.

You won't be the only one. He took a lot of crap over his first season-and-a-half.

He is slowly figuring out what he can do. I don't think he really understands that he is physically superior to most of the players he matches up against. His defensive fundamentals are exceptional and his confidence is growing at the offensive end. He is a quality rebounder for his position. He reads their direction quicker than most and really attacks and secures them. I love how aggressive he is at taking the ball to the basket when he gets the edge on a defender or when he is moving at full speed in transition. This gets him to the line at a high rate. He needs to improve at finishing through contact though. His finishing at the rim has been poor, but he has the tools to be pretty good in that regard.

If he can improve his finishing at the rim while increasing his usage and 3-point attempt rates, he is going to be a really valuable player. I think playing under Clifford is great for Iwundu. Clifford is the type of coach that appreciates what Iwundu does well. Iwundu could easily get lost in the shuffle under another coach.

[OrlandO]

I'll be eating crow in regards to Iwundu if this continues... he's becoming a legit bench player.

I can't recall the last time I thought of him as Marble 2.0... that's a good thing. He's still not much of a threat on offense, but he's not hurting us there and more importantly he has completely bought into doing the dirty work off the bench. He seems to understand and not take his role for granted. Weltman has done a good job of putting the whole puzzle together despite missing key pieces and having limited resources. Only big miss is Grant... that addition cost us at least 5 wins. Jury still out on Bamba and Fultz.

[drsd]

I can't recall the last time I thought of him as Marble 2.0... that's a good thing. He's still not much of a threat on offense, but he's not hurting us there and more importantly he has completely bought into doing the dirty work off the bench. He seems to understand and not take his role for granted. Weltman has done a good job of putting the whole puzzle together despite missing key pieces and having limited resources. Only big miss is Grant... that addition cost us at least 5 wins. Jury still out on Bamba and Fultz.

Iwundu has some interesting jumpers in the Raptor's game. He is playing well and is earning his next NBA contract. He is a baller and deserves a two-year deal from some team.


..

[SD2042]

At least we got help from teams tonight. That race for 6th-8th is wide open.

That's still good news for now. I'm thinking within the last three games, we will know where we stand by then. In the meantime, we have four teams including the Magic still fighting for the last three spots. Three teams go in and one goes home for the off-season. We cannot be the team that goes home again. After a seven season absence, enough is enough. Fight for these last wins and the Magic can punch their tickets into the playoffs.