Playoffs G3: Toronto Raptors (2) @ Orlando Magic (7) - A Reptile Dysfunction

[VFX]

You keep adding to the team, not letting key players walk. Keep your key guys and add and retool where you can.

In what way? You either make a trade or draft 15-19 for the next few years. Free agency isn’t an option for star players. This roster needs more than a “retool where you can”.

[MasterGMer]

What should we look for this upcoming off-season? NBA Draft? Starting July 1st Free Agency for both Ross and Vuc? Other Free Agent?

[mattyBoi]

I think we should resign Ross, let Vuc walk. Go and try to get Kemba with the cap space. Fill out the bench. Try to trade Fournier.

[NickAnderson]

We finally get an all star and everyone wants to trade him. We are playing the 2nd best team in the league and one of the best defenses. I think it’s a damn accomplishment magic have been this close and won a game. You guys will be singing a different tune if they win Sunday.

[Useyourhead]

A lot of Raptors fans really seem to think the refs were against them in this game and all series long. i know we're all biased, but wow. Like the NBA wants the Magic to win? lol. Nobody cares about the Magic, even as an underdog story. Leonard as an individual is more compelling to casuals than the Magic team.

But anyway, Fournier can go to heck. 1-12 with multiple game losing defensive lapses. Give me a break. Actually, just give me an NBA caliber filler player at that position. Iwundu was 1-5 but I like his play a lot better.

i don't disagree with your logic, but the league does not want Leonard to stay with the raptors and they simply want the sole Canadian team out and more revenue to US franchises.

Siakam and Leonard have driven an absurd amount of times and DJ Augustine has more ft/drive by a large margin compared to both of them.

[basketballRob]

A lot of Raptors fans really seem to think the refs were against them in this game and all series long. i know we're all biased, but wow. Like the NBA wants the Magic to win? lol. Nobody cares about the Magic, even as an underdog story. Leonard as an individual is more compelling to casuals than the Magic team.

But anyway, Fournier can go to heck. 1-12 with multiple game losing defensive lapses. Give me a break. Actually, just give me an NBA caliber filler player at that position. Iwundu was 1-5 but I like his play a lot better.

i don't disagree with your logic, but the league does not want Leonard to stay with the raptors and they simply want the sole Canadian team out and more revenue to US franchises.

Siakam and Leonard have driven an absurd amount of times and DJ Augustine has more ft/drive by a large margin compared to both of them.

Who was on the grassy knoll?

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[Rainwater]

We finally get an all star and everyone wants to trade him. We are playing the 2nd best team in the league and one of the best defenses. I think it’s a damn accomplishment magic have been this close and won a game. You guys will be singing a different tune if they win Sunday.

We are looking at the long term my friend, everybody knows the magic wouldn't be in the playoffs if it weren't for Vuc.

[OrlandO]

I think we should resign Ross, let Vuc walk. Go and try to get Kemba with the cap space. Fill out the bench. Try to trade Fournier.

If Vuc walks, Ross walks. They're tied to the hip. And Kemba ain't coming here if we downgrade our team... let's not be delusional.

[rusoopE]

Trade vuc? Facepalm

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[MasterGMer]

Can we stretch Mozgov this summer? When can we do that? I think the timing will be key. I am really intrigued by Kemba and Tobias this summer.... Hope good news come...

[KillMonger]

live and die by the jumpshot, we barely attack the cup even though we have some guys than can do that. It's just not the way we run our offense and that's on cliff, why can't we run pick and rolls when AG, Isaac or anyone is the roll man? In this offense the only players involved in pick and rolls are DJ and Fournier, DJ rarely attacks unless he has a wide open layup but most of the time on the pick and roll he goes "Ring around the Rosie" dribbling the air out the ball getting nothing done. Don't get me started on Founier on the roll with his weak ass floaters that almost never drops.

Clifford should just put AG and Isaac in the pick and roll, have them running downhill/straight line to the cup. They should either score or get to the line, i hate having to rely so heavily on the jumpshot. When the jumpers isn't falling we look like trASSh

I reckon AG or Isaac pick and roll wont work because of the switch everything scheme. What works now is the 1&5 pnr which basically if you switch causes mismatch. It worked the whole of game 1.

yeah but it ain't working now, what i proposed is only something that i would do as an adjustment. They've been clogging up the lane, so we have to make them make reads and decisions instead of leaving it on a platter for them. I remember playing the heat this season and they run pick and roll all game long and it generates good looks at the rim and we were switching too on defense. I mean they were getting dwade who has lost a step or 3 good looks at the rim. We have guys with athleticism that can attack or at least get to the free throw line.

1/5 pick and roll can work but the point guard is very important in that action, but DJ agustin bless his heart puts no fear in anyone in the pick and roll. When miami runs it you got dragic who the defense has to respect because he can actually make shots and contested layups at the rim so as the defense you have to make a decision. In our case the only person in our 1/5 to worry about is Vuc, once you key in on that we become easier to guard and our margin of error shrinks even more.

Clifford has proven to be a great coach but i just wished that he brought on an offensive minded assistant just so we can be a bit more creative with our plays. There were avenues that shouldv'e been explored in the season or at least experimented just to see how many different ways we can use the guys. Hence now, isaac still is pretty much only a stand in the corner/cutting player when i feel he could've been more than that in the offense. The numbers might not support that but i guess i've never been a stats guy more eye test and feel of the game.....sow the seeds early and it'll bear fruit later, i've said it before we should've tried to involve the young guys more because eventually they will graduate and become more important and their role should be more important as well.

Maybe i'm complaining about nothing, cliffs doing the best with what he's got i guess

[pepe1991]

Went to sleep after whole forum turned into meltdown of crying and accusing last night. Not gonna lie ,i contributed to that ,so i apologize . With bit less emotions, Magic issues are clear.
Both Isaac and Evan have been disaster in Starting lineup . Sorry people women lie, men lie, nba.com doesn't
https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612753/onoffcourt-advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=1

Magic net rating with Isaac is -19,9 ,and he also has worst TS% among starters (46,5%)
Second to his disaster is Evan with net rating of -18,1 and TS of 48%
For a comparison, team's net rating is -11 , so we are being outscored by 8 and 9 points with them playing.
Lot of people talked who should have been playing late in 4th, Evan or Isaac. Answer is kind a obvious -neither. But as i said time and time again, problem is that alternatives don't exist.

MCw with effective FG% of epic 37% somehow outsucked his regular season self. He seems to be way more interested into fighting Lowry than running offense.
Terrence Ross is ONLY Magic regular rotation guy with positive net rataing.
Birch has been no factor as well.
I'll later (below) talk about others.

Problem however, as i said, lays in Evan and Isaaac.
Let's start with Evan first.
He flat out can't shoot this year for 3. Now he can't shoot from any range but 3 has been problematic whole year, and he is getting killed on defense and it's hard to justfy playing him. However, much like it's case with Isaac, Clifford has no alternative.

Isaac, man shoots 3-17 for 3 in playoffs. 15 of 17 shots were not contested. You can't run effective offense if guy gets Andre Roberson treatment. He had 4 electric first min of a game ( 5 points ,3 rebounds 2 blocks i think ? ) , but just like it was case with him at college and in regular season, he just fades and fizzles out through a game. Is it coniditioning, asthma, lack of strenght? I have no clue.

I said before a game that i belive that Magic will have shot at winning if they knock down 3s and if they play Ross close to 40 min , taking time off Evan and Isaac.
Ross got 32 min and had +/- of +9 , lead team in points.
Evan was disaster , 1-12 FG, with only 2 rebounds and 1 assist and team has been outscored by 9 with him on the floor.
Isaac scored 3 of his 4 FGA in first quater and shot 1-4 for rest of a game.
DJ ,isaac and Ros ,as 3 starters ,combined for epic 4-19 for 3 (Vuc and Gordon 3/8, respecful 37,5%).

As for Vučević, he finally had solid game ( by box score standards) , still didn't play great, had great third quater ,but still didn't figure how to play vs Gasol. There is no excuses for his first two games, but this was first sign of "life". Hopefully he can do more of third quater acts through game 4.
Gordon was comming off two great games , put up nice 7 R, 7 A , but much like Vučević, turner ball over a lot and struggled against phyical plays.

DJ has been disaster after game 1.

Overall Magic are playing simply better team. Siakam does whatever he wants, Magic got away with some clear fouls on Leonard and he was off whole night. We finally decided to double team him and it payed off. It was good game to "steal" , but whole game we struggled to get offense going.

This series shows how problematic is lack of ballhandlers when teams play better defense.

No matter what you do for next year, bench needs to be upgraded. Now what to do with Ross and Vuc, rebuild , tank, retool, that's topic for another day.

[fateis007]

Ever since they put Green on Dj, the whole complexion of this game has changed. Dj has a hard time getting to the rim usually, but the last 2 games, he can barely get open. And Fournier is having a lot of the same issues, he literally cant turn the corner and create contact or get into the paint, and his shooting is just horrendous right now. I will give Isaac a pass, because he has the chance to play both ends.

We badly need 2 ball handlers at the very least that can draw fouls and get to the rim. Ross can do it, but he is getting suffocated because no one else can make an open shot.

I really hope Fultz pans out or we can pick someone up in the draft.

Fultz, Ross, Issac (or a spot up shooter, driver), AG, Vucevic might be much more competitive against defenses like this.

But I wont lie, I am still skeptical about AG and Isaac working together. I feel like we need our SF to be a better ball handler. 3 attacking ball handlers and you make Cliffords offense look much better.

[drsd]

Ever since they put Green on Dj, the whole complexion of this game has changed.

Danny Green is an outstanding defender. Back-court defense against Augustin and Fournier was decisive.

..

[Blue_and_Whte]

Ever since they put Green on Dj, the whole complexion of this game has changed.

Danny Green is an outstanding defender. Back-court defense against Augustin and Fournier was decisive.

..

As was the lack of it on Saikam. Again this is a really good way for the young guys to get experience so Maybe one day Isaac will be as good.

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[SOUL]

B&W after making these posts

[SOUL]

damn, luckily the internet has something called youtube and you can look up videos of who scores over who. i mean, this same genius fanbase attributed DJ Augustin's "defense" on Lowry G1 as a reason we won despite Lowry just missing open shots..

Watch on YouTube

first 2 points on isaac, nice little spin drop step. isaac was there, a tad late, and siakam got a nice look. (2/30 points on Isaac)

hits 3 pointer. DJ plays the laziest transition D imaginable, isaac has to go to the paint to prevent lowry from having an open dunk/layup, fournier kinda trails lowry for no reason, late to contest siakam.

another 3 pointer. isaac is on kawhi, plays beautiful defense on him, fournier is cheating into the paint behind DJ who is in his way to get to siakam.. hits another 3 in fournier's grill.

P&R with siakam, Isaac makes the same decision Vuc does every time with a P&R which is to defend the drive. gets back a little late to siakam, siakam hits a semi-contested mid 2. we'll live with those shots. still, (4/30 points on Isaac)

this play was the worst defense Isaac played on siakam tonight. isaac was there, but underestimated siakam's ability to turn the corner, and made a pretty easy layup on him. (6/30 points on Isaac)

ross on siakam, easy 2 point runner in lane.

fournier on siakam, easy 2 point turnaround in lane.

isaac gets screened by green, but still contests a three that siakam hits. you'll take a contested three defense. (9/30 points on Isaac)

fournier loses siakam underneath.. easy dunk/layup. 2 points.

alley-oop over iwundu .. just bad defense. 2 points.

siakam and 1 turnaround over ross in the paint, 3 points

siakam spin/turnaround thingy in the paint on ross, 2 points

siakam drives into the paint with a runner over fournier, 2 points

result: siakam scored 9 of his 30 points on isaac.

[pepe1991]

Nobody plays 1 on 1 whole game, it's pointless and waste of time.
Siakam did whatever he wanted to all Magic players who guarded him.

[pepe1991]

I would just like to add that almost whole forum predicted 5 to 6 games series, so all this anger, meltdowns and fingerpointing is kind a silly because we all knew we don't have much chance

Raptors are simply better. Top to bottom.
They have Jeremy Lin on DNPs who would be Magic starter.
Leonard is top 5 player in NBA and former finals MVP ( youngest ever).
Siakam is MIP front runner.
Green has ring
Marc Gasol is former DPOY.
Lowry is allstar for years
During Ibaka's time here he was our top 2-3 player, guy isn't even starter there.

Raptors are legit contender.

[MasterGMer]

I still think we can win games against Raptors. If we come out early and do not dig a hole for ourselves, I think we have a chance.