Preseason Game 4: Boston Celtics (1-0) at Orlando Magic (3-0)

[j-ragg]

While its preseason... some of the same weaknesses showing for guys that we had hoped had moved past them (mainly Bamba, also Fournier still not looking like an NBA player) is concerning.

[j-ragg]

Also some of these arguments are hilarious. "we would've reached for SGA! He wasn't projected anywhere near our pick." while saying "Okeke was the right choice for where we were drafting".

[basketballRob]

so Evan has back spasms, that would explain why he looks slower than WW 1 vets

Bamba has a sore leg too. We can't pick and choose who we make excuses for.

Cliff is running the crap out of the players and I really think it's hard to evaluate any of them.

Back spasms sounds related to over running.

Bamba didn't even look at the rim from the 3 pt line last night, he probably knew he had no legs

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Shaq said it best, "Stop babying players" Thiis franchise has to get out of it's losing ways, coach Clifford turned this team around last season and now we lose one game in preseason then people say Clifford is running the crap out the players...

It's his method of operation, I'm not saying it's bad. If you look at last season the early we were having the same shooting problems.

If you run 20+ miles a day gradually you'll lose your legs. You can't argue with the results because we stayed healthy and improved shooting as the season went on.

It's actually kind of funny watching how old DJ and Evan look. I know they'll both look way better when they started doing a normal routine.

I doubt they shoot good Sunday either, it's going to take a while.

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[Driguez]

L's are part of it all, not gonna win them all

[tiderulz]

I think the WeHam Magic have shown interest in Satoransky, Dinwiddie, Delon Wright, and D’Lo.

I think their plan there is to collect good assets regardless of position (hence the lack of PG), and then maybe trade for one who’s a proven success.

I liked the Satoransky rumor because he’s tall, dishes and shoots without breaking the bank. Dinwiddie is a good shooter, scorer and paint attacker that the Magic need. Delon is similarly tall for PG, and versatile. D’Lo is someone that is becoming a proven star at the spot (but ORL was not rumored when the D’Lo trade talks got heated up; it was all GSW and MIN in that race).

So you can see they are targeting good PG’s, and some of them aren’t breaking your bank. Because I really wouldn’t want to break the bank losing any of AG, JI, Vooch, Ross, and even Bamba or Okeke.

Which for me comes back around to giving Fultz a full year instead. He already plays like a better Payton, and that’s with him not even having his game all the way back yet. Maybe he’s healthy in March, and hitting just solid enough lines of 71% FT’s, 32% 3PM’s with a surprisingly strong impact.

I’m also still really digging the thought of CP3 as the aged Jason Kidd captain for a 4-5 year window. They’ve never denied the idea, firstly, like they did with Russ. The salary flotsam is hard to trade away, but it’s literally any non-critical piece the Magic deem so. They might even get a non-lotto pick or two out of OKC, or make it an interesting three-way to nab some kind of very interesting, young SG to replace Fournier (probably the main salary to be outgoing, with Aminu, DJ, and minor pieces). I’d be thinking of 3-waying in one of Philly’s guards like Kurkmaz, Thybulle. Fultz is still there too, a couple seasons of experience and one jumpshot away from supplanting CP3 or getting 2-guard minutes.

The big question is always, how do we get a good PG or guard without breaking the bank and losing valuable assets? And a guard that fits and makes sense too.

A 17th-25th draft pick is one good answer. If the Magic are high on a higher-reaching guard, they also have the track record to essentially flip away future picks as well in the move-up to get the guard they really, really like too.

ehh, not a huge fan of Satoranksy. think he gets very overhyped for what he can really do. he's a taller DJ in that he is a backup PG that can give you a spot start now and then, but you wouldnt want him to be your FT starter (9ppg 3.5 apg as a starter and he is 27) and is not good at all on defense.

And its one thing to say they are looking at PG's, but they havent done anything really to improve our PG or wings since they've gotten here. just drafted big men, except for a flyer on Fultz (which i approve of with very little risk of asset given up). But i dont really think we can put too many expectations on Fultz until he can prove he is truly healthy.

And no way do i want Chris Paul. He has steadily declined over the past 3 years and has 3 more massively paid years that would hamper other moves.

[ChosenSavior]

I was going to watch the full highlights of this game but thought better of it once I saw the final score. I don't really like to use the tired excuse but it was pretty evident in the 1st quarter with how people were just standing around on offense and the team was just trying to do things on their own instead of playing the team-centric basketball that allowed us to win our first 3 preseason games. I know this is hard for most but please do not let this one game alter your mindset about this basketball team. Also this game does not even count in the real W/L record so we live to fight another day.

I believe in Steve Clifford and know that this ass beating will be a great teaching tool in the film room on how to approach the game with a professional mindset and that we have to be stronger mentally to overcome fatigue. As for the PG situation, I have definitely expressed my anger about Augustin but I will wait to see how he actually performs in the regular season before I start to react. Same goes for Evan as well who may need to recover some from his play over in FIBA as he went through that tourney the longest over his other teammates that were there. We also need to be patient with Fultz. We are playing the long game with him and it is going to take time to get his development and confidence where it needs to be. This loss to Boston has not changed my outlook on how I think this team will perform. Hopefully if anything, this refocuses the ballclub and we put forth a better effort on Sunday.