Regular Season Game 3: Orlando Magic (1-1) at Toronto Raptors (2-1) - 7:30pm ET

[cedric76]

The sooner we bench Vuc and start Ross the better.

Isaac, AG, Ross, Fournier, Fultz

Come on lol

ok off to bed, getting crazy here

[fendilim]

Watch on YouTube

[basketballRob]

Also, Bamba is projecting as an end of bench big in my eyes. His instincts are awful. See Isaac for an example of the opposite.

He had nothing to do with the loss. The team played better with him in

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[Blue_and_Whte]

If it were me... and it's not... but this is what I would do.

PG: Fultz
SG: Fournier
SF: Gordon
PF: Isaac
C: Vucevic

Backup PG: Augustin
Backup SG: Ross
Backup SF: Iwundu
Backup PF: Aminu
Backup C: Isaac

I would shorten the rotation from 10 to 9 and remove Bamba and MCW from the mix.

Once cliff gets serious about actually winning basketball games I expect a change similar to what you're proposing.
This is the time of year to experiment a little, see which players contribute.

[PrimeThyme]

I have to think that Weltman feels a lot differently. I think he is still viewed as a core piece of this team. You draft a guy at 6 to be that for you. But I 100% agree that he is not our biggest problem right now. We don't win or lose games because of him. It comes down to our highest-paid players underperforming.

I just think when we are discussing the longterm outlook of this team Bamba is still a very relevant discussion. I don't believe they are actively looking to trade him. On the other hand, WeHam got a first-row seat to watch Isaac at the 5 tonight and Vuc go 1-13 so maybe that changes.

Cornerstone is diff than core to me. Cornestone means we drafted him with the intention of being someone we could build around, which implies all-star. I think we HOPED his ceiling would be that high, but he's played well below that so far obviously. Not writing his career off or anything, I'm sure even if he turned out to be a longer Dedmon, people would be generally content (most, at least).

Core is something that is fluid too. Nobody wanted to speak of Fultz as a core piece (including myself) until we actually saw him playing again on the floor, and I think even just three games into this season, he's played himself into our core.

That's fair, I do see your point. When you're picking outside of the top 5 the cornerstone pieces generally are out of the equation. All im trying to say though is I think he is still viewed as a longterm piece and that judging his progress as the season unfolds is still very relevant. I'm not at all trying to blame this loss on him tho.

He is just still a high draft pick and It would have been nice to have seen him be able to be an effective player for us. I'm very close to being out on him unfortunately though.

[Knightro]

There is literally no scenario whatsoever that Vucevic in year 1 of a 4/100 contract coming off an all-star season is getting benched.

It's simply not happening. He is going to start every game he plays this year and he's going to play better than he has so far. He may not play as well as he did a year ago, but he's going to play and start.

That said... Vucevic starting doesn't mean that the Magic can't optimize the rest of their rotation either.

[KillMonger]

i would start fultz next game, the sooner the better just get it over with....not because DJ has been trash, he hasn't but i think him on that second unit will balance it out. The starters need more of a Facilitator(Fultz) while the bench needs more scoring(DJ) plus i think DJ/MCW is a better fit than Fultz/MCW. I rather MCW not play at all because for all the praise cliff is heaping on MCW i'm not seeing the impact consistently. Where's Inwundu? with him there is almost no drop off defensively but wes can actually shoot it.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Playing Isaac at C is just wasting his potential and looking for injuries

Did you not watch this game?

Yes, i did

Isaac is a perfect Forward, moving him to Center is just short-sighted

Typical Realgm over reaction

At least we know that it is an option during some matchups.

[NavalAviator94]

There is literally no scenario whatsoever that Vucevic in year 1 of a 4/100 contract coming off an all-star season is getting benched.

It's simply not happening. He is going to start every game he plays this year and he's going to play better than he has so far. He may not play as well as he did a year ago, but he's going to play and start.

That said... Vucevic starting doesn't mean that the Magic can't optimize the rest of their rotation either.

And adjust their play accordingly.


Sent from my iPad using RealGM mobile app

[Blue_and_Whte]

Also, Bamba is projecting as an end of bench big in my eyes. His instincts are awful. See Isaac for an example of the opposite.

He had nothing to do with the loss. The team played better with him in

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[basketballRob]

Bamba is outplaying Vuc tonight

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you sure you're not watching the Lakeland Magic? Scratch that are you sure you're not actually playing 2K and confusing it with real life?

I don't think you watched the game. Bamba had a couple layups that rimmed out. His defense wasn't great, he needs to learn how to go straight up

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[KillMonger]

Bamba is outplaying Vuc tonight

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you sure you're not watching the Lakeland Magic? Scratch that are you sure you're not actually playing 2K and confusing it with real life?

I don't think you watched the game. Bamba had a couple layups that rimmed out. His defense wasn't great, he needs to learn how to go straight up

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Bamba was finishing soft as hell, all that length and you're trying to finesse the ball in the hoop? those layups rimmed out because they shouldn't have been layups they should've been dunks

[PrimeThyme]

Steve Clifford on finishing the game with Jonathan Isaac at center:

- “It’s been something we planned to do in the summer, it’s not something new, it’s apart of something we plan to do as we go forward.”

[basketballRob]

Also, Bamba is projecting as an end of bench big in my eyes. His instincts are awful. See Isaac for an example of the opposite.

He had nothing to do with the loss. The team played better with him in

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Sucks when net rating and plus minus work against your point.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[Blue_and_Whte]

Bamba is outplaying Vuc tonight

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Are you sure you're not watching the Lakeland Magic? Scratch that are you sure you're not actually playing 2K and confusing it with real life?

I don't think you watched the game. Bamba had a couple layups that rimmed out. His defense wasn't great, he needs to learn how to go straight up

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Wait.. a couple of lay ups rimmed out?!? Well that changes EVERYTHING.
Mo >>>>>>>>>>>>>Vooch.

I'm in awe right now...

[Xatticus]

Steve Clifford on finishing the game with Jonathan Isaac at center:

- “It’s been something we planned to do in the summer, it’s not something new, it’s apart of something we plan to do as we go forward.”

I think we might need a wellness check on Pepe?

[SOUL]

Arguing over who played better between Vuc and Bamba this game seems like a waste of time. Both were on the bench for a reason to close the game.

[Max Power]

The whole team is the issue right now. They’re lazy defending the paint again, which was their major problem under Vogel and Skiles. Vuc is struggling mightily. Gordon is a complete non factor, and Ross isn’t playing like himself. But I 100% agree that Bambas getting abused defensively. It’s time to put Birch in there. I’d argue with getting Iwundu in there too. Grit guys who make plays. I don’t think trades are necessary yet. It’s only 3 games in but this team needs a shot of lightning. Offensively the Magic need to feed Vuc in the paint to get him going.

[Xatticus]

Arguing over who played better between Vuc and Bamba this game seems like a waste of time. Both were on the bench for a reason to close the game.

I'm actually surprised we didn't have Aminu on for Gordon at the end. Aminu had a good game until he got his pocket picked at the top of the key.

[Blue_and_Whte]

He had nothing to do with the loss. The team played better with him in

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Sucks when net rating and plus minus work against your point.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

Net rating....plus/minus!