2020-2021 Regular Season Game 46: Orlando Magic (15-30) at Los Angeles Lakers (29-17)

[Knightro]

v.



GAME INFO
Who: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers
What: 2020-2021 Regular Season Game 46
When: Sunday, March 28 at 10pm ET
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
How: Fox Sports Florida, NBA League Pass, 96.9 The Game (Radio)

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GAMBLING
Magic +6.5
Over/Under 208.5

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
None

ORLANDO MAGIC PROJECTED STARTERS

G: Michael Carter-Williams


G: Dwayne Bacon


F: James Ennis


F: Chuma Okeke


C: Khem Birch


ORLANDO MAGIC PROJECTED BENCH

G: Chesson Randle


G: RJ Hampton


F: Otto Porter Jr.


C: Wendell Carter Jr.


C: Mo Bamba


Deep Bench
G: Karim Mané

Injuries: Jonathan Isaac (knee), Markelle Fultz (knee), Cole Anthony (rib), Terrence Ross (knee) and Gary Harris (thigh) are OUT.

Los Angeles Projected Starters
G: Dennis Schroder
G: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
F: Kyle Kuzma
F: Marcus Morris
C: Marc Gasol

Bench
G: Alex Caruso
G: Wes Matthews
F: Talen Horton-Tucket
C: Montrezl Harrell

Injuries: LeBron James (ankle), Anthony Davis (calf) and Jared Dudley (knee) are OUT.

[Knightro]

The starting lineup and rotation has NOT been announced yet for tonight. Just a projection.

[Anti Chalmers]

Excited to see what RJ can do. Magic lose 105-95

[RookieStar]

Dont care avout the SL as long as the young guys get plenty of burn.

[ChosenSavior]

Looking forward to watching our young guys play tonight. No garbage rotations tonight please Coach Cliff.

[ogmagicfan]

Concerned we might get a win on the shorthanded Lakers. Our defense is average at worst and unless Schroeder, Kuzma, or Harrell go off the Lakers could be in for a long night.

[Magicfanatic82]

Tonight will tell us alot about cliff being able to handle a rebuild with a long term view. If MCW and Birch steal mins from Hampton and Carter, its going to be a long finish to the year. Cliff riding the vets for late meaningless wins.

[Nyce_1]

I really didn't realize Lakers had those players. I thought we'd win tonight, but they still have enough talent to beat us without their top-2 guys.

RJ/Okeke/WCJ/Bamba....that's all I care about this game.

[Skybox]

Tonight will tell us alot about cliff being able to handle a rebuild with a long term view. If MCW and Birch steal mins from Hampton and Carter, its going to be a long finish to the year. Cliff riding the vets for late meaningless wins.

I wouldn't worry too much about tonight. Arguably, guys need to at least spend a few minutes prepping and having some idea of offensive and defensive system. I'm sure they'll all play but I'd wait a week before I worry about significance of rotations...this isn't pickup at the Y.

[basketballRob]

Hopefully Ross stays out for the season.

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[Knightro]

I wouldn't worry too much about tonight. Arguably, guys need to at least spend a few minutes prepping and having some idea of offensive and defensive system. I'm sure they'll all play but I'd wait a week before I worry about significance of rotations...this isn't pickup at the Y.

The only thing that really interests me the rest of the year is how Clifford handles the PF and C rotations.

Seems like Okeke is going to be entrenched as the starting PF the rest of the season considering there's no one else, but who will be his backup?

Bamba can't play PF. Birch has been used there, but he's horrible at it. I don't think WCJ is really a guy you want playing much PF, especially since pretty much everyone here wants him to start at C.

The most logical scenario to me would be a 60/40 split at C between WCJ/Bamba with Birch, unfortunately, playing as the backup PF. But I have a feeling that isn't what Clifford has in mind.

[RookieStar]

LOL since we are tanking anyway.. throw wcj to the PF. See if either he makes a fool of hinself or be succesful.

[bigdogdylan5]

The starting lineup and rotation has NOT been announced yet for tonight. Just a projection.

Good call on the starters lol

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

Hardly surprising on the Birch front.

I guess this means we'll see WCJ at the 4 and Bamba at the 5 out there together.

[bigdogdylan5]

Birch is starting at center and will play some at PF too. Christ he is going to lead our team in minutes.

[BDill012]

I'm really looking forward to watching Hampton and Carter.

Go Magic

[MagicTownBaller]

Birch is starting at center and will play some at PF too. Christ he is going to lead our team in minutes.

I don't know why but this cracked me up. It's prolly true and is sad but still cracked me up.

[The Real Dalic]

Yeah, makes no sense to start Bacon and Birch over RJ, and Bamba/WCJ.

[penny_nz]

I'm going to say it, Birch is a great player, should be a backup on a good team, or hell even here. But with what we're trying to do right now he should NOT be starting, he should be backing up Chuma at 4 and we should be giving 24 mins each to Carter and Bamba.

The goal is not to win games, but see what we have in the young players in the roster. We don't get that if Cliff rides a MCW / Ennis / Bacon / Birch core for as many minutes as they can play.

And this is why I don't believe Cliff is the right coach for this rebuild. He doesn't see the long game, and doesn't adapt as quickly as we need with a team full of youngsters, riding the hot hand instead of strict rotations etc

[swarlesbarkley]

Cliff only knows 1 mode: compete for the 8th seed.