Game 49 : Orlando Magic (17-32) @ Denver Nuggets (30-18) - 10:00 PM

[Richard Miller]

Without Vucevic, Gordon, and Fournier (+injured Isaac, Harris, and Fultz) Magic is arguably the worst team in the league, so -18 on halftime against such team is one of the worst first halves Nuggets played this century!

The same team beat the Clippers with a good margin last week

[Manolito]

Horrible first half, but a Win is a win and we all know this team tends to play at the same level as their opponent.

Only positive sign is Gordon game and glad to see Monte back, he should be inserted in the starting lineup soon, although it won´t happen.

BTW, love to see Hampton unchained. The kid has a bright future, it is a pity we simply could not wait for him.

[THE J0KER]

Without Vucevic, Gordon, and Fournier (+injured Isaac, Harris, and Fultz) Magic is arguably the worst team in the league, so -18 on halftime against such team is one of the worst first halves Nuggets played this century!

The same team beat the Clippers with a good margin last week

But the Clippers played that game without 4 out of their 5 basic starters!

[NuggetsWY]

It should be interesting to see how Orlando reacts to the beating they suffered last night. This season, Denver has often played down to poorer teams. I don't think that will continue tonight but I am wary of that possibility.

You were right - Denver did not bring their best game.

Orlando has won about 50% since the trading deadline - we can't afford to take them for granted. They traded their best players and those left are making a serious effort to show what they can do. We will not be facing a bunch of players going-through-the-motions or being generally lazy.

Orlando had 5 healthy players. Two of their bench players were fighting a non-Covid virus and one was dealing with an injury. There was no excuse for the pathetic effort the Nuggets gave in the 1st half .

Jokic sets the tone for the team. He likes to pass, so everyone tries to pass. Now he's back into a stretch of arguing with and complaining to the officials. It often leads to him being slow to get back on defense. It leaves him with a poor attitude and the Nuggets just don't try very hard.

My High School coach said that you should try to win every quarter. Failure to do so, means you are practicing to lose. The Nuggets have a bad habit of playing down to the level of their competition and it could cost them dearly in the playoffs.

[Richard Miller]

Without Vucevic, Gordon, and Fournier (+injured Isaac, Harris, and Fultz) Magic is arguably the worst team in the league, so -18 on halftime against such team is one of the worst first halves Nuggets played this century!

The same team beat the Clippers with a good margin last week

But the Clippers played that game without 4 out of their 5 basic starters!

If they are "so bad" then Kawhi alone playing 35 minutes should've been more than enough, not to mention that Zubac, Batum, Reggie and Luke too were playing 30+, it's not like they were out there with their third stringers.

[NuggetsWY]

The same team beat the Clippers with a good margin last week

But the Clippers played that game without 4 out of their 5 basic starters!

If they are "so bad" then Kawhi alone playing 35 minutes should've been more than enough, not to mention that Zubac, Batum, Reggie and Luke too were playing 30+, it's not like they were out there with their third stringers.

and Orlando traded away 3 of their starters plus they have a bunch of Covid-DNPs

Every player in the NBA is very good --- greatness is what Orlando is missing --- since the Clippers were built around 2 Greatness players, there wasn't any cap space to sign players that could take their place --- so great players leave a bigger hole.

Orlando's got players trying to prove themselves and some have waited a long time for the opportunity. So they hustle. That's the difference in our game against them. They hustled, we did not. I did not see the Clippers game, but perhaps that's the same thing that happened there.

[GeorgeSears]

I was very pleased to see Monte Morris back. Such a steady presence for the 2nd unit.

[Blue_and_Whte]

But the Clippers played that game without 4 out of their 5 basic starters!

If they are "so bad" then Kawhi alone playing 35 minutes should've been more than enough, not to mention that Zubac, Batum, Reggie and Luke too were playing 30+, it's not like they were out there with their third stringers.

and Orlando traded away 3 of their starters plus they have a bunch of Covid-DNPs

Every player in the NBA is very good --- greatness is what Orlando is missing --- since the Clippers were built around 2 Greatness players, there wasn't any cap space to sign players that could take their place --- so great players leave a bigger hole.

Orlando's got players trying to prove themselves and some have waited a long time for the opportunity. So they hustle. That's the difference in our game against them. They hustled, we did not. I did not see the Clippers game, but perhaps that's the same thing that happened there.

The Clippers we’re definitely sleep walking on us and rightfully so we traded our best players away, but Steve Clifford teams rarely beat themselves so they should’ve known better. We’re not a good team right now but this team does defend and hustle. Great come back. Enjoy AG. He’s finally in a position where he can be optimized by being surrounded by great talent.