2020-2021 Regular Season Game 64: Memphis Grizzlies (32-30) at Orlando Magic (19-44)

[KillMonger]

The Magic had 9 healthy bodies.

-Three of them were centers
-Two of them were G-Leaguers
-One of them was a guy signed off the street four days ago
-One player with more than four years of NBA experience

And they won anyway.

Yep, tanking only happens on the front office level and they tried as hard as they deemed reasonable, even starting our third string center who we signed of the street a week ago. It still sucks, though. You'd like to think the basketball gods will reward us on lottery night for our players continuing to bring it, but we all know we're getting shafted and a disgraceful team like OKC will be a winner.

At least the Bulls pick is looking good, but with our luck, they'll move up.

just got to make peace with it at this point....i don't think okc wins another game and we'll probably beat detroit monday if they continue to sit all of their key players....so it is what it is....it just sucks because our rebuild is going to be long if we don't get a star or star potential somehow......

[FFBlitzace]

Can't hate on this, come on. Cole continues to show that he rises to the occasion in the clutch. He took over a preseason game and won it too, let's not forget. Obviously that was preseason, but it was a sign that he didn't shrink in those moments. And he's done it now on multiple occasions in the regular season. And when you listen to his postgames and look past the bravado or "obnoxious youth language," you hear a guy that seems to have a pretty good handle on those situations.

[Knightro]

Can't hate on this, come on. Cole continues to show that he rises to the occasion in the clutch. He took over a preseason game and won it too, let's not forget. Obviously that was preseason, but it was a sign that he didn't shrink in those moments. And he's done it now on multiple occasions in the regular season. And when you listen to his postgames and look past the bravado or "obnoxious youth language," you hear a guy that seems to have a pretty good handle on those situations.

Totally agree.

I get tanking. I get wanting to lose. I wanted to lose.

They had 9 guys. One of the 9 was a veteran (and he stinks).

Both of their 20 year old rookies set career highs and were the two most important players on the floor.

I'm not sweating it.

[magicman112]

Not going to lose every game and it's good for the young guys to get one now and then.

[thelead]

Can't hate on this, come on. Cole continues to show that he rises to the occasion in the clutch. He took over a preseason game and won it too, let's not forget. Obviously that was preseason, but it was a sign that he didn't shrink in those moments. And he's done it now on multiple occasions in the regular season. And when you listen to his postgames and look past the bravado or "obnoxious youth language," you hear a guy that seems to have a pretty good handle on those situations.

Totally agree.

I get tanking. I get wanting to lose. I wanted to lose.

They had 9 guys. One of the 9 was a veteran (and he stinks).

Both of their 20 year old rookies set career highs and were the two most important players on the floor.

I'm not sweating it.

So when does the sweating start for you?

[Knightro]

So when does the sweating start for you?

Lottery night? Never?

[fendilim]

Sheeesh cry me a river

[Optimus_Steel]

That post game interview was epic. It's up there with the time Hedo and also Big Baby had to cut the turkey. Man how can you not love Cole Anthony. Tons of irrational confidence but in a likeable way. Passionate, entertaining, and engaging. You can't help but root for the guy.

Also, that yeaaaa part easily a meme for all time.

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[Knightro]

The Magic just had a 20-year-old rookie put up 26-8-6-3, hit 4-6 threes and get to the FT line 11 times in a victory over a playoff team including a game-winning walk off 3.

But something something tanking.

[Optimus_Steel]

Also, several people have been acting like RJ Hampton is a Reece Gaines, aka talentless and skill less, except he is not, he has game. People need to chill.

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[Bensational]

That was a big rally and fun ending. Our young guys fought for that win.

I’ll save concerns about the wins until after we know the lotto results.

[thelead]

The Magic just had a 20-year-old rookie put up 26-8-6-3, hit 4-6 threes and get to the FT line 11 times in a victory over a playoff team including a game-winning walk off 3.

But something something tanking.

I get it. Great for him but unless he’s the star that leads us to multiple deep playoff runs, it’s not worth losing out on that potential star IMO. Especially when the season is meaningless at this point. We’ve seen this story play out multiple times and I’m just shocked that most here loved the win. Maybe I’m just different. I dunno. Meaningless wins (and you can spin this however you want but it’s a meaningless win to 99% of the basketball world) bring me no enjoy,ent. Now, if that was a win to keep us in the playoff hunt or to gain a higher seed, I would be right there with you. I’m just not sold on this core as ‘complete’ and players like Barnes and Moody don’t move the needle for me to get excited about next season. Our odds to land at 6th or lower went from 20% to 45% with just that 1 win. 1 more drop and we’ll be more likely to draft 6-9 than 1-5.

And for the, what could we have done? What is OKC doing again? Why did Jeremiah Grant not play yet again? Anyway, it’s not worth arguing about. I’m just incredibly frustrated by this franchise and the constant losing over the last decade.

[thelead]

That was a big rally and fun ending. Our young guys fought for that win.

I’ll save concerns about the wins until after we know the lotto results.

That’s the equivalent of going to a party instead of studying for exam, taking the exam the next day hungover, and then saying ‘I’ll save my concerns until I find out my grade’… then again, that’s what I remember most people doing when I was in school so I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.

[Knightro]

I get it. Great for him but unless he’s the star that leads us to multiple deep playoff runs, it’s not worth losing out on that potential star IMO. Especially when the season is meaningless at this point. We’ve seen this story play out multiple times and I’m just shocked that most here loved the win. Maybe I’m just different. I dunno. Meaningless wins (and you can spin this however you want but it’s a meaningless win to 99% of the basketball world) bring me no enjoy,ent. Now, if that was a win to keep us in the playoff hunt or to gain a higher seed, I would be right there with you. I’m just not sold on this core as ‘complete’ and players like Barnes and Moody don’t move the needle for me to get excited about next season. Our odds to land at 6th or lower went from 20% to 45% with just that 1 win. 1 more drop and we’ll be more likely to draft 6-9 than 1-5.

And for the, what could we have done? What is OKC doing again? Why did Jeremiah Grant not play yet again? Anyway, it’s not worth arguing about. I’m just incredibly frustrated by this franchise and the constant losing over the last decade.

The Magic had nine healthy players tonight. They literally played one player with more than a rookie contract's worth of experience.

Who should/could they have sat out tonight? What exactly could they have done different to lose tonight?

They barely have enough guys to field a roster! Two 20 year olds played the best games of their respective careers. It is what it is. Sometimes guys just play well and they win.

The ping pong balls will play out however they're going to play out.

[Bensational]

That was a big rally and fun ending. Our young guys fought for that win.

I’ll save concerns about the wins until after we know the lotto results.

That’s the equivalent of going to a party instead of studying for exam, taking the exam the next day hungover, and then saying ‘I’ll save my concerns until I find out my grade’… then again, that’s what I remember most people doing when I was in school so I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.

No, to me it’s a simple case of how many lottery/raffle tickets we’re buying. We win more games we get fewer tickets, but only if we drop out of the top 3. We drop to 4 and we get 2.5 less tickets than the top 3 get.

In the end, we still won’t know who has the winning ticket until the lottery is over. If Chicago/etc jump us all it will have been for nothing, including the handwringing.

[FFBlitzace]

I don't think it's worth getting worked up over winning a game unless it's the final game of the season and teams are emptying their bench and memeing all night long with 3rd string centers launching airball 3s, while the Magic play their veterans 40 minutes to squeeze out a win. Which has happened before, more than once, and it's really stupid. But in a game like this, what can you even say.

[Ducklett]

Cole could have been amazing in WWE. He was cutting a hype promo on the crowd, the Grizzlies, and the Camera after that game winner.

[GelbeWand09]

I get it. Great for him but unless he’s the star that leads us to multiple deep playoff runs, it’s not worth losing out on that potential star IMO. Especially when the season is meaningless at this point. We’ve seen this story play out multiple times and I’m just shocked that most here loved the win. Maybe I’m just different. I dunno. Meaningless wins (and you can spin this however you want but it’s a meaningless win to 99% of the basketball world) bring me no enjoy,ent. Now, if that was a win to keep us in the playoff hunt or to gain a higher seed, I would be right there with you. I’m just not sold on this core as ‘complete’ and players like Barnes and Moody don’t move the needle for me to get excited about next season. Our odds to land at 6th or lower went from 20% to 45% with just that 1 win. 1 more drop and we’ll be more likely to draft 6-9 than 1-5.

And for the, what could we have done? What is OKC doing again? Why did Jeremiah Grant not play yet again? Anyway, it’s not worth arguing about. I’m just incredibly frustrated by this franchise and the constant losing over the last decade.

The Magic had nine healthy players tonight. They literally played one player with more than a rookie contract's worth of experience.

Who should/could they have sat out tonight? What exactly could they have done different to lose tonight?

They barely have enough guys to field a roster! Two 20 year olds played the best games of their respective careers. It is what it is. Sometimes guys just play well and they win.

The ping pong balls will play out however they're going to play out.

I get all this & wont rant anymore until the lottery is over but signing Wagner, a guy who showed NBA level talent & who always had the skill to score & hit 4-5 threes or bringing Ennis back vs. the Cavs or playing Porter instead of cutting him, are just the things that cost us a better starting position. All the talk that we coudnt have done worse is just not true.
I mean lets be honest, there was never a ''if'' Wagner gets hot in one of those games, it was always '''when''.

[richi_v25]

Also, several people have been acting like RJ Hampton is a Reece Gaines, aka talentless and skill less, except he is not, he has game. People need to chill.

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I'll admit I'm one of them, i forget he's super young and hasn't played much but tonight he showed flashes, he even had some of the nicer assists tonight.

[penny_nz]

The Magic just had a 20-year-old rookie put up 26-8-6-3, hit 4-6 threes and get to the FT line 11 times in a victory over a playoff team including a game-winning walk off 3.

But something something tanking.

I've said it before and I'm sticking with it, I will NEVER hate a win in a tanking season, if some of our young guns show out. Cole and RJ were having fun today!