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

[MagicMatic]

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.

We can’t lose every game, so I’m not worried about it. Good to see the numbers from one of the rookies as a consolation.

However, Orlando getting blown out in the next 5-6 games, and still being a likely top 5 lotto team, won’t really change the morale. Picking, give or take, a spot in the draft will though based on the outcome.

[drsd]

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''.

He is auditioning for a Magic job next year. Game one he looked OK in his "warm-up". Game two he looked like a non-NBA scrub. Game three he looked like a 3-year 35M signee.

There needs some stability in his game so management can make a decision on him.

..

[drsd]

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.

Mr. Anthony has clear swagger. Coaches cannot teach players a passion for victory.


..

[drsd]

Well obviously are are passing OKC. We could very easily finish 4-5, giving us a likely scenario of the 6th pick haha. Let’s draft another project that we hope turns into something

After this win, the computers have Orlando and Detroit tying for the 2/3, up on OKC.

..

[KillMonger]

Cole may end up being our Jordan Clarkson or better yet maybe a prime Lou Williams?

[drsd]

My count was wrong, Bacon is now only two game behind Vučević for most starts this season. (Three more for the team lead).
Three starts required in wight more games. I like his odds. I guess it is all about Ennis' health.

He is also on pace to be the only Magician to play in all 72 games.

[pepe1991]

Where i don't care are we 2# or 4th worst team, falling at 6# would be disaster. esencially having 51% chance at drafting 7th , 8th or 9th

[axl_c_cool]

Where i don't care are we 2# or 4th worst team, falling at 6# would be disaster. esencially having 51% chance at drafting 7th , 8th or 9th

This is where those wins you said don't matter because #2-4 odds are ok matter. We were always going to get random wins like this. We legit need to lose out the season now, that SHOULD get us #2 and bottom 4

[GelbeWand09]

Where i don't care are we 2# or 4th worst team, falling at 6# would be disaster. esencially having 51% chance at drafting 7th , 8th or 9th

It all goes down if Minnesota keeps winning. OKC & Cavs are high possibility that they pass us. In case Minnesota's run is over, there is even a good chance we end 7th
But hey in the last years 7th jumped

[PigsEatHam]

The Orlando front office traded away three of our long-time starters and best, currently healthy players at the time. They then outright waived another starting veteran in Khem who was providing productive minutes. In guys like Ross and MCW, they've been sitting other veterans who under more competitive circumstances would almost certainly be playing.

Did I want the Magic to lose last night? Yes. Do I hope they lose every game the rest of the season? Yes. Will I be upset if the lotto knocks Orlando out of a top four pick once again (and/or the Bulls pick doesn't convey this year)? Absolutely. But I'll be upset because the Magic caught a bad bounce in the lottery again, not at the front office.

Short of fielding a team of traffic cones with smiley faces drawn on them and randomly chosen fans from the lower bowl, they've done everything reasonable to bottom out this roster for the year. If we win because a couple rookies have career nights, including a buzzer beater, them's the breaks.

And it is an absolute pleasure to see the fire Cole brings to his game (and postgame interviews).

[MagicFan101]

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 didn’t get to watch the game.

Looks like Hampton played well also? Or just stat stuffing?

We can’t have many of these but they are inevitable so if they are going to happen you want them to be the result of your young players breaking through. Sometimes a meaningless win is just handed to you by a team resting everyone and there is nothing to take from it. It looks like we have a lot of positive things to take from this so we have to say good job kid and move on.

[Knightro]

I didn’t get to watch the game.

Looks like Hampton played well also? Or just stat stuffing?

We can’t have many of these but they are inevitable so if they are going to happen you want them to be the result of your young players breaking through. Sometimes a meaningless win is just handed to you by a team resting everyone and there is nothing to take from it. It looks like we have a lot of positive things to take from this so we have to say good job kid and move on.

It was the best game of Hampton’s career by a mile.

He still played like his hair was on fire like he usually does, but he was able to find ways to get north/south instead of having to move east/west.

Ask him to go side to side offensively and he’s not really able to do it well. But when he finds areas to attack in a straight line he’s really fast with the ball.

[Bergmaniac]

I can't be mad about this, the management is trying to tank, but it's the NBA, sometimes even scrubs get randomly hot while the other team loses concentration midway. When Hampton hit that 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock when we had a 4 on 2 fast break with a minute and a half left I knew this is one of those games where everyone goes out way and we'll win.

At least this is a valuable experience for Cole, he's definitely not afraid of the big moments, which is great to see.

One of those games where Wagner gets randomly hot, he'll probably be bricking again in the next few games, but them's the breaks. I thought he'd be terrible defensively at PF, but it hasn't happened so far, maybe because he was mostly matched up against Kyle "Slow-Mo" Anderson. Bacon also had one of his rare good shooting games on the same night, and that's how it goes sometimes.

I am more mad at Minnesota's epic choke against the Pels, they led by 10 with 3 minutes left and choked it away in a pathetic way.

[RookieStar]

The Orlando front office traded away three of our long-time starters and best, currently healthy players at the time. They then outright waived another starting veteran in Khem who was providing productive minutes. In guys like Ross and MCW, they've been sitting other veterans who under more competitive circumstances would almost certainly be playing.

Did I want the Magic to lose last night? Yes. Do I hope they lose every game the rest of the season? Yes. Will I be upset if the lotto knocks Orlando out of a top four pick once again (and/or the Bulls pick doesn't convey this year)? Absolutely. But I'll be upset because the Magic caught a bad bounce in the lottery again, not at the front office.

Short of fielding a team of traffic cones with smiley faces drawn on them and randomly chosen fans from the lower bowl, they've done everything reasonable to bottom out this roster for the year. If we win because a couple rookies have career nights, including a buzzer beater, them's the breaks.

And it is an absolute pleasure to see the fire Cole brings to his game (and postgame interviews).

Agree with this. Also... it will hurt the same way if we get the #1 worst record but end up #4 lotto pick. As you said, in a lotto them is the breaks