poll: starting Five on opening night ?

drsd · Post #1 » by **drsd** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 10:58 am

For me there is only one player certain to start on opening night: Suggs.

Harris should start, but will coach go with Ross to mix up the roster?
Might Ross start at SF? What does that do for Okeke as a stater?
Is Hampton tall enough to play SF and/or is he an upgrade over Harris?
Is it possible Bamba starts over Carter?
And the big one: is Isaac healthy on opening night?

So there are loads of potential starting night possibilities. I have a poll for some, but frankly, I think there are a lot, lot more than 10 possibilities. (Pre-season will teach us fans a lot).

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Tarheel · Post #2 » by **Tarheel** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:22 am

I think it will be Suggs/Harris/Ross/Okeke/Carter unless Isaac is healthy, at which point Okeke goes to the bench.

tiderulz · Post #3 » by **tiderulz** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:06 pm

RJ might be tall enough, but he isnt thick enough. 185ish too light to play SF.

basketballRob · Post #4 » by **basketballRob** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:23 pm

I think RJ's best position is PG, but we're deep there.

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drsd · Post #5 » by **drsd** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:55 pm

Tarheel wrote:I think it will be Suggs/Harris/Ross/Okeke/Carter unless Isaac is healthy, at which point Okeke goes to the bench.

I have Isaac healthy and thus voted:
Suggs/Ross/Isaac/Okeke/Carter

For me, Suggs' development requires a shooter to be on the court. We have no idea what Harris can bring and Ross at least has a role that assists Suggs. Actually, Okeke could also offer that sort of developmental support.

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p0peye · Post #6 » by **p0peye** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 2:59 pm

drsd wrote:
Tarheel wrote:I think it will be Suggs/Harris/Ross/Okeke/Carter unless Isaac is healthy, at which point Okeke goes to the bench.

I have Isaac healthy and thus voted:
Suggs/Ross/Isaac/Okeke/Carter

For me, Suggs' development requires a shooter to be on the court. We have no idea what Harris can bring and Ross at least has a role that assists Suggs. Actually, Okeke could also offer that sort of developmental support.
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I agree, we need to look into how other people on the floor complement Suggs development and to that point, having shooters at 2 and 3 should be priority.

3ddman23 · Post #7 » by **3ddman23** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 5:27 pm

A bit intresting
Will they go with cole? to start since he pretty much was our starting pg last season.
Will issac or fultz be healthy to start the season?
Who takes over the center spot between bamba & Carter? Or do they go Clifford and start Lopez to start the season?
How does ross & Harris & Moore factor in as the veteran guards?

My starting line up would be:
Suggs, Harris, okeke, issac, Carter
Another, rj, Ross, Wagner, bamba (until vets are moved at some point)
But I woukd not be surprised if that is no whwre near the rotation when it's all said and done.
One thing is for sure Suggs should start from day 1 no questions asked.

zaymon · Post #8 » by **zaymon** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 6:13 pm

If Isaac is not ready to start i would like to see Suggs/Harris/Wagner/Okeke/Carter
Ross doesnt want to start, i have no intention to watch Hampton starting.

sChOlaRlY_Magi · Post #9 » by **sChOlaRlY_Magi** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:36 pm

I voted the closest to what I'd like to see, but I'd like to see: Suggs/Harris or Ross/Okeke/Isaac / Bamba.

Ross should get the 1st nod, but if he is Coin toss Ross, I'd give the nod to Harris, just to see what he can do.

Isaac and Okeke are interchangeable at SF/PF.

ANYONE OUTSIDE OF SUGGS AND ISAAC CAN QUICKLY BE REPLACED by whomever rises from the 2nd unit.

drsd · Post #10 » by **drsd** » Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:42 pm

sChOlaRlY_Magi wrote:ANYONE OUTSIDE OF SUGGS AND ISAAC CAN QUICKLY BE REPLACED.

Dude: the thought line can be simplified to the above. Orlando has a great bench and these two starters; that means three bench players will start. For me, there are 13 Magicians easily available in essentially any trade that improves the roster.

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sChOlaRlY_Magi · Post #11 » by **sChOlaRlY_Magi** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:15 am

dsrd- Agreed, but I'm hoping with extra height and weight Isaac can be the PF, slide okeke to the 3. Or if Franz gets his sea legs he can be the 3 asap and grow with Suggs. Pun intended, its a toss up between Ross and Harris. Harris was supposed o be a good player before an injury and trade to us, and they are both vets compared to the rest so you have to give one or both the nod at Starter.

But it's wide open after that until Fultz comes back. And realistically , as you said we should have a trade lined up for whenever he comes back.
I may be in the minority here. But I still have high hopes for Cole, I like his leadership so far. We'll see if he remains positive (and this goes for all slotted at the PG /SG combo) when Suggs takes his position. The jumble of backup PG /SG I think will shake out with whoever is willing to be a backup. The others get traded...

But I'm really excited to give them ALL a chance before ASB and, I think anyone of the backups could possibly shine, including Carter Jr. I've had a feeling that Weham has specifically targeted guys they had as their 1st or 2nd best pick behind whoever they reached for, which to me at least, tells me they trust their own judgment and could be money - balling this whole thing!

Which could lead to an exciting season or a new regime pretty quickly... Either way I'm excited to find out, and watch young guys run, and pass to the open player.

sChOlaRlY_Magi · Post #12 » by **sChOlaRlY_Magi** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:20 am

Also, I'd like to see passing around the arc and multiple PNR that get our crafty or fast guards open for easy buckets being installed. No one should be jacking shots with a hand in their face unless their Name is Ross and we are trying to inflate his trade value...

Even then, I don't want to see it past 5 games that result in an L.

If you don't have a big 3 or 4. You go back to fundamentals, and through repetition make these guys look great until they either impress or get traded.

Sammyzc+1 · Post #13 » by **Sammyzc+1** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:31 am

Tarheel wrote:I think it will be Suggs/Harris/Ross/Okeke/Carter unless Isaac is healthy, at which point Okeke goes to the bench.

Agreed

Post #14 » by **Knightro** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 1:39 am

If Isaac and Fultz are healthy enough to play, they're both going to start IMO.

Suggs/Fultz/Okeke/Isaac/Carter if both Isaac and Fultz can play.

If Fultz can't play, then Harris starts at off guard.

If Isaac can't play, then Okeke and Wagner start at forward.

I think Ross prefers to come off the bench and will continue in that role.

nicnac215 · Post #15 » by **nicnac215** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 2:11 am

Sammyzc+1 wrote:
Tarheel wrote:I think it will be Suggs/Harris/Ross/Okeke/Carter unless Isaac is healthy, at which point Okeke goes to the bench.

Agreed

I think this as well

CPBalla2003 n da 863 · Post #16 » by **CPBalla2003 n da 863** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:25 am

Assuming Fultz isn't good to go, I'm putting Harris next to him. Suggs/Fultz starts and stagger Harris next to him. We already seen in summer league that Mose likes to experiment with lineups..

the 2nd unit is going to be fun to project... there are going to be some nights where certain rotational players are not playing as many minutes as they should. Cole/RJ/Ross/Harris/Wagz/Bamba are your bench rotation, but who's the odd man out? Guess that depends on matchups on certain gamenights.

drsd · Post #17 » by **drsd** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:35 am

There is a lot of ambiguity about who will start for the Magic on opening night.

Most teams’ starting lineups are set. That’s not the case for the Magic. Jamahl Mosley could go in several different directions. Health is certainly going to play into those decisions as well. One could argue that no starting position is determined yet. With Fultz still working his way back, will it be Anthony or Suggs starting at point guard on opening night? Gary Harris, Hampton, and Ross are expected to vie for the starting shooting guard spot. It’s possible two of them could start if Mosley is confident playing one of them at the three. Either Okeke or Franz Wagner could start at that position as well. Okeke seems like the most logical choice at the four until Isaac is ready to return, although Moe Wagner could be an option as well. Either Carter or Bamba, we assume, will start at center.

NBA.com LINK; 5 Interesting Things About the Orlando Magic Going Into the 2021-22 Season

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jezzerinho · Post #18 » by **jezzerinho** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:27 pm

zaymon wrote:If Isaac is not ready to start i would like to see Suggs/Harris/Wagner/Okeke/Carter
Ross doesnt want to start, i have no intention to watch Hampton starting.

Agree with that.

The Real Dalic · Post #19 » by **The Real Dalic** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 4:11 pm

I voted "other." I don't believe Isaac or Fultz will be ready on opening night. Though I obviously hope I'm wrong.

I believe the lineup will be:

PG: Suggs
SG: Harris
SF: Wagner
PF: Okeke
C: Carter

Until Isaac and Fultz comes back to replace Harris and Wagner. I also believe Carter's job isn't safe after the start of the season if Mo Bamba can impress Coach Mo.

I believe the two "safest" starters are Suggs and Okeke. Not that either can't lose their starting spots. But that it will likely be harder for either to lose them either due to how much is invested in them or how little depth we have behind them.

OrlChamps2030 · Post #20 » by **OrlChamps2030** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 5:03 pm

The Real Dalic wrote:I voted "other." I don't believe Isaac or Fultz will be ready on opening night. Though I obviously hope I'm wrong.

I believe the lineup will be:

PG: Suggs
SG: Harris
SF: Wagner
PF: Okeke
C: Carter

Until Isaac and Fultz comes back to replace Harris and Wagner. I also believe Carter's job isn't safe after the start of the season if Mo Bamba can impress Coach Mo.

I believe the two "safest" starters are Suggs and Okeke. Not that either can't lose their starting spots. But that it will likely be harder for either to lose them either due to how much is invested in them or how little depth we have behind them.

Is Wagner really ready to be a day 1 NBA starter at SF?

I guess with the hole at SF, he may end up starting regardless of whether or not he’s ready

Starting Five on opening night ?