2021-2022 Regular Season Game 4: Orlando Magic (1-2) at Miami Heat (1-1) - 10/25/21 at 7:30pm ET

[basketballRob]

If Franz keeps it up, he may win rookie of the month.

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[tooler]

Suggs hit 4 jumpers tonight, double what I've been looking for this season. But the coaching staff really needs to show him where the 3-point line is. Take those shots when you're already a star, Jalen!

[Magicfanatic82]

Tonight was the old version of Bamba. Him constantly tipping rebounds drives me nuts.
Ross was gassed. Iggy is just painful.
Positive notes Suggs and Franz will be solid.

[Xatticus]

I do have to say Cole hustles for every damn rebound which is nice to see.

I like it, but at the same time I can't help but feel like Cole has a little Russell Westbrook "I'm gonna chase rebounds my bigs could get in an effort to increase my triple double chances" in him.

That's most rebounds. Rebounding is rather poorly understood by most fans. What matters is how your team rebounds when you are on the floor. Raw numbers don't mean as much as people think. I see people mock Brook Lopez' rebounding numbers for a center, but his teams always rebound well when he is on the floor because he boxes guys out away from the paint. Some guys just feast on swiping rebounds from teammates.

Anthony has really good instincts, so it is probably fine to give him free rein, but everyone should be adept at boxing out. A guard can help his team's rebounding without actually collecting rebounds simply by consistently getting his ass on guys when the shot goes up.

[BlueBalls]

This team is hideous on defense and the boards, but I’ve come away from all 4 games feeling kinda okay. There’s talent here. A lot of it. Just not doing much winning this season.

[BlueBalls]

It seems like Mo Wagners minutes is the one getting cut but I don't get it.

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Mo isn’t very good.

Not saying Mo is but still way better than Iggy.

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Oh, without question.

[ChosenSavior]

Our transition defense needs a ton of work. The communication constantly breaks down and we have too many players crashing the glass largely cause our front court has done a subpar job of controlling the paint.

Ross went back to being a lackadaisical mess out there again. He offers absolutely nothing if he is not hitting shots. By the trade deadline, hopefully we move on from him.

I feel Bamba and WCJ were underwhelming tonight. Miami got way too many 2nd chance opportunities. Our guard play is a major problem right now. I hope that can right itself and become at least average so that we look organized offensively. Franz played extremely well tonight. I think him and Chuma/Isaac can play together and will complement one another.

Hopefully we can start getting players back so that this team can be properly evaluated.

[JTG_92940618]

Our transition defence was horrible this game. It's a shame too because at our best we could trouble them when our D was set. Also 18 turnovers is bad.

Still, Suggs made some threes today, Wendell was solid and battled again, Franz continues to show off his IQ and RJ showed glimpses after being disappointing against NY.

Bamba looks like he could use a moment to re-set. He's falling back into his old ways a bit.

I'm worried about T-Ross and I'm worried that Harris is joining him as part of the checked-out crew.

[ChosenSavior]

I do have to say Cole hustles for every damn rebound which is nice to see.

I like it, but at the same time I can't help but feel like Cole has a little Russell Westbrook "I'm gonna chase rebounds my bigs could get in an effort to increase my triple double chances" in him.

That's most rebounds. Rebounding is rather poorly understood by most fans. What matters is how your team rebounds when you are on the floor. Raw numbers don't mean as much as people think. I see people mock Brook Lopez' rebounding numbers for a center, but his teams always rebound well when he is on the floor because he boxes guys out away from the paint. Some guys just feast on swiping rebounds from teammates.

Anthony has really good instincts, so it is probably fine to give him free rein, but everyone should be adept at boxing out. A guard can help his team's rebounding without actually collecting rebounds simply by consistently getting his ass on guys when the shot goes up.

Well said and that is a huge problem with the Magic right now. Robin Lopez honestly is the only big I see that actually puts his ass on someone and boxes out when it comes to rebounds. Both Bamba and WCJ just try to jump for the ball instead of actually boxing out their man. The anticipation of the ball coming off the rim isn't the best either from our squad but unfortunately that really cannot be taught. Emphasizing boxing out though would definitely go a long way toward preventing teams from getting offensive rebounds.

[JTG_92940618]

Wish we had Chuma to throw onto Butler too.

[OrlDave]

We really need our bigs to rebound. WCJ had a better night with 9, but Bamba and WCJ should be pulling in close to 20 a game combined. We don't shoot well enough to lose the boards.

[Knightro]

That's most rebounds. Rebounding is rather poorly understood by most fans. What matters is how your team rebounds when you are on the floor. Raw numbers don't mean as much as people think. I see people mock Brook Lopez' rebounding numbers for a center, but his teams always rebound well when he is on the floor because he boxes guys out away from the paint. Some guys just feast on swiping rebounds from teammates.

Anthony has really good instincts, so it is probably fine to give him free rein, but everyone should be adept at boxing out. A guard can help his team's rebounding without actually collecting rebounds simply by consistently getting his ass on guys when the shot goes up.

Perhaps.

Anthony has always just seemed very... what's the word... aware of what his stat line is.

And if we *really* want to go tinfoil hat, I could see Cole justifying his chucking to himself by saying "well look at all the other stuff I did to help the team!" and citing the rebounds he vultured from his bigs

All things considered though, if the team rebounds better when he's on the floor than not, then I'm fine with it.

[Last Guardian]

Bamba still showing the issues that he's always had. Wendell is able to to be consistent and fit within the flow of the offense and play smart defensively. Bamba has atleast been a threat in the paint. But outside of that he hasn't played well.

His IQ is in the toilet and he’s softer than Vuc. Gets pushed around by literally anyone he’s matched up with. I was rooting for him all these years but he just doesn’t have it.

My hope is that he plays well enough for an extended period so that we can snooker a team into trading for him. We should not sign this guy long term. Look a rookie in Wagner in his first week showing more understanding of the game than Bamba has shown in years.

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To be fair Wagner shows more understanding than pretty much everyone on the team.

I was watching Sengun last night on NBA TV so thats why I'm a bit grumpy on Bamba right now. He didn't have a great stat line IIRC but he played pretty smart and he's very engaged and passionate on defense. I can see why many wanted him at 8 now.

[JTG_92940618]

In a sense it's good if your PG gets the rebound because then you can start a fast break quicker. I also can't say I've noticed Cole stealing rebounds but I have noticed that a team our non-bigs compete for them - Cole, RJ, Suggs, they all want that ball.

Also interesting is that after the NY game, Cole was asked how he got so many boards and he said it was because he wanted it more. It's good that he's honest but the correct answer is "I benefited from my bigs boxing out" or something similar. That feels like the answer of a good leader.

[Optimus_Steel]

Has anyone's game fallen off a cliff more than Gary Harris? Maybe Isiah Thomas.

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[Last Guardian]

I like it, but at the same time I can't help but feel like Cole has a little Russell Westbrook "I'm gonna chase rebounds my bigs could get in an effort to increase my triple double chances" in him.

That's most rebounds. Rebounding is rather poorly understood by most fans. What matters is how your team rebounds when you are on the floor. Raw numbers don't mean as much as people think. I see people mock Brook Lopez' rebounding numbers for a center, but his teams always rebound well when he is on the floor because he boxes guys out away from the paint. Some guys just feast on swiping rebounds from teammates.

Anthony has really good instincts, so it is probably fine to give him free rein, but everyone should be adept at boxing out. A guard can help his team's rebounding without actually collecting rebounds simply by consistently getting his ass on guys when the shot goes up.

Well said and that is a huge problem with the Magic right now. Robin Lopez honestly is the only big I see that actually puts his ass on someone and boxes out when it comes to rebounds. Both Bamba and WCJ just try to jump for the ball instead of actually boxing out their man. The anticipation of the ball coming off the rim isn't the best either from our squad but unfortunately that really cannot be taught. Emphasizing boxing out though would definitely go a long way toward preventing teams from getting offensive rebounds.

Yea WCJ should be so much better. With his size boxing out should be incredibly easy for him.

I like Lopez a lot. You can't start him because he's a bit too slow but he's a great backup C.

[Knightro]

If all 15 guys were magically able to be healthy at the same time, what would your rotation be?

I'd go...

Fultz, Suggs, F. Wagner, Isaac, Carter
Anthony, Hampton, Okeke, Bamba

as my top 9 with Ross traded.

Then in garbage time you could bring in a parade of veterans!

Moore, Harris, MCW, M. Wagner Lopez

[tooler]

Fultz, Suggs, F. Wagner, Isaac, Carter
Anthony, Hampton, Okeke, Bamba

I still like Bamba to start, with WCJ bringing the energy. He signed the extension, he won't mind. I don't see Bamba bringing much energy off the bench and JI can help from the weak side to cover for him if he makes a dumb play on defense. Finally, we saw Okeke and WCJ had a great two-man game working last year, so it makes sense to pair them together.

Our starting lineup seems like they've been pretty good at the beginning of each half, so I wouldn't mind if they just rolled with it for a while.

[JBSouthpaw]

Tonight was the old version of Bamba. Him constantly tipping rebounds drives me nuts.
Ross was gassed. Iggy is just painful.
Positive notes Suggs and Franz will be solid.

Just checked Ross's line.
0-7, zero points, 3 turnovers.
YIKES.
last night Heads,
tonight tales.

[RookieStar]

So.... since practically all are onboard the Franz bandwagon, anyone here still prefer another player wr shouldve picked for #8? ( JK Giddy are not allowed)