Why isn't Mo Bamba playing significant minutes now that the Magic face an avalanche of injuries? (Robbins)

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

Won't post the whole thing because it's a paywall, but this one bit certainly caught my attention.

Steve Clifford has played Khem Birch out of position at power forward as a stopgap measure due to the bizarre avalanche of injuries. Clifford initially thought a pairing of Nikola Vucevic at center and Birch at power forward had potential to succeed. Vucevic and Birch have played 226 minutes together this season, and in that time, the Magic have been outscored by 27.8 points per 100 possessions. That minus-27.8 net rating is the worst net rating for any Magic two-man combination that has played at least 50 minutes together, according to the NBA’s database. It’s also the worst net rating for any two-man lineup in the entire league that has played at least 136 minutes together.

[The Effect]

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

from article

That said, everything I hear is that Weltman and Hammond are very pleased, and perhaps ecstatic, with the job Clifford and the coaching staff have done.

[MasterGMer]

This is very easy to figure out: Bamba is on the trade block.

[basketballRob]

This is very easy to figure out: Bamba is on the trade block.

I was actually thinking the exact opposite. They're giving Birch and Vuc a bunch of playing time prior to the trade deadline to increase their value.

It could be a case where Bamba starts a bunch of games after the deadline.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[RookieStar]

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

from article

That said, everything I hear is that Weltman and Hammond are very pleased, and perhaps ecstatic, with the job Clifford and the coaching staff have done.

Well.. in half-glass full outlook... the league punishes those teams that are openly tanking right? ( The process? Philly? Hinkie? )
So they may be happy that we are losing but trying hard to win it so they can't accuse us of tanking?

[thelead]

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

from article

That said, everything I hear is that Weltman and Hammond are very pleased, and perhaps ecstatic, with the job Clifford and the coaching staff have done.

We're F'ed. I have seriously considered just following another team.... I just haven't brought myself to that yet. I didn't think it was possible but there is no hope with these clowns.

Go ahead Hammond. I know you've read the board here before. Make another stupid mistake like trading Tobias for JJ. Go ahead and trade Bamba for a Band-Aid solution for this season. That really worked out for you the last time.

[GameOver25]

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

from article

That said, everything I hear is that Weltman and Hammond are very pleased, and perhaps ecstatic, with the job Clifford and the coaching staff have done.

We're F'ed. I have seriously considered just following another team.... I just haven't brought myself to that yet. I didn't think it was possible but there is no hope with these clowns.

Go ahead Hammond. I know you've read the board here before. Make another stupid mistake like trading Tobias for JJ. Go ahead and trade Bamba for a Band-Aid solution for this season. That really worked out for you the last time.

You should give it a try to be honest, wean off the Magic little by little. Although I no longer live in FL I was still following them via league pass last year. Didn't do it this year because the team flat out isn't worth my time any longer. I haven't watched one game this year, not even Youtube highlights. No longer in the game threads, but I do read the forum threads still from time to time and the franchise is just deteriorating. Being a Magic fan is miserable.

[thelead]

from article

We're F'ed. I have seriously considered just following another team.... I just haven't brought myself to that yet. I didn't think it was possible but there is no hope with these clowns.

Go ahead Hammond. I know you've read the board here before. Make another stupid mistake like trading Tobias for JJ. Go ahead and trade Bamba for a Band-Aid solution for this season. That really worked out for you the last time.

You should give it a try to be honest, wean off the Magic little by little. Although I no longer live in FL I was still following them via league pass last year. Didn't do it this year because the team flat out isn't worth my time any longer. I haven't watched one game this year, not even Youtube highlights. No longer in the game threads, but I do read the forum threads still from time to time and the franchise is just deteriorating. Being a Magic fan is miserable.

Agreed. It's not even about the losing. There is no direction and brand of basketball is two decades old/stale... and they're not good at it either.

[MagicFan101]

from article

We're F'ed. I have seriously considered just following another team.... I just haven't brought myself to that yet. I didn't think it was possible but there is no hope with these clowns.

Go ahead Hammond. I know you've read the board here before. Make another stupid mistake like trading Tobias for JJ. Go ahead and trade Bamba for a Band-Aid solution for this season. That really worked out for you the last time.

You should give it a try to be honest, wean off the Magic little by little. Although I no longer live in FL I was still following them via league pass last year. Didn't do it this year because the team flat out isn't worth my time any longer. I haven't watched one game this year, not even Youtube highlights. No longer in the game threads, but I do read the forum threads still from time to time and the franchise is just deteriorating. Being a Magic fan is miserable.

I have been in Texas for over 10 years now.

I was in Dallas the past 6 years (Austin now).

I’m really not sure why I never jumped to the Spurs when they won while I was here or to the Mavs once they landed Luka. I could never support a Harden lead Houston but those other two were so easy and right there for me ...

Still, I remained loyal.

[pepe1991]

Did anybody consider or entertained idea that they are just hiding him so they can trade him?
I mean, if he plays, and sucks ( rookie year ) or he is walking mediocity that can't even finish pick&roll as rolling big despite 7'10 wingspan ( happend last year ) who execlly will take him?

Either way, i'm not losing my sleep over draft bust who can't beat third stringer for rotation spot because he can't be bothered to put his body in playing shape.

[thelead]

Did anybody consider or entertained idea that they are just hiding him so they can trade him?
I mean, if he plays, and sucks ( rookie year ) or he is walking mediocity that can't even finish pick&roll as rolling big despite 7'10 wingspan ( happend last year ) who execlly will take him?

Either way, i'm not losing my sleep over draft bust who can't beat third stringer for rotation spot because he can't be bothered to put his body in playing shape.

Go away with your irrational hate of Bamba. That argument holds no water. If Gary Clark is racking up minutes, surely Bamba can play. It’s not like his trade value isn’t in the trash anyway.

[basketballRob]

Never heard of a case where they sit out a player so they could trade him. Especially a player that puts up good stats when he plays.

Usually they give a player a bunch of usage before they trade them. Like when Dallas traded DSJ.

Vuc and Birch are the players getting a bunch of usage. Mo just purchased a home here. If I'm reading the signs.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[The Effect]

https://theathletic.com/2384858/2021/02/12/mo-bamba-playing-time-2/

from article

That said, everything I hear is that Weltman and Hammond are very pleased, and perhaps ecstatic, with the job Clifford and the coaching staff have done.

Well.. in half-glass full outlook... the league punishes those teams that are openly tanking right? ( The process? Philly? Hinkie? )
So they may be happy that we are losing but trying hard to win it so they can't accuse us of tanking?

I mean, they did give the 76ers the #1 pick in back to back years while tanking so....

[Xatticus]

I think the fear is that playing Bamba might yield big numbers on a **** team. Then they'd have to lock him up at $25M per year.

[SD2042]

We're F'ed. I have seriously considered just following another team.... I just haven't brought myself to that yet. I didn't think it was possible but there is no hope with these clowns.

Go ahead Hammond. I know you've read the board here before. Make another stupid mistake like trading Tobias for JJ. Go ahead and trade Bamba for a Band-Aid solution for this season. That really worked out for you the last time.

You should give it a try to be honest, wean off the Magic little by little. Although I no longer live in FL I was still following them via league pass last year. Didn't do it this year because the team flat out isn't worth my time any longer. I haven't watched one game this year, not even Youtube highlights. No longer in the game threads, but I do read the forum threads still from time to time and the franchise is just deteriorating. Being a Magic fan is miserable.

I have been in Texas for over 10 years now.

I was in Dallas the past 6 years (Austin now).

I’m really not sure why I never jumped to the Spurs when they won while I was here or to the Mavs once they landed Luka. I could never support a Harden lead Houston but those other two were so easy and right there for me ...

Still, I remained loyal.

Sometimes the loyalist wins out as you expect that loyalty to be rewarded. Sometimes it can't be the case when incompetence runs rapid in organizations. Although I myself have followed the Magic for years, the idiocy that the organization continues to run has me at the point of not caring about what happens to the team in general. Although I'm pulling for certain guys like Fultz, JI, AG00 to make something decent out of their careers, the Magic front office severely makes it impossible to respect the Magic like I once did in the past when it was the most exciting to truly follow the Magic(Penny and Shaq era)


I follow the Grizzlies since they moved to the city in 2001. Been through hell and back. Just like this team we both follow. It's good that this time around that the Grizzlies rebuild has not been a process like Philly was. Still coming up strong. So it's been cool to say the least. The Spurs is another team I followed going back to David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliot. One of the most respected and no-non sense organizations in the NBA. Winners of five champs. Future Hall of Famers in Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. What more could you ask for.

Looking at the history of the Spurs and how they build up their brand actually pissed me off with the Magic and how they continue to half-assed this organization to sht. It's like they don't give a sht about how the roster takes shape. No disrespect to the current players, but the direction the front office has taken for this team over the years has been anything but. No sound plan, but to stay mediocre. Injuries are helping this team out of playoff contention and rightfully so. A mistaken goal to think that mediocrity is the safe route for this franchise to run is not acceptable. This is how a team loses its true objective to win with better quality players and coaching. This is how fans lose the loyalty and respect for their favorite team when they see oweners and the front office do not care about the product they're placing on the hardwood to represent the team.

[fendilim]

1. You can download the Athletic app. They let you read any free 3 articles per month.

2. Clifford did say in the post game tonight, that he has number that Vuc-Birch are positive on the court DEPENDING on the matchups. Tonight was one of them. The same as mentioned in the article. lol the post game interview with Clifford tonight, did sound like Robbins trying to make another article about Bamba's PT.

3. We all want to see Bamba play, but tonight and last game, Bamba needs a playmaker to help him get his points. That's why last year, he also had good numbers offensively because those were assisted numbers to him. In this current lineup, with only MCW on the court, we'd be better of playing half of MCW's minutes with VUc and half with Bamba. Vuc has proven he can also be a facilitator on offense without a PG, so far. Not saying he can be a PG but being a triple threat on offense.

[Furinkazan]

With Birch on the team Bamba will never see any real pt...
Cliff loves big lineups...this is exactly what he was doing in Charlotte playing Howard and Zeller...while whole league was playing small
his Zeller is Birch now as we all know ...this coach is all about rebounding...esp offensive rebounding so he will keep playing it and keep justyfying it till the bitter end

[drsd]

Gary Clark has scored since Gordon went down: 3, 0, 3, 0, 2, and 6 points.
(( That is, start Birch at PF and have Okeke get major PF back-up minutes )).

Birch will not be worse than Clark; it really is not possible.

In this scenario, Bamba gets a nice 12-15 mpg at C.


Play Bamba !

..

[CZ Eddie]

I have been in Texas for over 10 years now.

I was in Dallas the past 6 years (Austin now).

I’m really not sure why I never jumped to the Spurs when they won while I was here or to the Mavs once they landed Luka. I could never support a Harden lead Houston but those other two were so easy and right there for me ...

Still, I remained loyal.

Ditto!
Though I did go watch a Mavs game when they played the Magic.
But I can't stand how Pops is always pushing his politics on people.
And same for Marc Cuban.
They both completely turn me off of any interest on those teams.
I may start to thaw out on the Spurs after Pops retires.
Especially if Becky Hammon gets the job.

No knock on Pop, he's one of the best. Just can't stand him (or Cuban).

I know one of the Magic owners wife is in politics BUT I never have to listen to her **** when reading sports news.
Politics from all sides should be banned from sports.

[SD2042]

I have been in Texas for over 10 years now.

I was in Dallas the past 6 years (Austin now).

I’m really not sure why I never jumped to the Spurs when they won while I was here or to the Mavs once they landed Luka. I could never support a Harden lead Houston but those other two were so easy and right there for me ...

Still, I remained loyal.

Ditto!
Though I did go watch a Mavs game when they played the Magic.
But I can't stand how Pops is always pushing his politics on people.
And same for Marc Cuban.
They both completely turn me off of any interest on those teams.
I may start to thaw out on the Spurs after Pops retires.
Especially if Becky Hammon gets the job.

No knock on Pop, he's one of the best. Just can't stand him (or Cuban).

I know one of the Magic owners wife is in politics BUT I never have to listen to her **** when reading sports news.
Politics from all sides should be banned from sports.

The bad thing about politics is that it's ingrained into the fabric of what this country is for better and worse. Per the constitution, we as ppl do have the right to support our views regardless of what side of the isle one chooses to represent. Where politics has become dangerous over the years is that some people have taken the route of the extreme to where people catching hell from the verbal attacks, to physical attacks, to grassroots domestic terrorism acts like the U.S. Capitol invasion from last month and controversies within the U.S. Government itself. These are social and political fractures that is defining the country right now and is destablizing the country practically to it's knees. This is the times we're in right now. It looks like we're all in for a helleva roller coaster ride here.

Who's to say how long the ride will last.