CTMagicUK

When Jalen plays with this fire is when he gets cooking. We're going to need him in this series.

We're playing like ass offensively though.

Honestly whatever happens now this season has been a success. I view this series as a chance to really expose every flaw we have for the off-season.

This defense isn't going to cut it.

This teams playing terribly since the Fultz flagrant. Game is at risk of getting away from us.

That's a flagrant foul? Soft.

I was late getting home but I'm caught up now. I like the way we're playing. They're going to make shots that's fine just stay connected and try and make a run.

I don't know, I think Harris is just a low volume guy, you need guys like that. If he had an expanded offensive role his defense would likely drop off. Plus he's only really a spot up shooter (doesn't shoot off movement or off the dribble) and there aren't many reliable ways to run sets to get those guys better looks because it's dependent on teams helping off of them. He definitely could be an X factor in this series though, we'll need to play good, disciplined guard defense and hit shots and that's his game.

The Magic are 35-19 with Gary and 12-16 without him. Now, much like last season and Markelle with point guard play I think there's an element of "is it really Gary or is it just having a 2 way guard who can space the floor?" To be considered but nevertheless that's a compelling stat when we're talking about bringing Gary back.

I'm pretty confident we're not picking in the second round given the amount of roster spots we likely have available. Unless we're willing to pick in the second and give the guy a 2 way contract, not something we've ever done historically under Weltman.

The Magic actually ended up leading the league in free throw attempt rate. If we can get the whistle I'm confident we win at least a couple games. If the refs swallow the whistles in the playoffs we might be in trouble. Ultimately Magic basketball is playing tough defense, forcing turnovers, attacking the boards on both ends, attacking the paint and getting to the FT line. If we can translate all of that to playoff basketball I think we can actually win this series. If any of that deserts us it'll be tough sledding. We overcome our lack of shooting with just getting more possessions than our opponents and getting free ones at the FT line to balance the math of trading 2 for 3 at times. If we can't do that we'll need guys to shoot above their station.

Here's some hype stat I just saw posted elsewhere (haven't confirmed it myself hoping it's legit): Out of 192 available minutes against the Cavs this season, Isaac only played 32 of them. During which we were +25.

With Jimmy Butler injured Miami might actually lose the 8/9 game.

New Givony ESPN mock has us getting Tristan Da Silva. I hope so.

Nah you're good man that comment wasn't aimed at you specifically just everyone, I've been discussing it too lol

Also what does this have to do with the NBA Draft?

Grant Hill probably discussed with Paolo that he'd be a part of the FIBA team but likely not make the Olympic team this soon when he approached him to play for team USA. Worth noting Italy haven't yet qualified for the Olympics so it's not like Paolo was guaranteed to be their if he went with Italy.

Random thought somewhat related to guard free agency: if Gary Harris plays awesome defense like he did on Lillard in the Bucks game on Garland/Mitchell and shoots 40% from 3 in this series against the Cavs he's likely going to be very in demand this summer and we've been very good with him in the starting lineup. Might need to pay him to keep him.

ESPN reported yesterday Kawhi is getting it.

I think there's a world where Klay works out here. Joe Ingles has spoken about how moving here has reinvigorated him with the youthful energy of the team and Klay feels like he needs the change of scenery big style to carry on his career. He feels like he's burdened with being part of that "big 3" even though he's declining. That being said I just think Russell is a better proposition, younger, a lot more juice off the bounce, still a very good shooter, obviously has experience playing off a ball handling forward and I think he's probably a comparable (possibly just outright better) defensive player to Klay who's kind of aged out of being good on that end.

He is not.

That Klay game (0 points, 0/10 FG, 0/6 3P in an elimination game) doesn't exactly scream "yea let's give that guy a big contract in the summmer" to me. Meanwhile D'Angelo Russell had 21 points, 6 assists, a steal and a block on 7/14 FG, 5/11 3P. Both are free agents in the summer, Russell is 6 years younger... I'm not even like super high on Russell but it seems to me whatever you're thinking about offering Klay (if you are) you should stick an extra 3-5mil a season on it and offer it Russell instead.

I think Mark Pope is a solid hire. Won a National Championship there as a player and has done a pretty good job with BYU making it to the tournament twice. Just whether he can handle the brighter lights of the big job following Cal I suppose. There was always going to be an exodus of talent though. If I was him I'd be a little relieved to be honest, Bradshaw, Ivisic and Wagner were hardly winning players as freshman, maybe they make a leap but he could probably find a couple of transfers that could eat up those minutes and be just as impactful if not more. And Kentucky was always going to lose Dillingham, Edwards and (probably, since he hasn't yet officially declared) Sheppard. The incoming freshmen is kinda tough to lose but again they probably expected it given Cal recruited those kids to play in his one and done factory.

We'll see game 1. Franz has been pretty bad against Cleveland his whole career so I'm slightly concerned about him in this matchup. I think it's the rim protection more so than the individual defense that causes his struggles.

I thought they'd start Strus. But then maybe they start Okoro to guard Franz? If anything I think that's preferable for us on defense. Okoro is much less threatening off ball so you can hide Paolo on him and Franz on Mobley then any actions with Mobley as the screener you probably feel ok switching Franz onto a guard and scram switching behind to get Harris/Jalen off of Mobley. Cavs can counter with using Okoro as the screener but he's less natural at it whereby I think I'd be ok playing Paolo at the level and not switching and just living with a rolling/popping Okoro trying to beat us. When they play Okoro I think that could also open up some jumbo lineups for us with Franz/Paolo/Isaac/WCJ all on the floor at the same time. For everything I just mentioned I'll be surprised if it's not Strus starting. He's a different proposition, you need someone quick footed to chase Strus around screens so he doesn't get open at all times. I think that could open up Markelle minutes because I've been impressed with him guarding off ball shooters at times this year and when you're playing Markelle at essentially the 3 (with either Gary or Franz at the 2) you can switch a lot of actions with Strus as the screener. Just whether Markelle can offer enough offensively to stay on the floor.