3rd Quarter Collapse

It’s going to take a pretty big collapse to miss the playoffs. Both Detroit and Chicago are in the top 10 for strength of schedule. Both Detroit and Chicago already face an uphill battle in catching Brooklyn for the 8th seed. It’d take a dramatic losing spell for us and a stretch of great play from Chicago/Detroit for us to fall outside of the top 8. This season hasn’t been a building block or anything, but barring disaster, we’re making the playoffs. Edit: We also have the 5th easiest schedule in the league, so there’s that as well.

Interesting to see what happens tonight. Blew Miami last time out. If we win again, I’m going to start getting optimistic about a 2 vs 7 matchup between us and Miami. I think we match up well with them, but obviously playoff basketball is a different beast.

I didn’t say that— we haven’t seen Clifford play Bamba past his typical minutes this season, other than the stretch Vuc was injured for. Same with having MCW finish the game. Wasn’t a comment on Cliff’s overall coaching performance, but a remark on him being more flexible in rotations. I’ve long been a critic of him playing rigid rotations, so this is a improvement.

It didn’t work out for us, but credit to Cliff for playing MCW/Iwundu/Bamba extended minutes. Showing some flexibility rather than the rigid rotations that we seem to get game in, game out.

Really good stretch by Mo. Really showing off his traits right now

Eh, I’d like to see the case made for Birch outplaying Bamba first. Personally, I don’t see it. His positioning and shot does have to improve, but I’m of the opinion that both will. How much they improve is a big question, but he’s far from a finished product at this point. At this point, he’s an elite shot blocker who improves our team on the defensive end. I do question the fit for Bamba with the current team— you need to surround Bamba with scoring since his offensive role will be minor, and Fultz/Isaac aren’t where we need them to be offensively in order to make that happen. With that said, though, I don’t see the reasoning in trading him now— who Bamba is as a player is still undetermined, and we’re not going to receive a player good enough to justify letting Bamba go. That’s just my two cents, though.

And that’s what I mean. Big has to step out to guard the guard once he gets free off the pick and roll, and it opens up a easy lob to Noel. Other players need to rotate and pick up Noel, but they aren’t doing that.

Not sure what you’re looking at, but it’s too difficult for any big to defend the drive from the guard while also defending the lob threat from the rolling big, especially when Paul’s an elite mid range shooter. Didn’t think Bamba was too bad— altered shots, protected the rim, did what he’s out there to do. Lineups with MCW, Birch and Bamba are going to be hard to play with, though— not enough offense.

Good quarter considering how the offense started and the Fultz injury. Gotta hope Vuc can get going this game.

Looked like all his weight fell on his left wrist... hopefully it’s not too serious.

Shouldn’t have went away from Fultz under three minutes. Running our offense through Vuc in the final three pretty much doomed us.

Welp, that’s a great stretch of play from Vuc

We’re kind of within striking distance. If we start the 4th quarter on the right foot, we’ll have a chance.

Didn’t score vs the Lakers either.

Good takeaway from this game is that Gordon’s starting to string together games on the offensive end. He’s playing under control and in rhythm right now.

Not going to win giving up 80% shooting.

I find it weird how national analysts think we’re on some sort of playoff bubble. I know we’re small market, but it’d take something close to a collapse for Chicago to overtake us.

Big win. Fultz with the best game of his Orlando career.

Oh no Fultz. Hope it’s just a cramp

Fultz is an assist away from a triple double

Bamba’s been really good in creating 2nd chances

Just two points in the final six minutes of the third. Vuc has to play better in the 4th.

Vuc having a really bad game

Not to overreact to one game, but BJ Johnson feels like a player that should’ve started to get minutes a while ago.

I’m not sure what you’re looking for in regards to Bamba. He’s already a very good defensive center (5 point differential in defensive rating when he’s on the court versus off) and has shown a developing three point shot. That’s pretty much what we drafted him to be— a difference maker on defense who can play as a stretch 5. I get that he doesn’t “look” good, but his ability to alter shots is already elite imo (evidenced by his block %).