JJZFL

I know. It sure seems like a long time. Maybe partly because we ended on such a high note before the break. I’m ready for basketball again. And I’m really glad it’s going to be exciting. Win or lose, at least we’re in the hunt for the first time in too many years.

Fair enough.

Agree. Let’s pick up where we left off.

Agree with the “glad it’s over” part. I haven’t watched in years, even when the Magic have someone playing, because the game has become such a joke. What was the final score, 200-195?

I think Silver is right. We’re another excellent example.

This discussion has come to an odd place. I don't think there is a choice between playing a player who isn't yet ready and making the current team worse in the process, vs developing that player for the future. A lot of rookies aren't ready to play important minutes when they first come in the league. That's ok. Develop them (as SVG did with Reddick) but don't have them play big minutes which may hurt the team now. Being on a winning team and sharing in being competitive is also very important in the development of a young player. No one is talking about "giving up" on anybody. Regarding P4TW's earlier post about it being easy to find inexpensive replacement back-up centers who can bring the same value as Birch, I think that extrapolating statistical generalities to specific circumstances may not always give an accurate picture. Last season, Vuch/Biyombo terrible, Biyombo/Birch (for the entire month Vuch was out) much better. This year, Vuch/Bamba pretty bad most of the time, Vuch/Birch much better. Now maybe this all a coincidence. But I don't believe that. Obviously I wouldn't overpay Birch if he wants more than 4M a year, but if possible I would retain him and try to give him minutes until Bamba is ready. If that takes 2-3 more years, so be it, let this team taste some success for awhile, and don't allow years where we could possibly be competitive to slip away in the name of development. In doing that, you will probably not accomplish either goal. If you think it's nice for us as fans to finally have meaningful and even exciting games to look forward to after the AS break for the first time in 7 years, just think how much more important it is the for the players to experience that kind of competition. This is just no other way for them to learn it.

I think you guys are selling Birch short in a big way. I don't agree that you can just pick any backup center off a tree and they'll all be the same. The fact is that both last season and this season, the team played its best, and had its best record, when Birch was playing significant minutes at backup center. Whether it's his energy and desire that inspires his teammates, his ability to be in the right place at the right time defensively, or some other intangible, Birch seems to correlate with us winning. I would be hesitant about giving that up. Do all of you think we'd be doing as well right now if Bamba was still playing?

We’ll have to wait until the finals.

Like 3 air balls. Really surprising. He should try taking some shorter two pointers to see if he can get untracked.

And the Pels were 5 point favorites for this game

Their deadness may have been overstated.

They just about doubled their point total for the entire quarter in the last minute.

They really need to do away with that idiotic segment.

I think we’re playing better with Birch in there than we would be with Bamba.

Until last night, we’ve not been good with first half leads. They must come out playing really hard to start the third. No over-confidence. We could very easily lose this.