2016-2017 Season Discussion Thread

[Franchero MVP 391]

Damn I can't watch!! Hope there is a replay somewhere

[Mauro Pedrosa 1,033]

Damn I can't watch!! Hope there is a replay somewhere

Same here

[Franchero MVP 391]

What a comeback!! Proud of Payton it looks like he stepped up

[Fultz4thewin 2,464]

So everything is fine now. Nothing to see here. Let's start the season

[Murphy13 185]

 

Payton and Vucevic are too flawed to be starters. Payton is a worse version of MCW (who's in his third team in 4 years) and Vucevic is a better version of Enes Kanter

 

You are just so likable on this board that it doesn't even bother me that you're terrible at evaluating basketball players.

[Mauro Pedrosa 1,033]

You are just so likable on this board that it doesn't even bother me that you're terrible at evaluating basketball players.

Hahah I was holding in my opinions for too long. Payton seemed to have a great game. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst

[Mauro Pedrosa 1,033]

Anyone else thinks we have a shot at a really strong beginning of the season? The schedule isn't that tough and there's some injury luck already, so we might start with a 8-2 W-L run

[magicjed23 12]

For those who didn't see it, we played hard all game, even when we were way down.

 

First quarter:

The Magic decided to play Davis straight up and he torched Ibaka inside and out. Vucevic was switched to Davis and he was beat several times also. Biyombo looked lost. The refs called ticky tack fouls and didn't allow the defense to play. Other than 2 travels, Davis was a beast and looked unstoppable and controlled both the offense and defense.

 

On offense we could not buy a shot, and we made some shots that were wiped away by moving screens. We got a few put-backs and drives, also some Gordon jumpers made up most of the scoring. Hezonja had a few plays run for him and fumbled them away. But, he was able to stay with his man on D.

 

Second quarter:

Started with more Davis dominance as we could not guard him. Several lesser know players and the Pelicans bench made every shot it seemed and they helped extend the lead to 23. A few clean Ibaka blocks were called fouls and the refs made calls they couldn't see, which was frustrating. Towards the last 4 minutes of the quarter NOLA and Davis started taking jumpers and began missing shots, and the defense for the Magic started to affect the game and the tempo sped up more to our liking. The Pelicans made huge shots after every Magic run, but a late flurry got us within 12.

 

Offensively, there were a couple Augustin drives that led to free throws, and some various Jeff Green shots as the lead swelled. After a rest, Payton looked like a new man and did a good job executing the offense, driving the lane, and hitting a few jumpers. He began playing like we need him to. Gordon's shots were falling and we saw a glimpse of the versatility with him at the SF spot. Ibaka was good in the post and money on face up jumpers. When we pushed the pace, the team comes alive, and yes that is with EP running the show. Fournier showed off his driving ability as his jumper was off early. When we began switching properly, AD settled for jumpers and we cut into the lead. If not for big shots by them, we would have cut the 23 point lead they had by even more. Great final 3 minutes of the half.

 

Third quarter:

Most of the 3rd quarter was uneventful. Gordon started with a drive, basket, and the foul, but it was immediately answered by a 3 for the Pelicans. The teams traded baskets and free throws most of the quarter. Ibaka and Payton did most of the scoring, including a jumper and a nice looking 3 by EP. Davis, the unstoppable and running mate Jones did the majority of the Pelicans scoring. We played hard on defense, but the offense could not get enough shots to fall. Eventually we managed to get within 8 after getting a few stops, but after wasting several chances to cut the lead further, Terrance Jones was able to keep the offense going and push the lead back to 12. Our defense was enough to carry the offense for stretches, which was nice to see.

 

Towards the end of the quarter we went to the starters with Biyombo replacing a poor shooting Vuc. Fournier got aggressive in the final minute and was fouled on a drive converting his free throws, which was answered by a pair of NOLA free throws. Fournier then found himself with enough space and buried a 3, which was answered by Jones again on a layup. Then Fournier was left open for another 3 he subsequently nailed. Unfortunately it was Mr. Jones again with a hook to force it to a 10 point lead. But it felt like we finally had some offense going into the 4th.

 

All summer we heard Fournier wasn't worth it, but he has clearly hit the weights and with the way he is shooting, he will be an all-star if he plays like hes been this preseason during the regular seasoning. He is focused and he will earn that check.

 

Fourth quarter:

The Magic started the 4th by immediately falling behind by 15 on a couple easy baskets. Fortunately the offense started to get going after a few important contributions from our new guys. Green was fouled a couple times and converted 3 of 4 free throws. Biyombo made a dunk off a ball that was deflected to him. Ibaka made some nifty moves for a couple baskets and we found ourselves down only 9. But, the Pelicans kept answering with Jones and Hield knocking down huge shots to stop Magic runs. Biyombo battled on one sequences getting 2-3 consecutive offensive rebounds to keep a seemingly lost possession alive when the offense faltered. I was never a fan of him until I heard his press conference and saw the effort he puts in practice and any time he is on the floor. Once the starters, minus Vuc, were back in the game the defense and offense got going. Payton was playing possessed in the whole second half. He was creating easy offense for our guys and was keeping their guards from driving. The lead was 11 or 12 throughout most of the quarter. With just under 4 minutes Ibaka faced a triple team while falling out of bounds under the basket and hit Fournier with a perfect pass that Fournier nailed for another 3. We managed to get a stop and Fournier pulled up for 3 again and hit the center of the basket, giving us 6 straight points. A Payton steal and layup along with a couple more good assists which got us within 3. A few possessions later, Payton's defender gave him too much space, as his drives throughout the game led to open shots or layups, and without hesitation he nailed a 3 off the glass (he called it) in the defenders face to tie the game. After some lock down switching D, we got the ball back with 21 seconds left. For whatever reason Vogel did not put Vuc in for more offense on what was likely the last play of the game. Payton dribbled the clock to about 7 seconds from the top of the key as Ibaka came to set a screen so Payton could drive and dish or get to the line. He instead pulled up for a deep two, presumably because he was feeling good and possibly didn't want to go to the line, and he missed leaving 2.9 (or 3.9, can't remember) seconds on thw game clock. But, Ibaka used a foul we had to give to stop an inbound alley-oop attempt to Davis (think Hedo to Howard a few years back, and we played smothering D on the ensuing in bounds play to force OT.

 

Overtime:

After the offense came alive late in regulation and once Davis went out early in overtime you felt like we had this game. The period started great, everything we ran worked and the shots fell. We even got a jumper to fall for Vuc who hasn't made the shots we know he will. Vucevic is valuable to this team and is not a sieve on defense when he has another quality big with him. We were scappy on defense and got to loose balls and rebounds. Towards the 3 minute mark the offense stalled and a 3 point play got the Pelicans going, and some nice clutch plays by a rejuvenated Terrance Jones allowed them to tie the game. We were able to get a late Payton floater, a great steal by Fournier, and a clutch FT by Hezonja to force a wild, badly missed desperation heave by NOLA to close out a thrilling comeback and overtime game. Too bad it's preseason. I will add that the game felt like an important regular season game and both sides played like it was a big game effort-wise.

 

This was amazing for a preseason game. We stuck with a 9 man rotation and players like Rudez, Watson, and Wilcox, along with the other scrubs were simply there as insurance, like they should be. Would be great to have Oladipo with this team still, but once things come together I think Henny will prove his worth. Definitely the best exhibition game ever by Elfrid. We were very focused late and we can finally get late stops and possibly close games out like we did tonight. We have a stud PG if this is the Payton we see during the season. Hopefully this overtime victory jump starts our season. This could be a very versatile and dynamic team. For the Pelicans that Asik, Davis, Jones front line looks good and when they get the backcourt together they could be dangerous, especially when Hield is making shots. Odd to see 2 teams with big front lines in today's NBA, but maybe we will inspire a change back to a big man's game.

 

On another note, I'm glad preseason is over so I don't have to hear Adubato anymore and some of the nonsensical things he tends to say, and be subjected to his terrible math. 79-67 is not 8! We are spoiled with David Steele and Jeff Turner.

[Captain 24]

So anyone know why Biz attempted a 3? Lol

[Fultz4thewin 2,464]

@omagicdaily

Defensive rating splits for the #Magic tonight:

 

1st Half — 122.5

2nd Half — 81.2

 

Further, in the fourth quarter and overtime alone, the #Magic had a 69.7 defensive rating with a +37.1 net rating. They outright dominated.

[liamnado 2]

So anyone know why Biz attempted a 3? Lol

 

Half court Hail Mary with a couple seconds left in the quarter. Air balled near the free throw line lol.

[Franchero MVP 391]

Mario is the new harkless