***NEW! OFFICIAL 2024 PLAYOFFS GAME THREAD: ROUND 1: GAME 2, CAVS. VS MAGIC

[TrueMagicFan07 675]

38 minutes ago, All Eyes On Me said:

I don’t think I’ve ever given you a downvote and to get one out of me you really really gotta earn it lol.. I agree with you that Mosely either needs to do the Xs and Os better or find someone to hire who can.

I believe you All Eyes about not giving me downvotes. My comment was not directed at you. I just wanted to put it out there because there are posters who are quick to pull the downvote trigger if thery disagree with your opinion. I know participation votes are there for posters to use, but I don't like them--specifically the downvote. Just speak up if you either agree or disagree. We are all entitled to our opinions.

I know it's the internet, but we are all different and it should not make a person nervous or hestitant about posting.

I also know there is nothing anybody can do about it. You post at your own risk.

 

[Time2GetSerious 23]

12 minutes ago, TrueMagicFan07 said:

I believe you All Eyes about not giving me downvotes. My comment was not directed at you. I just wanted to put it out there because there are posters who are quick to pull the downvote trigger if thery disagree with your opinion. I know participation votes are there for posters to use, but I don't like them--specifically the downvote. Just speak up if you either agree or disagree. We are all entitled to our opinions.

I know it's the internet, but we are all different and it should not make a person nervous or hestitant about posting.

I also know there is nothing anybody can do about it. You post at your own risk.

 

To me upvotes and downvotes are just people expressing their opinions and views. It's the same as posting. We either agree or disagree. And that's ok as long as we do it respectfully. I actually appreciate it when someone posts something here that helps me to be in agreement with them. For example, I was kind of on the Markelle bandwagon. And now not so much after seeing some of the comments here. I hadn't really noticed his defense has been slipping in addition to some of his offensive woes. 

[TrueMagicFan07 675]

31 minutes ago, Time2GetSerious said:

To me upvotes and downvotes are just people expressing their opinions and views. It's the same as posting. We either agree or disagree. And that's ok as long as we do it respectfully. I actually appreciate it when someone posts something here that helps me to be in agreement with them. For example, I was kind of on the Markelle bandwagon. And now not so much after seeing some of the comments here. I hadn't really noticed his defense has been slipping in addition to some of his offensive woes. 

Thanks for your opinion, Time2GetSerious. But you just made my point. You did exactly what I suggested that any participant should do if they don't agree with someone else's comment or opinion. Respond with a comment.

You just explained to me your point of view, and I respect your opinion. Giving someone a downvote is not the same thing.

I don't want to take up this thread with this discussion, so we'll move on. Thank you for your opinion. 

[MagicFanDan 122]

10 hours ago, CTMagicUK said:

I've thought a lot about that Suggs/Franz/Paolo/Isaac/WCJ lineup to be the starters but my main concerns are: 

Can Franz guard one of Garland or Mitchell? 

Will Strus just kill us because Paolo can't chase him around screens? 

 

This is the lineup I suggested before the series started. 
 

if we went this route, I’d do:

 

Suggs- garland 

JI- Mitchell 

Franz- Strus 

Paolo- Mobley 

WCJ- Allen 

[JJZFL 620]

5 hours ago, TrueMagicFan07 said:

 

I agree with you, All Eyes. So, what I am about to say, if you disagree, just say why instead of giving me downvotes. This is not directed at you, All Eyes.

I'm looking at the highlights of Fultz performance in 2022 - 2023 which was a season ago. In the 2022-2023 season, he was ready to go and playing loose after rehabing from injuries. I'm looking at the highlights then and the way Fultz is playing now.

He did'nt start the 2023-2024 season because I think he had a relapse (injury wise) before the season  started.

So, AB, who was drafted began the 2023-2024 season as the starting point guard. Being a rookie you could tell that he wasn't nba ready to take over that role. So, as the season progressed, the coach allowed Franz and Banchero to be the primary ball handlers. Cole was the backup point guard playing with the secondary unit coming off the bench.

More than halfway through the regular season, when Fultz was injury free, Mosley continued to let Franz and Paolo be the primary ball handlers. Fultz was not allowed to get his starting role back.

If you look at the highlights from a year ago, and I know there are snipets, look at the spacing of the floor. When Fultz was crashing the board, you did not see Franz or Paolo clogging up the paint.

Now, I don't think that Fulz has lost his confidence. it's because he knows that Franz and Paolo were allowed to be the primary ball handlers for the latter half of the regular season and the first 2 games of the playoffs. So, in Fultz mind, he was not a part of that game plan. He, along with other teammates, stood around and/or in the corner watching.

I think it was/is a problem with the coaching and lack of game planning--just letting the team play loose (backyard).

That's just my opinion. So, go ahead and give me downvotes if that's your pleasure.

 

Fultz just won’t or can’t shoot effectively.  That is unfortunately too much of a liability.   I agree with you that this business of having Franz/Paulo be the primary playmakers is very flawed, as I’ve posted many times. Unfortunately, we don’t have the personnel to really fix it, which should not have been the case, but the opportunity to improve in this area was passed on.  
 

So I see the same problems you mention in your next post.  Fultz gives us nothing on offense, and Cole Anthony has been ineffective.  So with no real point guard you give the ball to Franz or Paulo and let them do their slow iso thing which also mostly doesn’t work in terms of making the team effective on offense.  
 

Kind of depressing.  

[TrueMagicFan07 675]

I have seen games where a tall defender (power forward or center) is assigned to guard a smaller  point guard of the opposing team (away from the paint and the basket). It's done because players like Steph Curry are threats to making long distance and 3 pt. shots. It doesn't work with players like Ja Morant, Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. They are quick, can play low to the ground, and are able to shift gears, leaving the defender in their dust.

Because of Mitchell's quickness, and ability to shift gears quickly, going east to west, I don't think JI could effectively guard him, and we don't want JI twisting an ankle or injuring his knee, trying to keep up with Mitchell. Sure, if Mitchell is attempting a 3 point shot, it would work because JI might be able to block the shot. 

Now at center, Allen was eating WCJ's lunch. I think Goga should be guarding Allen. He is more mobile and a better rim protector.

JI should be given the assignment to guard Mobley.

[CTMagicUK 1,488]

2 hours ago, MagicFanDan said:

This is the lineup I suggested before the series started. 
 

if we went this route, I’d do:

 

Suggs- garland 

JI- Mitchell 

Franz- Strus 

Paolo- Mobley 

WCJ- Allen 

You negate all of JIs help defensive impact by having him guard someone he can't help off of. 

[Time2GetSerious 23]

3 hours ago, TrueMagicFan07 said:

Thanks for your opinion, Time2GetSerious. But you just made my point. You did exactly what I suggested that any participant should do if they don't agree with someone else's comment or opinion. Respond with a comment.

You just explained to me your point of view, and I respect your opinion. Giving someone a downvote is not the same thing.

I don't want to take up this thread with this discussion, so we'll move on. Thank you for your opinion. 

I was just trying to say that upvotes or downvotes should never be taken personally. I mean it should never be a popularity contest. But it is what it is. And likewise, I respect your opinions. Not only on this particular subject, but your thoughts and insights on the Orlando Magic. Also appreciate your overall dedication to this forum.

[OnlyFranz 292]

19 hours ago, All Eyes On Me said:

I agree with most of your post. I’m not sure if Goga will help because anything he’d bring on defense would hinder the offense even further. I also don’t see any way we bench Cole for a rookie, when he’s hitting shots, he’s too good to bench in our current roster. If we win the game tomorrow it’s because Cole woke up.

If we’re hellbent on playing a 10 man rotation then AB should get Fultz’ minutes for sure, but I’d argue we’d be better off just absorbing those minutes into starters and playing a 9 man rotation.

I’m also more optimistic than I probably should be since the first 2 games felt so insurmountable, but game 2 quarters 2-4 we won 68-66 and game 1 quarters 2-4 we lost 64-57. As has been the story for the last month, slow starts are KILLING us. We need to throw WCJ back in to start. I’d be ok going big and starting JI and benching GH, but Isaac and his help defense tendencies is really hurting us when he plays the 5.

I get what you’re saying about Goga’s offensive liability however WCJ is not contributing on either end of the floor. I’d rather give Goga a shot and see if he can slow down Allen because we can’t continue letting him grab 20 rebounds and expect to win many games. 
 

I’d play Cole on a short leash tonight. If he comes out flat and continues with his shooting woes and terrible defense I’d put AB in there and switch things up. Maybe he will bother Garland enough to where they need to force everything through DM and I’ll live with those results especially since Suggs would be the one to mostly guard him. 
 

I hope we can show some signs of life tonight and make this a competitive game at home. 

[OnlyFranz 292]

14 hours ago, TrueMagicFan07 said:

Either way, we've got a problem, OnlyFranz. AB is a point guard who is a good defender, but point guards traditionally help with scoring and AB is not good at scoring. Look at other point guards around the league who are in the playoffs right now. They score more than a couple of points per game. On the other hand, Cole is not a good defender and is inconsistent offensively.

I don’t agree with your take on AB. He’s a decent finisher around the rim, a good defender, and he isn’t scared to take a 3 when it’s within the flow of the offense and he actually makes them. He also looks to get others involved offensively instead of looking for his shot all the time like Cole. Idk I feel like we need to shake things up because what we’ve been doing the last 2 games hasn’t been working. 

[TrueMagicFan07 675]

7 hours ago, OnlyFranz said:

I get what you’re saying about Goga’s offensive liability however WCJ is not contributing on either end of the floor. I’d rather give Goga a shot and see if he can slow down Allen because we can’t continue letting him grab 20 rebounds and expect to win many games. 
 

I’d play Cole on a short leash tonight. If he comes out flat and continues with his shooting woes and terrible defense I’d put AB in there and switch things up. Maybe he will bother Garland enough to where they need to force everything through DM and I’ll live with those results especially since Suggs would be the one to mostly guard him. 
 

I hope we can show some signs of life tonight and make this a competitive game at home. 

I agree with everything you said. Although I've been critical of Cole, I would play him over AB, this being AB's first playoff experience. He also does not contribute anything but on one end of the court (defense).

I would rather trust Mr. inconsistency (Cole) to contribute in scoring. Tonight might be his night.

[TrueMagicFan07 675]

Haha! OnlyFranz. We were replying to each other's post at the same time.