The Magic offense looks horrible. I know they were missing Suggs but we were missing Amen who is a much better player imo. Franz and Banchero took turns bricking shots all night.
I thought KCP would be a huge signing for the Magic but he's been awful. Last night he had 0 pts, 1 reb, 1 asts, 1 turnover in 21 minutes last night.
The Magic and the Rockets are on a similar development path. I had thought that the Magic had turned the corner at the start of the season, but they have regressed. The Rockets continue to get better and better. I think that the Rockets having key veterans is a real difference maker, at least as compared to the Magic.
And yet Vegas thought they were better (47.5 vs 43.5 preseason o/u) and half of this board keeps saying we screwed up every draft.
Our most important veteran was out last night. I don't think Dillon Brooks was the difference. The difference was coaching and that our young talent is just flat out better than theirs, despite what the negative people here keep asserting.
Agree ... but Green the Elder was straight fire last night ... 3-6 from 3 ... no BS about being a little rusty, just straight fire.
Wagner has been really good this season but looked kinda invisible last night. We did a good job on him defensively. Paolo is too in love with midrange jumpers for his own good. He got his points but it took him 23 shots to get there and only made 10 of them. The Magic player I was most impressed with versus my expectations was Jonathan Isaac, honestly. Really good defensive player--a rim-protecting big who can switch down to quick guards. Would love to have him on our team. Dude has had a lot of injury problems though.
This is a big deal. After being pedestrian most of the season, Josh Giddey has been a house of fire the last month.
Magic are a sobering reality for teams that think they've "turned the corner". Gotta work at it year in and year out. For every OKC Thunder there is also an Orlando Magic or New Orleans Pelicans.
