[ZouldiersParticipant]

 They’re currently blowing out the Spurs by 29 wow. Have them as my dark horse to make the playoffs but man I never thought they would play this good. Vucevic and Gordon are having back to back 41 point games and the rest of the team is solid. Did anyone expect them to be this damn good?

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Vuc and Gordon will got a lot of the love pbviously because they scored 40 each but Evan Fournier has been their main gunner the entire season, and has been also last season. Fournier may actually be arguably, the most underrated player in the league.

In the offense he’s good at either the pick and roll or the catch and shoot, somewhat like what Beal is for Washington. And he’s carrying more of the ball-handling duties now that Payton is injured. It’s about time he gets some love.

 

[JDB12Participant]

 He’s scoring 22ppg at 55/55/96 lol. Get this man MORE touches!

[cohenbc1Participant]

 I knew the Spurs would regret letting Jonathon Simmons go … just didn’t realize it would come back to bite them so early in the season.

[Kwame33Participant]

 I wouldn’t be so quick to say they’re "struggling". They’re 4-1 w/o kawhi leonard. This is just one loss.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Oladipo is a spectacular athlete & he was the big time high lottery pick but Fournier is such a pure shooter he really opens up space for everyone on the floor

Also coach Frank Vogel is Pounding the ball into the block w/ Vucevik & Gordon which opens up the perimeter game for Fournier & their other Wings & Guards later in the game

Most low level teams Never establish an Identity they just run around like a chicken w/o a head trying to win each individual game Never developing a system that allows their players to Define their Roles

The Great coaches Establish an Identity based on the Personnel in the building & they STICK w/ that Every game win or lose & that allows players to find their roles & when that happens, communication improves, Confidence goes thru the roof & a team starts to turn the corner

Orlnado decided instead of trying to be a Really bad knock off of Golden State like Every other team in the NBA is doing – let’s focus on our Strengths & build a System around that & they are getting results 

 

 

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 The thing with the Magic is this: They have never been able to establish who they are as BeastMode mentioned: Most teams are trying to be a knock off of GSW which is allgood but the reality is this there is only 1 GSW. So why not make the best of what you have and bring out their strengthes and try win with it.

That is the one good thing the magic that you can take from this off season is this-They kept Vogel and tried to have some continuity and a direction vs what they have had in the past which is to much mixing and matching.

I don’t know if they will be number 1 by seasons end but heres hoping they have a crack at least at the playoffs.

 

 

 

 

 

  

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

To me its surprising how this early strong start of magic.  The addition of simmons is huge.  He coming off the bench was good for the magic. The addtiion of Aflalo and speights I think is good also since they are veterans.  The Magic starting 5 can literally space the floor with gordon being the biggest surpirse to me how well he shoot the 3pt shoot considering alao augustin since paytonia injured.  The only drawback is augustins defebse and size.  He’s a veteran also and has a dependable 3pt shoot.  With the team spacing the floor it is much more easier for the offense to click since ball handlers have more space and their extra passes are the one that’s making them succesful this early.  Hopefully this success continues. 

[220Participant]

 I’m glad to hear the Magic’s starting to live up to their potential. They have talent, but it hadn’t translated into wins the way I anticipated until now.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 My problem with the Magic is I keep imagining how good they would be with Dennis Smith instead of Isaac.   

[r377Participant]

I agree that pick could come back to haunt them.

They have won last 3 games without Payton. They could have maybe traded up to get Fox or taken Dennis Smith or Malik Monk with that pick.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Frank Vogel got the most out of a Pacers team which was built with late lottery to mid first round picks, okay they got that star player in Paul George. So with a Magic side with a lot of individually talented players, he is probably getting them to gel as a team after a slow first season in charge.

Also with John Hammond now there to oversee the FO, maybe things are coming together and with the right people in charge on and off court the team is starting to move forward after several quiet years post D12 era.

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Gotta give DJ Augustin some credit too. He’s been a great compliment to the trio of Vuc, Fournier & Gordon carrying this team. Simmons is killing it as the 6th man, Isaac is contributing (namely on defense and the glass) when he has played. The increased pace and newfound deep range from Gordon and Vucevic is making a world of difference for these guys. If Ross can start hitting some shots from deep it’s only going to open up the offense even more.

Normally I would say they should be a team to jump in on Bledsoe as I think he’d be a strong fit with their starting lineup, but in this situation I don’t know if I’d bother tinkering with the chemistry when they’re playing so well and confident together.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

It is early. Aaron Gordon might have developed, but he is currently making 2.5 threes per game at a 59 percent clip. That won’t last. Jonathan Simmons looks like a phenomenal signing, but the rate he is shooting is unsustainable. I have long loved Vucevic, and it is nice Orlando is back to realizing he is better than Biyombo, but he is not going to continue making jumpers at the rate he is. DJ Augustin has been in the league for a decade. We know he will dip. What we don’t know is how good they will be when things fall to a more realistic level. They still might be good, but not this good.

[Author]

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