Black is basically playing like a role player, which is what we need with Paolo, Franz, and Suggs all on the floor.

His team and individual defence is really on point for a rookie. He isn’t very good at dribbling or shooting, but his job on offence is basically to connect play where possible, and otherwise just get out of the way. It’s stupidly simple, but effective.

Truthfully the answer to the the Fultz vs AB debate this season is: neither. Until Black develops further, our closing backcourt will be Cole and Jalen.

Fultz might be better overall than AB, but that means little given he’s always injured. Moreover he’s in a contract year, and with all the young guys we have to pay in the next few years, he ain’t getting $17m/year again. If it doesn’t sign on cheap, then he’ll be traded or walk in the summer.

There’s nothing like a team mate that only shows up when you win

All the final group games should be played at the same time, but otherwise there is no one to blame but ourselves. The Nets didn’t make it either and they beat us by 20. No one is being disrespected here.

TV games are decided by whatever will draw the biggest audiences, it also has nothing to do with respect.

Another bench massacre from Joe Ingles and his grandchildren

Could it be…cheat culture?

They’re entire starting lineup and bench is composed of top 10 draft picks

No it isn’t. Our bench has one top ten draft pick. Ingles and Harris are vets that have been called washed more than once. Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze - the unsung heroes of our streak - were surplus to requirements on their previous teams.

I was never suggesting that our coach is carrying a team of bums, but we’re still extremely young with very little experience. Having a few top 10 picks doesn’t automatically turn you into a winning team, there still needs to be good coaching.

Call it a homer take, but the Magic are 12-5 without any all-stars. Jamahl Mosley has organised the shit out of this team

Nurse I don’t understand. They might have improved under him, but they still have the reigning MVP on their team, and it’s not like they’re running rampage over the league. Teams getting better without Harden isn’t a surprise at this point.

As we speak it should be between Finch, Mosley, and Udoka.

This is the saltiest thing I’ve ever read.

It’s disappointing that we lost out, and there’s not much more to be said. The only thing we can legitimately complain about is that we had no control over our own destiny during the final round of group play. Hopefully when the league is expanded to 32 teams, every final group game will be played at the same time.

If a game finishes tied, there is no overtime. Instead the game goes to a 3 point shootout.

5 open shots from the top of the arc for each team. Tell me you wouldn’t watch that.

Later MCW played too hard and too much defense to be considered a good tank commander.

I watched this broadcast. Scalabrine didn’t express himself very well here - he didn’t mean that Suggs is talentless, and he proceeds to explain himself a few minutes after this clip. Obviously Tatum is a bucket, whereas Jalen is more of an energy type player. Not really an unfair assessment at this point.

Scalabrine isn’t a dumbass homer like Eddie House, he’s very realistic and fair about what he sees, and has given the Magic a lot of praise in the last couple of years.

Besides, it’s not like our own fanbase hasn’t constantly questioned Jalen’s skills in recent years.

Truthfully who cares. All that matters is our record.

We don’t want to be champions of November, anyway. I haven’t forgotten Memphis swagging around during the regular season, only to get dumped in the playoffs.

The more we can fly under the radar, the better.

Cole Anthony could be 4ft tall and he’d still be rebounding like a 6’8 guy

Incredibly assured performance from all our big guns, you can see how much belief we have right now. Mosley can’t get enough credit.

Wonder what WCJ and Fultz must be thinking watching us go on a rampage without them.

This Hornets team are incredibly athletic, I’m impressed by them

Caleb Houstan is what everyone thinks Jett Howard is

Getting cooked by Ish Smith is an annual tradition

Hornets have a really nice group of players, a lot of balance to their team

I trust Pedro to score a challenging header more than a sitter from 5 yards

I was ready to die for Moe Wagner as early as last season