Ben Ross | Magic

Lifelong Orlando Magic fan | Magic analysis, news & discussion 🏀

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

I keep seeing the Giannis rumors and I just don’t see it.

I get the Sweeney/Weltman connection, but it likely starts with Paolo, and that’s a non starter for me.

If Giannis was 28, definitely. At 31 with the mileage and injury history? I’m keeping Paolo.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@pacman2187 Smallest guy on the court most nights and somehow one of the toughest. Loved watching Jameer play.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

All time favorite player

[That Guy Rocked NBA @NBAGuyRocked]

Jameer Nelson

That guy rocked.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheLando__ Guess I’ll have listen to it. Usually try to avoid a Weltman interview because he gives a whole lot of nothing.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@Nord_KnightX That’s interesting because I immediately thought roster when you said 180. Sounds like you’re talking more about organizational direction and offensive identity than personnel.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

Part of me thinks a new coach, better health, and Bane is enough to make the Magic a contender in the East.

The other part of me watched last season and thinks we’ve seen this movie before.

Not gonna lie, I’m torn.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@Nord_KnightX What does a 180 look like to you? Roster, scheme, rotations, pace, all of the above?

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheGhostOfGeert @Franzchise1 What sticks with me most from Game 6 is Mose never really stopping the bleeding. No timeout, no lineup shakeup, just hoping it would turn around. I haven’t rewatched it (and don’t know if I want to 😂), but that’s what I remember most.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@CatmanCatledge Oh I don’t think it would’ve been easy against Cleveland at all. Donovan Mitchell scares the hell out of me. 😂 But I do think we had a chance if Franz stays healthy. That said, you’re right that you have to be careful with hypotheticals because the reality is it never happened.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheGhostOfGeert @Franzchise1 That’s probably where I’m torn. Game 6 looked exactly like what you’re describing. My eyes told me the offense looked lost, but it’s hard to know how much of that was coaching and how much was never having everyone available.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@temp1491 I’d add Franz’s injury too. That’s why I’m torn. Part of me thinks we never got a fair look at this roster when healthy.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheGhostOfGeert @Franzchise1 100% agree on health. I’m more of an eye test guy than an analytics guy. My eye test showed an offense that had no clue what it was doing, but maybe that’s partly because we rarely saw this team healthy.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@CatmanCatledge I mean, with how the East opened up this year, I think an ECF run was realistic if Franz stays healthy. Next year won’t look the same, which is why you always have to keep improving the roster. I’ve said before that one way to do that is adding a true PG.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@temp1491 Yeah, that’s why I’m not ruling it out. If Sweeney can build a better offensive system, maybe the answers are already on the roster.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@Franzchise1 Yeah, that’s why I mentioned it as a change that could work. A new coach could absolutely help, but I still think roster construction is the bigger factor. Coaching matters, but talent usually wins out.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@LeakTheProblem Fair. If the bench was even average against Detroit and Franz did not get hurt, we’re probably having a very different conversation right now.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@StephenMagicHQ That’s honestly where I’m starting to lean too. New coach, better health, more Bane 3PA, and some bench upgrades might be enough.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheGhostOfGeert @northcyde @ChrisJanssen @DCNeutron I was gonna say definitely sarcastic but you know your stuff so I had a slight hesitation that this was serious 😂

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@KaiBOBOtto @TheGhostOfGeert @DCNeutron Wouldn’t that be nice

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@ChrisJanssen @TheGhostOfGeert @DCNeutron Bad miss by Cuban. No wonder why he sold 😂

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@TheGhostOfGeert @DCNeutron 😂 Obviously I’m not saying go get Brunson. I’m saying a PG who can organize the offense and take some of the burden off Paolo and Franz would help. I know we disagree on that, and that’s okay.

[Ben Ross | Magic @benross3]

@hubie1182 That’s the side of the argument I keep coming back to.