#Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans
Smoothie King Center- New Orleans, LA
[ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401591887)
[TV/Radio](https://reddit.com/r/OrlandoMagic/comments/174yujp/game_thread_orlando_magic_00_at_new_orleans/k4cccnz/)
***
|Time Clock|
|:–:|
|Final|
||Q1|Q2|Q3|Q4|Total|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|ORL |26|41|21|34|122|
|NOP |38|30|19|18|105|
###Player Stats
**Orlando Magic**
|Player|MINS|PTS|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|ORB|DRB|REB|AST|STL|BLK|TO|PF|+/-|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|F. Wagner|15:19|9|4-6|1-2|0-0|0|1|1|2|0|0|0|2|9
|P. Banchero|20:00|12|4-9|0-1|4-6|1|5|6|1|2|1|0|3|8
|W. Carter Jr.|19:14|18|5-10|4-5|4-6|0|5|5|1|1|1|3|2|14
|J. Suggs|16:59|6|2-6|1-5|1-2|1|4|5|3|1|0|1|3|13
|M. Fultz|19:44|10|5-7|0-0|0-0|1|3|4|5|1|0|1|0|8
|G. Harris|15:24|2|0-4|0-4|2-2|2|0|2|2|0|1|1|3|-3
|M. Wagner|14:04|6|2-4|0-1|2-3|1|4|5|0|1|0|0|2|-5
|C. Anthony|14:52|13|5-10|2-4|1-1|1|2|3|4|0|0|0|0|-4
|A. Black|17:43|2|1-5|0-3|0-0|0|1|1|2|0|1|2|3|-7
|J. Isaac|8:20|7|2-7|1-2|2-3|0|1|1|0|1|2|0|1|-1
|C. Okeke|12:15|5|2-5|1-4|0-0|0|3|3|1|0|0|0|0|6
|A. Schofield|12:42|5|2-4|1-2|0-0|2|3|5|1|0|0|1|2|-1
|J. Howard|14:42|8|3-8|2-5|0-0|0|1|1|0|0|1|0|1|8
|G. Bitadze|8:30|7|2-4|1-2|2-2|2|2|4|0|0|2|0|2|1
|M. McClung|5:48|3|1-1|0-0|1-1|0|1|1|2|0|1|0|1|9
|T. Queen|12:00|9|4-9|1-4|0-0|2|1|3|4|0|0|1|1|16
|B. Williams|6:12|0|0-1|0-1|0-0|0|0|0|0|1|0|1|0|7
|D. Wilson|6:12|0|0-1|0-0|0-0|0|3|3|1|0|0|0|0|7
**New Orleans Pelicans**
|Player|MINS|PTS|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|ORB|DRB|REB|AST|STL|BLK|TO|PF|+/-|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|B. Ingram|16:59|14|6-12|1-3|1-2|1|3|4|2|1|0|4|0|-4
|Z. Williamson|15:28|12|4-8|0-0|4-6|0|5|5|5|0|0|2|2|5
|J. Valanciunas|18:32|7|2-6|0-1|3-3|3|8|11|2|1|2|1|3|-7
|H. Jones|15:58|11|4-7|2-3|1-1|2|3|5|0|0|1|1|3|-2
|C. McCollum|16:24|12|4-9|2-6|2-2|1|0|1|1|0|1|0|0|4
|N. Marshall|19:39|3|0-5|0-4|3-4|0|1|1|3|3|0|1|1|0
|K. Lewis Jr.|23:25|9|4-10|1-4|0-0|1|1|2|1|2|0|0|2|-19
|D. Daniels|24:57|10|4-8|1-4|1-1|2|2|4|2|0|1|2|2|-2
|J. Hawkins|25:49|9|4-14|1-6|0-0|1|2|3|3|0|0|3|4|-30
|E. Liddell|17:04|2|1-3|0-1|0-0|2|4|6|0|1|0|1|3|-19
|T. Jemison|17:43|3|1-2|0-0|1-2|2|4|6|0|0|2|1|1|0
|D. Seabron|16:05|13|5-8|0-1|3-8|1|4|5|1|1|0|0|0|-2
|K. Gates|7:17|0|0-0|0-0|0-0|1|0|1|0|0|0|0|1|-4
|T. Jones|4:40|0|0-3|0-1|0-0|0|0|0|0|0|0|1|0|-5
###Team Stats
|Team|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|AST|PF|STL|TO|BLK|OREB|DREB|REB|
|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|
|ORL|44-101|15-45|19-26|29|26|8|11|10|13|40|67|
|NOP|39-95|8-34|19-29|20|22|9|17|7|17|37|63|
***
Note: This data is only as accurate as NBA.com
[Please message u/nba_gdt_bot if you have any suggestions or notice any bugs with the bot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=nba_gdt_bot&subject=NBA_Bot)
by nba_gdt_bot
16 Comments
UNDEFEATED
We are gonna be a problem this year
PLAY DAT SONG
Encouraging first game. We need to score more points this year and the offense looks better as a group. Plus no Ingles yet.
Completely healed!!
Standard preseason package.
Rooks looked shaky as expected, this game was pretty high pace so not surprised they seemed a bit flustered.
Starters were a bit sluggish from the jump but then Cole was massive in getting us back into the game, extend this man.
THE DEPTH. OH LAWD
Wendell 4-5 from 3, yes daddy!
anyone now a good place to see the replay of this game?
So fun to watch these guys. The new guys have a lot of energy, this is gonna be a great season
COLEWRLD
Yāall, keep your fingers crossed for JI. Man if (and itās a big if) dude can stay healthy, heās a really key piece. Heās so friggin long. I think the shooting will come as he attempts to get his legs back. You just see the defensive potential. 3 stocks in 8 minutes.
Orlando took its time to get into rhythm but once they did they really lit the Pelicans up on their own home court, plus Dell put on a shooting display with 4 outta 5 treys
Fultz is such a leader. His IQ just makes the offense click.
I really like Suggs in the starting lineup. He brings so much energy and intensity to both sides of the ball. If he can shoot 36%+ from 3 heās a perfect fit next to Franz and Paolo.
Paolo looked good. Liked the aggression with the dunks. Didnāt force offense, played within it. See him averaging 23-25 ppg this year.
Really hope Cole embraces the 6th man role, itās perfect for him, especially running the second unit with JI.
Goga and Moe are fine as 2nd/3rd centers.
Really just curious who steps up to win minutes at backup wings. Gary looked a little rough and AB had rookie moments.
Jett looked smooth from deep, I wouldnāt mind seeing him get a chance to earn real minutes early, but I feel like based off the rotation tonight itās going to be AB. Maybe move Gary to a contender since we have Ingles for that vet role now.
Itās looking like:
Fultz | Suggs | Franz | Paolo | WCJ
Cole | AB | Ingles | JI | Moe
Jett | Chuma | Goga
Got a little ugly early in the first half but bounced back well. The energy of the starting line up is fantastic. Not sure we can rely on WCJ shooting 80% from 3 lol. Isaac looked great man, jeez. AB looked a little deer-in-the-headlights at first but settled in pretty quick. He has great awareness. Hope he takes some risks on offense in the preseason though, was very passive. Cole killing it off the bench, got to his spots and hit damn near everything shot in his bag. Harris looked a bit rusty, more than anyone else. Suggs was an animal on defense but still brick city from 3, we can live with him only taking six shots though. My stream cut off about halfway through the third, was kinda surprised Howard didn’t get any burn (presumably) the regular rotation. Paolo and Franz looked good all around, same with Fultz.
Hype for the season man. There will be some bumps for sure with such a young team but man, it feels like we have depth for the first time in a decade lol
These Pels commentators deserve alot of credit, pretty knowledgeable, pretty unbiased, and alot of praise for good plays and never demeaning players on the Magic. A great cast.
Also I saw alot of positives this game. AB imo is perfectly fine. He was a good pick at the spot and he has aspects that are not useful but crucial for the bench lineup. Jett needed more pt imo. The starting 5 is fire. They are going to dominate. Gary imo is not needed and should be traded. Honestly said it before but the starting lineup 4 were carrying BB and Gary for a long time and thats why they had some really good winning numbers. Paolo and Franz were top 10-12 forwards in the NBA and had some really dominant games. JI had on and off spots but his defense is still there and thats a difference maker. Paolooooooooooooooooooooooooooo is a superstar. Franz was a little off but he will recover, still was an elite 2 but games like this really show why people think Paolo is this teams true future. Once agin we need to retain Cole, he will win some six man of the year awards.
Mosley imo needs to straighten the rotations. Keep S5, with Cole Jett/ingles, AB, JI, MOe with Caleb, Goga, Chuma Queen off the bench. Especially Caleb and Goga who imo can get be used more as specialist and get real minutes every night in some matchups.
ALSO PAPA JOHNS IS BACK ON THE MENU. ~~~~
Lets talk about Suggs inclusion to the starting 5, something I have been calling since last season as I have always maintained that Gary, BB, and Tross are not needed. I really wish they traded Gary last season for another second and had Suggs/Franz at the 2. With Mo playing the 5 at points. Suggs is a defensive menace, his elite motor, elite intensity, great hand eye coordination and just athleticism is a matchup nightmare, and the teammate every player loves. He brings the energy that can shift an entire game. I have said this before but I am picking Suggs over J Green and Cade right now or any other guard in his class. Suggs is the fastest guy on the court, he pokes loose balls from defenders hands and in mid-air and is a blur after. Suggs is a strong dunker, a decent inside finisher, and his shot despite being bad is generally hitting rim. I know the media forces a narrative but Suggs was honestly gamechanging defensively when he plays. Suggs is underrated and I think he will show that this year. Defensively elite, athletically gifted, a great playmaker, and all he needs to be average on offense and the guy honestly could have an AS nod.
I truly think Suggs is a top 10 guard potential in this league. He has the chops to make it extremely far with his pure build, then we add in his fast break offense (completely unguardable in the open court as he is a top 10 athlete in this league). His versatility on defense and offense, playing as a cutter, connector, creator, and even deep range spacer. He is even more switchable on defense, I truly think he can guard 1-5 and it was shown many times before with him locking center and smalls in same possessions. He can absolutely hold a zone alone. Is a vocal leader, and oncourt captain, and a player that wants to win and never slacks off. The guy looked like he had unlimited energy out there tonight.
A few vids about Suggs / stats about Suggs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlKuuUFR5s (Jalen Suggs and “Three Level Defense”, FlowHoops) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHSPnvVJ4n8 (Jalen Suggs Rookie Defensive Highlights, Orlando Magic Moments) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OToMQPwh0dA (Jalen Suggs Rookie Scoring Highlights, Orlando Magic Moments).
I wrote this before but a look back to rookie Suggs and his underrated rookie season. The guy should have been talked about way more and in fact imo should have been a part of the all rookie teams.
During his rookie year Jalen Suggs according to Fivethirtyeight for SGs playing a minimum of 1000 minutes was 8th best overall defensive SG. For the same specifications but using PGs instead he is the 4th best. 1000 minutes to me is a decent amount of time to consider injuries etc.. Alex Caruso who got injured early and came back after some time played 1260. Suggs moves to #2 in PG and #5 if you raise the minutes up to 1300. Suggs as mentioned above was guarding 1-5 and taking on any switch especially on the other teams better players
Suggs also has a huge margin of time guarding the other team’s best player straight up (not just when switched) and showing strong defense. https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1552140344980127750 (NBA University, Matchupdifficulty)
So, the rookie Jalen Suggs can be considered by just Fivethirtyeight to be at worse a top 8 defensive guard during his rookie season, #14 in the whole NBA for players playing min 1300 minutes. I think realistically taking everything into account (especially the fact that Jalen has efficient/lockdown defense on stars) tells me that Jalen is top 3 defensive guard and honestly top 8-12 defensive player in the NBA.
Now here’s the perspective portion I mentioned above, Suggs was the worse offensive SG in the NBA (players playing a min of 1000 minutes) getting ranked at # 115 out of 115(this is the absolute worse) and also he was still the worse for PGs at #73 out of 73 (still the absolute worst/last nobody worse than him). So, he is a top 5 defensive player and the absolute worst offensive player for the minutes specified but most consider offense the easiest to attain and learn. Game speed and everything slows with time. Jalen Green (other Jalen) was ranked #91 for overall offense (SG min 1000 mins), and Cade was ranked #58 for PG (min 1000 mins) while for their defense Green is # 108 close to the bottom, Cade was #31 (PG). So overall adding both offense and defense Suggs was ranked #79, Green #111 out of 115 (SG for min 1000 mins), and Suggs was ranked # 57, Cade was #60 out of 73 (PG for min 1000 mins). Suggs defensive numbers were so impressive that despite being the worst offensive player he still “beats” both the 1st team All rookies Green and Cade who are considered by many to be superstars in the future. Suggs defense alone puts him at middle of the table for guards playing min 1000 minutes.
Suggs offense should continue to come along but its pretty ridiculous for a rookie to come into the league and just instantly be top 5 in any category especially a major category like defense. Suggs switches onto every matchup, and usually has to defend the other team’s best player and he does it efficiently and strongly. So, by perspective, despite my bias, I truly am really really high on Suggs. I think he is finally finding his game, and not to say Cade and Green cant get better with time but Suggs being the worst in league to average is probably easier than Cade or Green reaching top 10 in any of the other categories as Suggs was.
Suggs in his 3rd year is really finding himself. Suggs has now really harnessed the potential that was glimpsed at during his rookie year. His offensive skills are starting to complement his raw tools, he is no longer ranking at the bottom of every offensive metric but instead showing some proficiency and efficiency on the court (not exactly this game but he has shown it to end the year last season). The guys hard work, effort and dedication is so apparent. He is an absolute force to be reckoned with, and not just for his defensive capabilities, but for an all-around game + being a top 5 athletic player with growing bball iq and leadership. He is going to evolve into top-caliber player and potential perennial AS. The guy is ready. I think he was the right pick at the spot, I think he could have went higher, and I think in a redraft he goes 2 after Franz. He is underrated, but his impact is so apparent. He had games that he was seemingly the sole reason for the comeback. Just a complete takeover type of player.
I really have 0 ideas why Mosley insisted on keeping Gary as the starter last season(something I have been harping on for 2 years). Suggs just needs patience but he will find himself and once he does he is gamechanging and elite. Mosley should be fired for many things, keeping BB as a starter for so long, for ever playing BB and Moe at the same time, refusing to let Mo get consistent PT, and never really trying Suggs as a starter last season. Suggs fits this group perfectly. His shooting isn’t perfect but ever other aspect of his game is a complement to Paolo, Markelle, Wendell, and Franz. He raises this teams ceiling and floor and can continue to develop to be more than just an elite helper. He has very high potential, in fact I think he has the tied 3rd best potential on this team tied with Jett and Markelle. Lets Suggs pop off and show the NBA that he was the right pick at 5.