Nets coach Steve Nash is trying to avert a controversy over his decision to keep DeAndre Jordan as the starting center, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Nash gave Jarrett Allen more playing time off the bench on Friday but didn’t tinker with the lineup. Allen will be a restricted free agent in the summer. “I want to be very careful not to make it like a mini-drama because it’s not,” Nash said. “They both play. JA has been outstanding and will play plenty, if not the bulk of the minutes, but for right now, he’s just playing those minutes from the second unit.”
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Pistons veteran point man Derrick Rose is highly impressed with the maturity of rookie forward Saddiq Bey‘s game, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Bey started in place of injured Blake Griffin, who is in the league’s concussion protocol, and fired in five 3-pointers against Boston on Friday. “Right when we picked him, I knew we had an asset,” Rose said. “He’s a shooter. Whenever I’m out there with him, I always keep an eye on him and see where he is on the floor.”
- Gary Clark will likely fill Chuma Okeke’s bench role with the Magic until Okeke returns, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Clark is a solid defender but does not bring much to the table offensively, Robbins notes. Okeke will miss several weeks due to a left knee bone bruise. Clark re-signed with the Magic on a two-year contract, though the second year isn’t guaranteed.
- Nikola Vucevic has become the Magic’s all-time leader in field goals made and he’s achieved that feat without having a lot of plays drawn up for him, as Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel explains. Coach Steve Clifford says Vucevic gets his points within the flow of the offense. “There’s no guy here that I’ve done less to help than him,” Clifford said. “If there’s any guy in the locker room who would have a complaint that Steve doesn’t get him the ball, it would be him.” Vucevic, the team’s highest-paid player, is signed through the 2022/23 season.
Allen should be playing over Jordan. Allen is the better player
He is playing…that’s the point. Why does it matter who is in for the first few min of a game?
If you’re not mature enough to handle that, maybe you don’t deserve the spot.
The first minutes of the game are the least important with regards to the outcome – starting doesnt matter and its a dumb stat to keep in 2020.
Also it has to do with matching squads, you can’t always just put the best 5 players you have together – that’s been proven over and over to not work.
Vucevic is a good player on a persistently bad team, yet I never really see his name here.
What’s his deal? Is he happy being the stable centerpiece almost always living in the shadow of a prospect’s imploding potential?
He’s a good (but not great) player making $25M/year, what do you expect?
He makes $25M a year and gets to live in sunny Orlando all season.
“His deal” is probably just hoopin and chillin and being rich.
I know I would be mad if I made 25M a year while working in a low-pressure situation.
ORL has been a playoff team for the last two seasons…AND have a young squad (with half of rotation under 25).
Casuals only watch teams ESPN and TNT tells them to watch.
True as that may be for espn/casuals, imo Gordon has been disappointing/weird, Isaac sadly just blew an ACL, Ross and/or Fournier would be more valuable as trade pieces, they just took Anthony while Fultz’s contract is for big money, and Vucevic is blocking Bamba.
As a neutral outsider, I just don’t get what Orlando’s plan or trajectory actually is, beyond hoping the kids keep growing.
Been that way for years there. Augustin got tired of it and decided to be good rather than promising, years too late for anyone to care. He could go from backup on an also-ran to starter on a titleist this year.
You do know when you hear talk of a guy named ‘Vooch’… that’s Vucevic…
Orlando’s an up and coming team it’s taken a while to get the roster right but they’re growing now. When Bamba and Isaac are back they will be even better. Fultz is a good player and great fun to watch.
SMH
Tired of it? uh DJ’s 33 and ORL weren’t going to offer him anything but a vet minimum contract. “Starter on a titleist?!” LMAO you ever heard of Jrue Holiday? DJ will be 15mpg back up.
You think I don’t know who Vucevic is? what?
magic 24/7, the Vooch part was for deathbydeathwest’s OP.
As for DJA, I think he was underappreciated and Fultz over. I am predicting he will start because they will want Jrue at his most comfortable, not to mention getting Giannis the ball enough.
And one guard spot is open like last season. I predicted Connaton for it and it didn’t work out, we’ll see.
I find DJA winning a title more amazing than Jrue because DJA’s career trajectory until the last few years was not going to see him even last this long!
That’s the plan. Small market lock up your talent and develop it
Ross and Fournier are high quality shooters…you know the most coveted skill in the NBA. Both are high efficiency +18PPG guys.
Anthony will be groomed as back up PG that can also slide over to play next to Fultz. He’s also on rookie scale for 4 years. FYI, most teams in NBA play multiple ball handlers.
Vucevic isn’t blocking Bamba, he’s an excellent C. Bamba will back him up and as he develops their roles will switch.
Most neutral outsiders like you don’t watch the Magic so why would you know what plan is?
ORL is developing their young players within a competitive context. That is the best way to develop young players.
Casual’s pay for cable. TNT and ESPN? What is this, the 90s?
I stream everything and watch the Magic often. They aren’t good. I do like Vuc though.
That said, I just looked at their schedule, next three against OKC and two against Cleveland. They could go 7-1 to start the season. They def aren’t getting out of the first round though.
That’s just dumb…you do know that TNT/ESPN aren’t only on cable right?
If you don’t get TNT/ESPN how do you watch the playoffs then, LMAO? Sounds like a casual that just watches highlights.
…and I call BS that you watch Magic…I’ve seen you’re way off hot takes on them on here several times.
Maybe he pirates. Gets more local flavor.
couldn’t believe he’s been there 10 years now and has the all time fg record. who would of thought with guys like dennis scott and nick anderson that were shooters and there for awhile or penny and shaq putting up monster numbers albeit in a short amount of time or guys like scott skiles and jameer who were there for a large portion of their careers.
Jarrett Allen is the only player who can protect the rim and guard up the perimeter
I’d trade Anthony Edwards for Allen and a future First
Nets can use Edwards as a trade chip for Harden
Wolves have twin tower
Edwards is available for trade next week
This trade would work if it was 1998. Allen AND KAT on the same floor? That’s going to be a low scoring team due to no spacing.
You do realize KAT is one of the top 10 shooters in the league, right?
Players with 8 treys attempted per game with a 40% success in a season… Curry, Klay, Bertans & KAT!
No one in the league can give you more spacing than KAT, as simple as, dude!
I mean with Allen not KAT, I know KAT is a monster. It could work bc KAT isn’t there rim protector we expected him to be, but does he want to play the 4 then? That’s the question
Haha. El Don Are you talking about a “Season” in which Towns played 35 games? It doesn’t work like that dude.
Saddiq has already learned the important skill of getting the PG’s attention. Should be good for his ppg and usage.