Off-Day Open Thread: a Rift Develops in the Orlando Magic's Locker Room in Wake of Tough Loss to the Atlanta Hawks

We don’t have guy refusing to play, refusing to listen to coaches, and a coach who doesn’t seem to care.

’sup Wizards?

Lewis was guarding two guys. He may have been more justified boxing out Mario West actually. You can’t blame a single defensive sequence in a whole game. Just learn from the bad experience so it won’t happen again, there will always be ambitious offensive rebounders/putbacks, is what I hope happens for Rashard and the Magic. Barnes complaining about not going in is 100% inexcusable. He should get demoted (for a few games) as a message; if I were coach I would say that’s why and I would say it in his face, albeit privately in some coach’s office.

Alright Ben…you’ve set me off this morning. I don’t believe there is a need to analyze hot air. I hate locker room controversy talk. Honestly this locker room controversy stuff is something I could see coming from ESPN. Some national coverage that the Magic dont have it together and proof of it, there is a locker room “rift.” I don’t buy it and its bullshit. When the Lakers lose a game it’s always Phil Jackson’s fault according to the players and no one makes a stink about that. Chalk this latest banter delivered in Mr. Schmitz’ beat reporting to the fact the Magic lost a game at the buzzer. Obviously you will have players upset and Stan is going to be Stan. This isn’t new to anyone. Barnes is a hardcore competitior, as we have seen, in the last two months…and losing such a game doesn’t sit well with him when he feels he probably could of helped. Honestly I’m glad losing a game like this is causing such a rise out of them. The team used to just accept these types of losses and say “we’ll get them next time.” The Magic are the 3rd best team in the NBA ,and with the Bucks, the best team in the NBA since the all-star break. One Josh Smith dunk and loss to a team they have smashed in the three previous games will not take them down as much as the media in this country want it to. Rashard or Barnes are not going to jeopardize the chance to win a title for a box out and lack of playing time. This is why the last four weeks of the season suck if you’re already in the playoffs…mountains are made out of molehills.

Dwight didn’t have a good game and was disrupted by foul trouble early on. But even with a bad game all around, they won by two at the buzzer on their home court. We should have pulled this game out, but with the way we played last night, I can’t blame Stan for trying to spark the team by changing up the rotation. I don’t think it was a slight on Barnes, just trying to shake the team up and get some energy (and points). I like that Barnes pushed for wanting to be in there, as long as he says it and then moves on, its good to say it and be competitive, its another to dwell on it and make it a larger issue than it is. Hopefully Dwight will go back to form at and thru the playoffs.

Dwight was lackadaisical in his defense for a few quarters and everyone else just wasn’t having a good night. There’s bound to be tension when they lose on such a note, especially since that damn play’s been repeated all over the networks :|

Hopefully for the next game they come out hungry and eviscerate the Timberpups or whoever they’re playing.

Im not suprised by this. Van Gundy tends to blame himself for a loss and then at the same time inadvertently throw players under the bus publicly.
Im not saying players need have their feelings considered or anything, but its one thing to call a player out in the locker room or on the off-day, its another to do it in the media. Especially when its not neccessairly his fault or you’ve just spent a couple of minutes blaming yourself for the loss (which he did in the playoffs last year).
This is why theres been a perception (and if you ask some insiders with the team, its more than just a perception) that the players cant stand him sometimes. While it certainly hasnt raised problems yet, and while the team has survived it before (ie the playoff run last year with the tension between players and coach) its certainly something that could rare its head again in the playoffs when the team is struggling in a series. Much like Vince Carter not showing up in the playoffs, its something you dont want to believe and right now you feel isnt gonna happen but theres always the open possiblilty and fear.

I didnt get the watch the game last night, but looking at the highlights, I really dont see what Rashard could do. He seemed to be leaning to the left ready to box out the player closest to him (I think that was Flip Murray idk) and Smith just came flying out of nowhere. He was positioned miles away. It was just a great athletic play by Josh Smith.
Shame we lost, but ultimatley we still have this team’s number. Beat them 6 straight, beat them by 20 + before and it took a freakish athletic play resulting in a 2 point win for them to finally beat us.

So Im not suprised, Im not totally worried but I do wish Stan with think about what he just saw and be more the wiser to address a mistake by a player. Its not a problem now, but it does seem like one of those things people will file for later if the Magic dont make the finals.

As such, there’s always a big deal anytime there is something said after a loss. It won’t be a big deal.

Josh Smith had a running start…if you look at the replay, he started running as soon as it left Johnson’s hand…he just lucked up really. No way you stop him from getting up there without fouling him. especially not with Rashard doing the boxing out. I honestly dont even think that Dwight would been able to stop him. Realistically, everyone was focused on Johnson and we got “caught”…no big deal. I follow Matt Barnes on twitter and he was asking for everybody support through these last games….

  I dont think it is a big deal…I get pissed when I lose a flag football game and I blame the quarterback…a couple of hours later, its forgotten. I like it that they are mad because we lost…shows that they mean business. B. Schmitz is up to his tricks once again pulling controversy out of a hat previously rented by a rabbit…

He was playing well and better than 3 of the five players on the court at any given time.

his defense on Joe Johnson at least should have earned him a spot on the floor at that moment

The Magic? worried? Please….Number two in the east is nothing to worry about and one loss doesn’t make a difference. Just like someone said before, Stan is just being Stan. I wonder what practices are like: Who can argue the best? lol

Look I understand JJ was in for instant offense, but he gave us the exact same thing Barnes would’ve no exceptional play that I can really recall. Jameer Brought us back with some hustle play. Doesnt bother me though I understand both SVG Playing JJ like it was a video game when u need 3’s and Barnes being upset. Barnes has room to talk.

Raw Lew on the other hand has none. He played piss poor on offense, isnt playing defense the way he could and simply did not try that hard to block out or get the RE. He doesnt wanna play the 3 anymore cause he doesnt/cant run up and down chasing the LeBron’s and such but is playing horrible against the fours this season. Not blocking out missing defensice assignments. No Crying. I love the Magic too much too talk about the Contract (I hate when people do that – looking at you Bianchi) but to be real Shard has to step it up or sit him down.

SVG is fine. Im glad hes back on his sour notes after loses (not so much after wins but thats another post) I thought he was being to nice at the beginning of the year. Mean SVG > Nice Svg

……Is a jackass. The reactions of players after a tough, disappointing loss should never be written about or judged. They are professional athletes. They are paid to be the best in the world, which is why (other than players of Blatche’s ilk) they are EXTREMELY competitive. They get pissed after a game and say things without thinking. This is NOT news-worthy. shitz and the rest of the sentinel are morons.

Im shocked I havent taken a loss this hard since the LePrayer in the ECF. Where I lost Sleep for 3 days thinking we had lost our opprtunity.

There is something about this game that just seems Cryptic and wierd, like an Omen…and I was at both the Miami and Washington games.
Oh well it could just be me and my crazy Blue, Black and Silver-gray blood boilling over nothing…

Or is it…

This is the most national pub the Magic have gotten since the playoffs!

It was merely a tough loss to a good team in Game 72 of the season. The Magic are still firmly entrenched as the second seed in the East, are 50-22, including 11-2 in their last 13 games.

Some people need to take a deep breath, relax and chill and enjoy the ride, though there may be a few bumps on that ride from time to time.

you know these things happen, Shard’s only got two arms, he was doing a good job of guarding Mario West, unless he had eyes in his back he wouldn’t have noticed Josh Smith – my observations from another viewing of the last two possessions.

though I’m still peeved JJ was on instead of Barnes. I know Redick hit a big 3 pointer against…. I think either the Cavs or the Celtics around February, I would’ve put Barnes there for both offensive and defensive purposes. I understand why he was pissed, I would’ve thought Stan has bit more confidence in him that Redick – who for a “pure shooter” horribly missed a wide open three… he seems to get in the hard shots in, and the easier ones rim out