TrueMagicFan07

You have superstars on various teams, but you have to have ball movement. It's called "teamwork" no matter how much one player is a ball hog and want's their name in the spotlight. Just look at how Aaron Gordon is thriving on the Nuggets after being coached into being a very good role player.

Exactly! Some fans are questioning the amount paid for Bane to be traded to the Magic. Evidently, these persons did not watch Bane when he played for the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane's Stats 2024-2025 "In the 2024-2025 season, Desmond Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. He shot 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from three-point range, playing 32.0 minutes per game. His stats include 1327 points and 369 assists for the season". Points: 19.2 Rebounds: 6.1 Assists: 5.3 Field Goal %: 48.4% 3-Point %: 39.2% Steals: 1.2 Blocks: 0.4 Minutes Per Game: 32.0 Turnovers: 2.4 2023-2024 "In the 2023-2024 season, Desmond Bane averaged 23.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, playing in 42 games for the Memphis Grizzlies. His shooting percentages were 49.4% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range, with a high 88.2% from the free-throw line." Points: 23.7 Rebounds: 4.4 Assists: 5.5 Field Goal %: 49.4% 3-Point %: 40.8% Free Throw %: 88.2 %

I see what you are saying JJZFL. But since the coach is experimenting, I think Bane should be allowed to take a shot at it. Bane's position may not be officially as a point guard, but I think he could do better at that position than Suggs and other players that have played point guard. AB has even played point guard at times and it does not work. AB would dribble the ball over the half court line and then go stand in the corner. I use to see LeBron bring the ball up the court at times and was the ball handler after going over the half court line. My wish is that Bane is tried out as the starting point guard, and if it's successful, I want to gloat and say: "I told you so JJZFL". /just kidding

Early on, I believe it was as the preseason ended, there were participants on here that kept listing Suggs as the starting point guard for the 2025-2026 season. I kept saying,,,No,no,no! Suggs plays too reckless and out of control. Some may not agree with me, but I think Bane should be the ball handler/starting pg. Edit: From the point guard position Bane can help spread the floor because other teams will be focused on Franz and Paulo, allowing Bane to fire 3 pt shots. I know Bane can do it! #free Bane!---or whatever. :)

I didn't see the game involving the Bane incident. But for those who don't care to read my posts,,,hahaha! I posted a little while back my concerns that Bane was not producing on the Magic the way he did when he played for Memphis. He was one of the players that I detested. I believe it was in a game against the Warriors where he went "mano a mano" (face-to-face) confrontation with Draymond Greene. Bane was a very good 3 point shooter. I have not watched the replay of what Bane did in the game that caused him to be ejected(?). But in my opinion he was frustrated and that brought the Draymond Greene mentally out in him. Now, I'm not agreeing with whatever Bane did in the game that some of our posters and fans say was uncalled for, but we need a tough guy like Bane aka Draymond Greene. With better coaching, I believe Bane can return to the form that Bane played with the Grizzlies, when the Grizzlies was a top tier team in the NBA and Bane was the Grizzlies top 3 player. Edit: When Aaron Gordon first joined the Nuggets, I don't think he was scoring a lot of points or making a lot of 3's, but in a game I saw the other night, Gordon was on fire at the 3 pt line. Bane just needs to get his confidence back. He will be okay.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ All Eyes On Me Posted October 25 " Pathetic. Embarrassing. Hopefully these guys are done smelling their own farts and actually start playing basketball next time out." ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JJZL Posted October 25 " Well we can still go 80-2 :)" |___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________| I just had to quote two of my favorite posters on this forum; What All Eyes and JJZL said on October 25th is just too funny,,,hahahaha! :) Edit. I don't know how to double post quotes from two different pages, so I had to improvise.

I agree with you 100% hootie, all of what you said. I have seen Bane play a lot when he was with the Grizzlies. I wasn't following the team. The times I saw him play was against the Magic and the Warriors, my second favorite team. I didn't like him because he was a nasty, get-up-in-your-face player when he played for the Grizzlies. I remember him getting into a face-to-face confrontation with Draymond Green. I won't say I hated him, but I developed a strong dislike for him. Bane could drain those 3's. He was the Grizzlies 3rd best player on their team. I was surprised--in a good way--when I found out he was traded to the Magic. I am as guilty as some of the Magic posters for criticizing Bane because he has not met my expectations. I even put him in the same box as KCP. For those who have seen KCP play on the Lakers, he was as good as the nickname he gave himself when he joined the Magic. Something goes wrong when good players from other teams come to the Magic.

+1 Nice post hootie249. I love it! Especially where you showed my Goga some love. My biggest disappointment was with Bane. I watched him when the Grizzlies played the Magic and he was one of my players not to like in the league because he was so good behind the 3 pt. line, and last night his shots looked bad and were not dropping for him. I hope he does not become Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 2.0

+1 The message board "participation" selection is not working for me. Soul Bro I agree with you, and I have been posting about Suggs recklessness too many times. In my opinion, neither Suggs or AB should be the starting point guard. I got my wish about Cole Anthony . . .Gone, gone, gone!

"...Just found this forum"(?) Welcome, Raidmagic! Just kidding. I have been a truebluenation forum member since 2007. Other message board members have been here longer. I love it! For me, it's easy to read and follow. Sorry, RealGM Magic, but it is too cluttered/busy, too much stuff that gives me a headache to try to read the posts. By the way, Raidmagic, I am a female. :)

Fan-n-n-n!

+1,000 I couldn't agree more. The 'laughter gif' was the way I reacted to your ". . .a loooong wait" response. In my opinion AB should be the 3rd pg coming off the bench if needed or in garbage time. In watching the playoffs, I've been spoiled by "how a top notch point guard should play"--one who knows how to effectively play the point guard position on a consistent basis. AB had a couple of flashes last season, but he was never consistent. Yeah, I said it!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fan,,,STOP IT!!!

+1 Thank you!

No he does not play closer to Steph. Some players try to imitate Steph. You miss my point. I don't disagree with you on Bane's ability, versatility. . . and maybe basketball acuity. In my opinion, Bane would best be used solely as a shooting guard, his ability to make 3-point shots, is a distractor from other teams that were sagging in the paint with 3 or 4 players surrounding Franz and Banchero to prevent them from scoring close to the basket. Another strategy that other teams used to prevent the Magic from getting to the basket is "zone play". They were not concerned about other Magic players because of lack of 3-point shooters. In the last half of the season, did you not see how Franz was missing easy layups? He got close to the basket and tossed the ball over the basket. And yes, I watched plenty of the Grizzlies games. I am a basketball and football junkie. :) Edit: We shouldn't plan to use a newcomer based on how they occasionally played for another team. For example: Aaron Gordon was used as a ball handler on the Magic a number of times, but he is not a ball handler for Denver and it has worked out for that team. In watching Denver games, I have seen Aaron playing a lot on the perimeter and in the corner, not as a ball handler.

+1 I agree

I agree. And there is no player today (non point guard) who can play that position like Lebron. The Magic is a totally different team than Lebron and the Lakers. Lebron has been like a second coach for them (not technically). But I am pretty sure he has some input into how the team plays. The Magic players do not have that kind of input in game plans.

Raise your hand if you have been watching the playoffs. If you really paid attention as I did, I witnessed a whole different style of play during the playoffs as opposed to the regular season. It has been fast paced. Players and ball movement was a sight to behold. It has been amazing the way the ball has moved around and touching so many players hands until they found an open man. Players did not just stand in the corner. I saw players run to the corner in a catch and shoot. They didn't just stand there watching iso from a teammate. I don't know how to describe it. It has been so much fun to watch. Since we have added a 3 pt. shooter in "you know who", he needs to help spread the floor like Ryan Anderson, Dennis Scott, Rashard Lewis did for the Magic. We need a Penny Hardaway, who was a highly skilled point guard known for his scoring and playmaking to run the show just like my Magic Johnson. That's my 2 cents.

+1000. Like fan for too long2, I cannot activate the upvote. I'm sorry to quote OnlyFranz lengthy post, but everything he said in my opinion is spot on. To your point, Fan, 99% of current nba teams do not have a non-point guard who can do the things you mentioned. Aging Lebron is the only non-point guard today that fits into that category.

I agree, JJZFL. Those are my sentiments.

Okay, let's revisit your post at training camp and preseason 2025.

I've seen Bane when the Grizzlies played against the Magic and the Warriors. Correct me if I'm wrong but I have never seen him play the point guard position. I don't think JJZL and I are questioning Bane's ability to contribute and help make the team better. It's just that it won't matter if the Magic does not have a point guard who can distribute the ball. Bane is a shooting guard. Edit: A point guard can't help the team if they can't or don't see the floor and cannot stay upright. Former Magic player Michael Carter Williams is a good example. He and Suggs have a similar style of play.

That's my sentiment also.

Thank you! I agree.

And here is the Magic's problem. Having Tyrese Haliburton, a point guard, who is playing a traditional position, is working just fine for the Pacers. By the way, I wouldn't mind having their backup, T.J. McConnell, in a starting pg position for the Magic. That guy is 'fire' and can do it all!