Jump to content
Soul Bro

2024/2025 General Game Thread

Recommended Posts

Or maybe just don't get an absolute stinker of a performance from Paolo Banchero. 

EDIT: Just to expand on the above, Paolo has been wildly inconsistent since his return.

I hate, hate, hate, his falling in love with the midrange jumper. Like teams just give it him because giving a 6'10 250lbs ball handler a mid range jumper is entirely preferable to basically anything else. When he's in the post with a guard and he turns around for a jumper I legitimately want to punch my screen.I get that it's an uncontested shot essentially but it's still a turn around jumper just put the little guy under the basket and lay the ball up! 

I always thought of Paolo as quite a skilled offensive player but at times we see he's pretty raw, he doesn't have a great deal of finishing craft, he doesn't have a great deal of post scoring craft and his handle is lose. 

He still has everything to be the main man because he's a 6'10 guy who's strong as hell and can pass, dribble and shoot but he plays exactly like someone who's always got by on being the strongest guy on the court and if that isn't going to continue to be the case (I think he still could be most nights he just doesn't always seem like he's up for playing physically) then his craft is going to have to catch up. Because teams are always, always going to give him the midi and just shrug if he beats them on pull up 2s because he's not that efficient where it's bad defense. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We throw the game away two times, both end of regulation and 1OT. Couldn't agree more with posters saying that we need more ball movement and team play, and couldn't rely only on Paolo, or Franz. Predictable as hell. The good news it's we're back fighting games and not losing them without a hope.

Glad to see that more and more people are advocating for a playmaker, as giving the ball to Paolo and use him as a primary ballhandler should have never been the solution. Second one, yes, but still need a competent PG.

  • Upvote 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To me the clear spot to upgrade is point guard/tweener guard, and the package we’d deal to upgrade is some combo of Cole/Jett/GH and picks as needed depending on the talent. I’d be perfectly content dropping KCP to the bench and sliding Suggs over to the 2 if the guy we bring in is good enough for it. I’m confident in AB/TDS as long term pieces and JI and WCJ are fine as long as they can stay in their roles and not be in a position where they are forced to do more than they’re comfortable with.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's kind of sad that JI and WCJ have not learned more post moves since they entered the league. One of them has to go in the next year. Lead guard has still been the Magics most glaring need for 15 years straight. SMDH.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I understand how everyone is upset with Paolo.  He hasn’t played great after returning from injury thats for sure.  

Chris Vernon who covers Desmond Bane as a Grizzlies reporter was talking about Paolo last week on his Pod Cast not looking great.   He mentioned it took Bane about 4 weeks to return from his oblique injury before he looked like himself.  I still think he is simply struggling coming off the injury which was worse than Franz’s version as Paolo also plays a much more physical style.

Lets not forget it was Paolo who showed up in The Playoffs when it mattered most in game 7 against the team with the current best record in The NBA.  He averaged 27 Pts, 8.6 Rebs, and 4 assists on good efficiency in his first Playoffs as a 22 year old.

I think he will be fine once he gets his legs back under him.  I don’t think he just woke up and sucked or has a big head now etc.  But the criticism just like it was for Franz last year is fair and I think this stretch shows what moves we need to make to improve the team around them.  Some improved spacing would help so much for our team.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
41 minutes ago, MagicMan1979 said:

I understand how everyone is upset with Paolo.  He hasn’t played great after returning from injury thats for sure.  

Chris Vernon who covers Desmond Bane as a Grizzlies reporter was talking about Paolo last week on his Pod Cast not looking great.   He mentioned it took Bane about 4 weeks to return from his oblique injury before he looked like himself.  I still think he is simply struggling coming off the injury which was worse than Franz’s version as Paolo also plays a much more physical style.

Lets not forget it was Paolo who showed up in The Playoffs when it mattered most in game 7 against the team with the current best record in The NBA.  He averaged 27 Pts, 8.6 Rebs, and 4 assists on good efficiency in his first Playoffs as a 22 year old.

I think he will be fine once he gets his legs back under him.  I don’t think he just woke up and sucked or has a big head now etc.  But the criticism just like it was for Franz last year is fair and I think this stretch shows what moves we need to make to improve the team around them.  Some improved spacing would help so much for our team.

Yeah, he's definitely not moving like he was at the start of the season. He looks a step or two slower since his return. Plus, teams aren't respecting our shooters, so there just packing the paint on Paolo and Franz, making it tough on them.

  • Upvote 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
43 minutes ago, MagicMan1979 said:

I understand how everyone is upset with Paolo.  He hasn’t played great after returning from injury thats for sure.  

Chris Vernon who covers Desmond Bane as a Grizzlies reporter was talking about Paolo last week on his Pod Cast not looking great.   He mentioned it took Bane about 4 weeks to return from his oblique injury before he looked like himself.  I still think he is simply struggling coming off the injury which was worse than Franz’s version as Paolo also plays a much more physical style.

Lets not forget it was Paolo who showed up in The Playoffs when it mattered most in game 7 against the team with the current best record in The NBA.  He averaged 27 Pts, 8.6 Rebs, and 4 assists on good efficiency in his first Playoffs as a 22 year old.

I think he will be fine once he gets his legs back under him.  I don’t think he just woke up and sucked or has a big head now etc.  But the criticism just like it was for Franz last year is fair and I think this stretch shows what moves we need to make to improve the team around them.  Some improved spacing would help so much for our team.

Agreed it’ll take patience and he’s earned us to be patient with him, but I think we’re still within our rights to say something when he costs us a game or two, as long as nobody comes in with ridiculous trade Paolo takes.

I think it’s conditioning more than anything else, unless Franz’ oblique was a lot less severe than P. If you think about it, P got 5 games and probably wasn’t in game shape to begin with when the season started, no one ever is. Then he had to sit on his ass for essentially another entire off-season to heal. It’s no coincidence to me that he and Franz both fell apart in the 4th and OT.

  • Upvote 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Shine88 said:

Yeah, he's definitely not moving like he was at the start of the season. He looks a step or two slower since his return. Plus, teams aren't respecting our shooters, so there just packing the paint on Paolo and Franz, making it tough on them.

I was not able to watch the first two quarters of last night's game, but in the 4th quarter, didn't the Heat play a lot of zone? Because of the zone, the Magic (*fill in a name*) consistently over dribbled in an iso attempt  to make a shot and resulted in putting up long, outside shots before the clock ran out. I remember Franz "boinked" one from way beyond the 3 pt. line and missed the mark.

Some poster mentioned Paolo over dribbling, but also Franz threw up a couple of long range jumpers because of the zone played by Miami.

Sine88, I don't know if what you said that Miami didn't respect our shooters, so they packed the paint on Paolo and Franz is the same as what I alluded to as Miami playing zone.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
17 minutes ago, Shine88 said:

 

It’s ridiculous to say that we’re “likely a play-in team” when we’re 1/2 game back from the 6 seed and we’re just getting healthy for the first time all year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×