2024/2025 General Game Thread

[hootie249 316]

12 hours ago, Soul Bro said:

Nice win. I love seeing AB’s growth lately. Also the KCP signing, on paper, seemed like a solid signing. Throughout his career, he’s been a fantastic shooter and defender. Where’d his shot go?

So after reading my post it makes it seem like i'm knocking KCP and asking for his successor to have some floor time. KCP was a good pick up. We just have to hope he starts looking decent in late April. That still could happen. At least he didn't get some mysterious career ending injury like Aminu. He just needs to get used to his new life without Lebron or Jokic.

If he doesn't look good in the playoffs we will know it was all about playing with two of the best passers of all time that made him a champion.

[All Eyes On Me 1,328]

31 minutes ago, hootie249 said:

While i agree Jett needs more minutes he shouldn't have been the picked where we grabbed him anyhow. So if he works out great, but years from now if he doesn't this sunk cost fallacy will be why we don't win a chip.

Meanwhile Christian Braun in Denver is killing it as a starter and shooter. He was KCP's replacement, who himself replaced Gary Harris.

Braun looked like he had potential right from the start. Sure he struggled his second year but even in year one he was doing things you drafted him to do.

So, what you’re saying is as long as you’re athletic and can hit wide open shots, you’re going to succeed as a 2 guard next to Nikola Jokic?

[hootie249 316]

14 minutes ago, All Eyes On Me said:

So, what you’re saying is as long as you’re athletic and can hit wide open shots, you’re going to succeed as a 2 guard next to Nikola Jokic?

We should be saying this about our shooting guards next to Franz and Paolo soon, yes! Injuries have delayed this but we all have seen it. Very soon these guys are going to be dominant inside. Paolo and Franz are just too big and skilled, they are going to generate tons of wide open shots the next few years. Analytics guys on this very forum have looked up the numbers, i think at one point we were 11th or 12th in generating those shots. We just don't hit them!

[MagicMan1979 153]

1 hour ago, fan for too long 2 said:

It’s not only his speed, but give the guy a break. He is in his second year and has very little time on the court to relax and have the game slow down in his mind. Look at AB, he has much much more time on the court, he still struggles. 
 

I wish Jett had been given the opportunities AB has had. 

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that AB has been a significantly better defender from the start of their careers. Jett just flat out looked lost on that end at times so far.  So if you can’t defend and your shot isn’t falling Moseley isn’t going to play you much. But I understand your point of him needing reps as he has so much potential as a shooter. Lord knows we need better shooting. 

[fan for too long 2 565]

I would sacrifice some defense for offense. We got enough the other way around. Also his defense has improved. And he puts up a stat line that beats Harris nine times out of ten. Harris should not ever play. Imo. 

[All Eyes On Me 1,328]

42 minutes ago, fan for too long 2 said:

I would sacrifice some defense for offense. We got enough the other way around. Also his defense has improved. And he puts up a stat line that beats Harris nine times out of ten. Harris should not ever play. Imo. 

You and I and most of the board would for sure, but it’s not how Mose coaches. The only guy who consistently gets away with bad defense without getting pulled is Paolo. KCP and GH have become two of our worst offensive players, but they rotate well and man up well and Mose won’t bench em for that. He doesn’t hold players to the same accountability on the offensive side of the ball

[MagicMan1979 153]

3 hours ago, fan for too long 2 said:

I would sacrifice some defense for offense. We got enough the other way around. Also his defense has improved. And he puts up a stat line that beats Harris nine times out of ten. Harris should not ever play. Imo. 

I am 100% with you on Harris. He should have been moved a long time ago.  I’d not play him to get some of the young guys more time. Jett had a nice game last night. He is still so young and hopefully will continue to progress.  TDS has eaten into his minutes a bit this year also for the same reason as AB.  

[JJZFL 700]

On 2/10/2025 at 9:37 PM, JJZFL said:

What happened to AB?  Aggressive last game, this game after he crossed half court he gave up the ball immediately and ran off somewhere.  

 

On 2/10/2025 at 9:41 PM, MagicOne said:

That's a good point. I would be curious to see what our record is when AB scores at least 15 points. When he is aggressive it seems like he piles up the points and it is beneficial for the rest of the guys on the team and we usually do well. When he isn't aggressive then..welll.. you know..tonight happens.

 

19 hours ago, MagicOne said:

Time to put this thing to bed! Then get some much-needed rest and come back refreshed and ready to take on the world after the break. Jalen should be back by then. I am sure he is chomping at the bit to get back out there. Kudos once again to whomever posted about AB and how his aggressiveness usually translates into a Magic win. Tonight, he is being aggressive once again.

Thank you, MagicOne.  I guess my main point was that we can't have just two guys handling the ball in the offensive end and also taking a majority of the shots.  Especially when that ball handling consists of dribbling around and then trying to force a way to the basket against multiple defenders, or take a difficult shot while guarded.  We really need a PG who can break down the defense a bit with his quickness, and as Paulo said,  "set the table" for everyone else. If AB can help with that, I'm all for it.  But he's not been consistent.  Sometimes he's aggressive and other times he barely crosses half court before he gives it to one of our big two and scampers off to the corner.  It's kind of mystifying.

[orlandoholic 190]

It’s basically nuts that Harris gets minutes right away after being injured so long and Jett is being in a doghouse all season long. 

Jett will be one of our players that getvtraded and they‘ll be awesome somewhere else. I don’t comprehend why Gary Harris is getting minutes at all at this point. He provides very very little 

[JJZFL 700]

On 2/13/2025 at 2:31 AM, orlandoholic said:

majority of the team has time off! I expect them to work on this break! We desperately need that. 
We can’t be „lazy“ here. We have too much to catch up. 

Hopefully Mosley does a lot of film and gets on some coaching clinics. We desperately need an offensive mind. We can barely score 100 points on a severely depleted Hornets team with basically no center. 

We don’t have a clue how to operate out of simple pick and roll situations. Only answer we have is Franz and Paolo being amazing and head down. We don’t throw lobs, we don’t roll, we don’t have a pick and pop game,.

Only thing we do is screen/slip screen and get out of the way of Paolo and Franz. It’s tiring for them and also for me as a fan.

Just to remind everyone that the team can’t have any organized activities for the players during the All-Star break. Of course players are allowed to work out on their own. Coaches can certainly review whatever they want. But no organized team activities, and the team can’t require the players to work out on their own.

[Albert Lergier 110]

16 hours ago, orlandoholic said:

It’s basically nuts that Harris gets minutes right away after being injured so long and Jett is being in a doghouse all season long. 

Jett will be one of our players that getvtraded and they‘ll be awesome somewhere else. I don’t comprehend why Gary Harris is getting minutes at all at this point. He provides very very little 

You are not alone on this....like you, don't think Gary is a better player than Jett at this moment. And if he is Jett is beating him in effort, energy and "playmaking"

 

According to recent data, Jett Howard's stats over the last 10 games include: 

an average of 4.0 points per game, 0.8 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game with a 33.3% shooting percentage from three-point range

According to recent data (AI), Gary Harris's stats over the last 10 games include: 

an average of 2.4 points per game, 1.0 rebounds per game, and 0.8 assists per game with a 26.8% shooting percentage from three-point range

 

[hootie249 316]

All this shows is you should give younger players a chance. I mean especially this season they should give Jett as man reps as  possible. Everyone said going into the season it's a learning season. Well we are learning some things. 

Things i learned, we had some good wins the first two months from having a deep team but once that deepness was gone we sucked. Still can't shoot. Suggs and Mo's energy are important. Isaac had years to learn some post moves as a 7 footer but hasn't. Franz is really good, i still believe in KCP and Paolo will play better but wasn't in shape after his injury.

As much as it pains me Cole is streaky but still very important, AB can still be the future, if we hit 3's  we destroy teams.

What does this all mean? I have no idea.