2023-2024 Regular Season Game 41: Orlando Magic (22-18) at Atlanta Hawks (16-23) - 7:30pm

[VFX]

Among PGs Black is already an elite defender. But nah, he can't help us win games... Starting Black is both a development move for the future and a win-now move to push this team into the playoffs.

51st percentile in steals
79th percentile in blocks
88th percentile in Defensive Box Score Plus Minus
83rd percentile in Defensive rating

This is the thing about my judgement on Mosely whether it be warranted or not…

You are playing an away game against Atlanta who use their guards to rack up points and hit clutch shots at the end of games, but then you willingly choose to not play Black + Suggs against them. Instead, you have multiple instances of Fultz + Cole and Fultz + Suggs in crucial minutes including the last 2. WHY?

Now if someone wants to tell me they are showcasing Fultz to get a trade partner, then fine. But you are not going to be winning basketball games OR developing your investments by throwing out some of those lineups that we saw in this game.

The FO has an identity crisis right now, and it started this past offseason, because they didn’t make it clear with their decisions which direction they wanted to go. They are taking too long in moving players that should have been moved 1-1.5 seasons ago. Mosely having to make these decisions is the result.

[JoshuaPotter]

Among PGs Black is already an elite defender. But nah, he can't help us win games... Starting Black is both a development move for the future and a win-now move to push this team into the playoffs.

51st percentile in steals
79th percentile in blocks
88th percentile in Defensive Box Score Plus Minus
83rd percentile in Defensive rating

It's one of those, it passes the sniff / eye test.

The problem is, no, the offense didn't become other worldly. But when you compared it to Fultz in the limited minutes you found out it didn't change either.

I loved that Fultz had a game where he contributed here. But that is about it. If you think at the end of the game he wasn't anything more then 4v5 offense vs defensive players you lost the plot.

The only counter point being is he should have the experience to not get in the way of something.

[JoshuaPotter]

Among PGs Black is already an elite defender. But nah, he can't help us win games... Starting Black is both a development move for the future and a win-now move to push this team into the playoffs.

51st percentile in steals
79th percentile in blocks
88th percentile in Defensive Box Score Plus Minus
83rd percentile in Defensive rating

This is the thing about my judgement on Mosely whether it be warranted or not…

You are playing an away game against Atlanta who use their guards to rack up points and hit clutch shots at the end of games, but then you willingly choose to not play Black + Suggs against them. Instead, you have multiple instances of Fultz + Cole and Fultz + Suggs in crucial minutes including the last 2. WHY?

Now if someone wants to tell me they are showcasing Fultz to get a trade partner, then fine. But you are not going to be winning basketball games OR developing your investments by throwing out some of those lineups that we saw in this game.

The FO has an identity crisis right now, and it started this past offseason, because they didn’t make it clear with their decisions which direction they wanted to go. They are taking too long in moving players that should have been moved 1-1.5 seasons ago. Mosely having to make these decisions is the result.

But what if we aren't? What if no trade is materializing because nobody is being shopped? In terms of player movement ill believe it when I see it.

Also not directed to you but the board. Be prepared to be disappointed. When the GM says we got a "guard from the Blazers" after a trade and instead its the "Okinawa Blazers"

WCJ injuries are almost livable. He broke his hand and got out of shape. It's dumb, it falls in line with him being frail. But gosh, it happens in life. So he will regain his value in short order and here we are he is starting to come to form.

Fultz on the other hand. This shows the FO has a continual problem to invest in oft injured players, but worse then an oft injured player is a player who takes forever to play up to their contract. Good grief, if Fultz ends up playing with half of what this forum is saying he is playing with I think I am watching medical/therapy malpractice.

WCJ, maybe even Isaac injuries become tolerable if you are floating those two. But when it becomes Fultz, and Ingles suddenly its not just anyone. Sprinkle in c'mon injuries in the NBA season and as I have been saying your no 1 issue is investing your paper mache as your veteran leadership.

[eyriq]

Among PGs Black is already an elite defender. But nah, he can't help us win games... Starting Black is both a development move for the future and a win-now move to push this team into the playoffs.

51st percentile in steals
79th percentile in blocks
88th percentile in Defensive Box Score Plus Minus
83rd percentile in Defensive rating

This is the thing about my judgement on Mosely whether it be warranted or not…

You are playing an away game against Atlanta who use their guards to rack up points and hit clutch shots at the end of games, but then you willingly choose to not play Black + Suggs against them. Instead, you have multiple instances of Fultz + Cole and Fultz + Suggs in crucial minutes including the last 2. WHY?

Now if someone wants to tell me they are showcasing Fultz to get a trade partner, then fine. But you are not going to be winning basketball games OR developing your investments by throwing out some of those lineups that we saw in this game.

The FO has an identity crisis right now, and it started this past offseason, because they didn’t make it clear with their decisions which direction they wanted to go. They are taking too long in moving players that should have been moved 1-1.5 seasons ago. Mosely having to make these decisions is the result.

Yeah, playing Fultz over AB is baffling. The front office sat on their hands last off-season so that they could evaluate a crowded back court and it put Mosley in a tough position. I suspect it will be an irritant for the rest of the season, unless we are saved by a consolidation trade at the deadline.

[bigdogdylan5]

Jett hasn't gotten a fair shake, he can shoot off the dribble whereas Caleb is just a catch and shoot guy. Caleb has gotten quite a few chances and hasn't really shown that he's more than a fringe NBA player.

Omg he has had consistent minutes for not even a month and he isn’t a top NBA shooter! Shocking!

I feel like this needs to be said the guy still is so young. Everyone wants to hold up Jordan Hawkins as a guy we need but Caleb despite being a second year player is 8 months younger than Hawkins. He is still scratching the surface. I understand the want for a more experienced shooter but I feel like Caleb needs some patience. The front office clearly sees potential here as he is like the only second rounder they have actually taken.

Being hard on Caleb is not the answer imo. Harris needs to play and shoot better. Cole needs to shoot better. Okeke needs to get off my screen. We need a real PG that isn’t scared to shoot. All bigger needs as I think Jett and Caleb will be long term 3 point threats.

Caleb is a solid player, he is a coach’s dream player. Great team player and team defender.

But there really hasnt been much growth to his game since he was in college.

Perhaps only getting better at his strengths.

Thus said, stallion is correct. Caleb is just a catch and shoot guy, and he is just doing ok. His numbers since his first year in college indicates he is a bad movement shooter and still is. No improvements.

Ok but my point is it’s kinda dumb to just assume the hard worker who just turned 21 won’t develop any further. I am glad we didn’t just dump Suggs following that rationale… I don’t want to misrepresent my opinions though, I think Jett is the one with the longer term potential to be more than a shooter and to be much better but he just isn’t ready on the def end and on the ball. We just need Caleb to be a 3 and D wing off the bench. Does it occur to anyone that them playing Caleb over Jett is not them saying Caleb or Chuma is better then Jett? I think they think Jett’s potential is high and putting him in the gleague might be the best place for him to get on ball reps. I don’t think the front office cares if Caleb gets on ball reps because they know what he is. They are playing long game with Jett. Because he won’t get any of the reps with Paolo Franz Cole and Fultz sucking them all up.

[JoshuaPotter]

Among PGs Black is already an elite defender. But nah, he can't help us win games... Starting Black is both a development move for the future and a win-now move to push this team into the playoffs.

51st percentile in steals
79th percentile in blocks
88th percentile in Defensive Box Score Plus Minus
83rd percentile in Defensive rating

This is the thing about my judgement on Mosely whether it be warranted or not…

You are playing an away game against Atlanta who use their guards to rack up points and hit clutch shots at the end of games, but then you willingly choose to not play Black + Suggs against them. Instead, you have multiple instances of Fultz + Cole and Fultz + Suggs in crucial minutes including the last 2. WHY?

Now if someone wants to tell me they are showcasing Fultz to get a trade partner, then fine. But you are not going to be winning basketball games OR developing your investments by throwing out some of those lineups that we saw in this game.

The FO has an identity crisis right now, and it started this past offseason, because they didn’t make it clear with their decisions which direction they wanted to go. They are taking too long in moving players that should have been moved 1-1.5 seasons ago. Mosely having to make these decisions is the result.

Yeah, playing Fultz over AB is baffling. The front office sat on their hands last off-season so that they could evaluate a crowded back court and it put Mosley in a tough position. I suspect it will be an irritant for the rest of the season, unless we are saved by a consolidation trade at the deadline.

Consolidation trade, or another season ending injury saving them.

If you had to put money on it. What would you feel safer happening?

My lunches aren't expensive. So $1 on another long term injury saving them.

[JoshuaPotter]

Omg he has had consistent minutes for not even a month and he isn’t a top NBA shooter! Shocking!

I feel like this needs to be said the guy still is so young. Everyone wants to hold up Jordan Hawkins as a guy we need but Caleb despite being a second year player is 8 months younger than Hawkins. He is still scratching the surface. I understand the want for a more experienced shooter but I feel like Caleb needs some patience. The front office clearly sees potential here as he is like the only second rounder they have actually taken.

Being hard on Caleb is not the answer imo. Harris needs to play and shoot better. Cole needs to shoot better. Okeke needs to get off my screen. We need a real PG that isn’t scared to shoot. All bigger needs as I think Jett and Caleb will be long term 3 point threats.

Caleb is a solid player, he is a coach’s dream player. Great team player and team defender.

But there really hasnt been much growth to his game since he was in college.

Perhaps only getting better at his strengths.

Thus said, stallion is correct. Caleb is just a catch and shoot guy, and he is just doing ok. His numbers since his first year in college indicates he is a bad movement shooter and still is. No improvements.

Ok but my point is it’s kinda dumb to just assume the hard worker who just turned 21 won’t develop any further. I am glad we didn’t just dump Suggs following that rationale… I don’t want to misrepresent my opinions though, I think Jett is the one with the longer term potential to be more than a shooter and to be much better but he just isn’t ready on the def end and on the ball. We just need Caleb to be a 3 and D wing off the bench. Does it occur to anyone that them playing Caleb over Jett is not them saying Caleb or Chuma is better then Jett? I think they think Jett’s potential is high and putting him in the gleague might be the best place for him to get on ball reps. I don’t think the front office cares if Caleb gets on ball reps because they know what he is. They are playing long game with Jett. Because he won’t get any of the reps with Paolo Franz Cole and Fultz sucking them all up.

I think Houstan will get better with time. Also, he had a really good chance and choked. Granted I think its safe to say having a healthy Paolo + Franz + Suggs + C rotation for Black helped out a lot more then Paolo + Okeke + Goga and strange C rotation + Houstan + Suggs.

It's one of those painful truths where two things are true at the same time. I am feeling disappointment in Houstan. But not nearly enough as I now understand Okeke is 3rd string and spot minutes at best material. Houstan can most definitely live to fight another day and I do not think his NBA career is done by a long shot.