Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[Last Guardian]

Despite Paolo's below league average eFG%, he is capable of being a volume scorer and shooter. I think we over state the importance of efficiency too much without realizing Paolo is a volume scorer and shooter.

That is why Paolo is the upcoming young super star in this league. Big fan

I hate the mid range game and think for the most part he needs to eliminate it. He is just not SGA, KD, Melo level automatic from that range. His fade away in the paint though is cash money. And he is incredibly difficult to guard going to the basket, which explains his free throws. Dude makes Lebron look small.

I do want him to be more efficient, but more importantly needs to continue being a playmaker. He has shown major signs of growth this season with it. But need to see it more consistently and against better competition.

[Last Guardian]

Read on Twitter

Will always be a mystery how Wendell performs well in this metric. IIRC he always has. But watching him play you don't really see it. But could explain why he's always the starter as well.

[Knightro]

That’s likely because we’re turning the ball over so much and not forcing turnovers on the other end?

Last year the Magic's turnover percentage was 14.7%. This year, so far, it's 16.2%.

Last year Orlando averaged 14.9 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. This year they're down to just 14.2 stocks per game. That doesn't seem like a dramatic drop, but they went from the 30th ranked pace (96.5) to currently tied for 5th in pace (103.29).

Last year they were also 6th in the NBA in defensive rebounding at 72%. This year they're down to 18th at 68.4%.

Playing faster has made the Magic noticeably worse on the margins so far.

[basketballRob]

A lot of the turnovers looked like it was caused by exhaustion. I'm not sure if they just got ran into the ground in practice, but it looked like it.

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[Idiosyncratic]

A lot of the turnovers looked like it was caused by exhaustion. I'm not sure if they just got ran into the ground in practice, but it looked like it.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

I think this is a very real possibility. Plus there weren't a lot of rest days in our early schedule. I know they are pro athletes, whatever, but if you play a full game one day and then another without a break or 3 in 4 days your body just doesn't move the same as it does with rest.

I still also think Paolo and Franz visibly looked kind of sick the first couple of games as well.

[basketballRob]

A lot of the turnovers looked like it was caused by exhaustion. I'm not sure if they just got ran into the ground in practice, but it looked like it.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

I think this is a very real possibility. Plus there weren't a lot of rest days in our early schedule. I know they are pro athletes, whatever, but if you play a full game one day and then another without a break or 3 in 4 days your body just doesn't move the same as it does with rest.

I still also think Paolo and Franz visibly looked kind of sick the first couple of games as well.

They also had a really hard practice the day before they started the 3 games in 4 nights.

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[fendilim]

Read on Twitter

Will always be a mystery how Wendell performs well in this metric. IIRC he always has. But watching him play you don't really see it. But could explain why he's always the starter as well.

Switchable and not flashy. Just effective. Doesn’t block much but plays the vertical game well.

He’s alright, problem is he can’t turn those missed shots into defensive rebounds, which is much to be desired.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I just want a leader (player) to step up, acknowledge how bad the team is playing and promise to turn it around. We need one of our leaders to take the blame and step up.

[J-Mezzy]

We still have a horrid offense and now have become a bad defensive team

I think a head coaching change is necessary at this point

[BadMofoPimp]

Read on Twitter

Will always be a mystery how Wendell performs well in this metric. IIRC he always has. But watching him play you don't really see it. But could explain why he's always the starter as well.

WCJ Proves em wrong!

[CarraT]

KCP came in shooting 40% from 3 the previous 5 years. Then shoots 34% for us.
Bane came in shooting 41% from 3 the previous 5 years. Then shoots 29% for us, as of now.
Jones came in shooting 39% from 3 the previous 5 years. Then shoots 14% for us, as of now.
Jones came in with career avg. assists per 36 mins at 7.5. Here, he is at 3.5 Assists per 36 min, as of now.

Its so obvious its not about indivual players or talent, its about the system and the overall roster construction/fit. We need fundamental changes, not just exchanging player A with player B, who ist slightly better.
If its not getting significantly better after 15-20 games, change the coach. If thats not working, we need to change the FO next summer.
No more of all the same excuses ive been reading on this board for over a decade.

[UCFJayBird]

i'm officially on the Fire Mosley wagon. His rotations are nonsensical (seriously, subbing starters 2-3 minutes into the game?), his offensive scheme is terrible and i have to believe it's the reason guys are passing on soft close outs to drive into a crowded lane and then try horrendous kickouts through traffic, he can't seem to run a designed play to get Bane some open 3 pointers, etc.

He did great with what he had for a few years. I think he can get effort out of players and can take a team from bad to decent, and I think players like playing for him. But I think he's losing this lockerroom, if he hasn't already lost it completely, and it's time to bring in someone who can elevate THIS squad. I don't think he's a terrible coach, I think he's just the wrong fit for this collection of players, and we're dug in on this core now.

It's early, so I won't fault the FO if they give him until Game 20. If he figures it out and we start winning at a decent clip I'll come back off the wagon, but right now might be a good time to pull the trigger, especially if they can get Mike Malone.

[AdamTheGreek]

i'm officially on the Fire Mosley wagon. His rotations are nonsensical (seriously, subbing starters 2-3 minutes into the game?), his offensive scheme is terrible and i have to believe it's the reason guys are passing on soft close outs to drive into a crowded lane and then try horrendous kickouts through traffic, he can't seem to run a designed play to get Bane some open 3 pointers, etc.

He did great with what he had for a few years. I think he can get effort out of players and can take a team from bad to decent, and I think players like playing for him. But I think he's losing this lockerroom, if he hasn't already lost it completely, and it's time to bring in someone who can elevate THIS squad. I don't think he's a terrible coach, I think he's just the wrong fit for this collection of players, and we're dug in on this core now.

It's early, so I won't fault the FO if they give him until Game 20. If he figures it out and we start winning at a decent clip I'll come back off the wagon, but right now might be a good time to pull the trigger, especially if they can get Mike Malone.

Last night it was Bane getting in foul trouble and Mosley is still navigating Suggs’ minutes restriction.

We can be mad about other things, I’ll defend Mosley on that last night.

Tristan should be playing more.
Goga should be starting over Wendell (while Jeff trades for a true starting center).

[eyriq]

Goga should be starting over Wendell (while Jeff trades for a true starting center).

Co-signed

[AdamTheGreek]

That’s likely because we’re turning the ball over so much and not forcing turnovers on the other end?

Last year the Magic's turnover percentage was 14.7%. This year, so far, it's 16.2%.

Last year Orlando averaged 14.9 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. This year they're down to just 14.2 stocks per game. That doesn't seem like a dramatic drop, but they went from the 30th ranked pace (96.5) to currently tied for 5th in pace (103.29).

Last year they were also 6th in the NBA in defensive rebounding at 72%. This year they're down to 18th at 68.4%.

Playing faster has made the Magic noticeably worse on the margins so far.

We can’t blame pace the last four games. We’re not going that fast.

We just cannot stay in front of guys. That’s mostly just about discipline and player effort.
And we don’t have the rim protection to cover it up.

[Bergmaniac]

I just rewatched some bits from one of Bane's best game last season to reassure myself I wasn't crazy when I thought we have made a good trade and it was so striking how much more willing he was to take jumpshots right from the start of the game when he got even a bit of separation from the defender than he has been with the Magic. He also looked a step quicker and he had a pretty poor November last year too, so I am hoping he'd play himself into shape.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

That’s likely because we’re turning the ball over so much and not forcing turnovers on the other end?

Last year the Magic's turnover percentage was 14.7%. This year, so far, it's 16.2%.

Last year Orlando averaged 14.9 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. This year they're down to just 14.2 stocks per game. That doesn't seem like a dramatic drop, but they went from the 30th ranked pace (96.5) to currently tied for 5th in pace (103.29).

Last year they were also 6th in the NBA in defensive rebounding at 72%. This year they're down to 18th at 68.4%.

Playing faster has made the Magic noticeably worse on the margins so far.

We can’t blame pace the last four games. We’re not going that fast.

We just cannot stay in front of guys. That’s mostly just about discipline and player effort.
And we don’t have the rim protection to cover it up.

Can’t play fast if you’ve got charmin soft C’s who can’t rebound. We need a body banger physical presence at the 5. Gimme a Steven Adam’s type dude who just does the dirty work.

I don’t want my Cs shooting 3’s and standing in the corner/top of the key. Get your ass setting screens, crashing the boards and kick out misses.

[rcklsscognition]

I’m curious to see some takes on rebuilding coaches vs winning coaches. Is it really a thing? If so, what do you think it is that makes a difference? Why can’t coaches go from rebuilding to winning? Or can they (examples?)

I wonder if early on in a rebuild you have young players who you can get to buy in to high effort/energy and as things progress, players age, become more selfish in their careers, and lose a bit of the team spirit so to speak. Maybe they tune out coaches, start to think they know better, maybe don’t give effort to things that don’t benefit themselves or that they don’t believe in as they’ve matured into a certain mindset of their game/the NBA as a whole.

I feel like as players age and mature in the NBA, they expect to do less work for more results, as in play smarter not harder, and that might require more high level thinking from the coaching staff to get buy in. Like we need to play intelligently not just hard every night. Seems like vet teams don’t play as hard but play smarter to make the game easier and maybe rebuilding coaches have a hard time making that transition for whatever reason.

[zaymon]

I’m curious to see some takes on rebuilding coaches vs winning coaches. Is it really a thing? If so, what do you think it is that makes a difference? Why can’t coaches go from rebuilding to winning? Or can they (examples?)

I wonder if early on in a rebuild you have young players who you can get to buy in to high effort/energy and as things progress, players age, become more selfish in their careers, and lose a bit of the team spirit so to speak. Maybe they tune out coaches, start to think they know better, maybe don’t give effort to things that don’t benefit themselves or that they don’t believe in as they’ve matured into a certain mindset of their game/the NBA as a whole.

I feel like as players age and mature in the NBA, they expect to do less work for more results, as in play smarter not harder, and that might require more high level thinking from the coaching staff to get buy in. Like we need to play intelligently not just hard every night. Seems like vet teams don’t play as hard but play smarter to make the game easier and maybe rebuilding coaches have a hard time making that transition for whatever reason.

Good established coaches rarely agree to lead a rebuild.
You also need to be lucky enough to coach great players . Than you can establish your position and choose better situations.
OKC Daigneault went from tank to champion. He had elite GM and luck to coach SGA at his first gig.

We never rewarded skill and smart play. Some players were rewarded for effort, some for being a high lottery pick and potential, some becouse we just couldnt find better alternative. You could argue only players who got rewarded for good/smart play are Franz and Mo Wagners. Now TDS could join this group

[eyriq]

I’m curious to see some takes on rebuilding coaches vs winning coaches. Is it really a thing? If so, what do you think it is that makes a difference? Why can’t coaches go from rebuilding to winning? Or can they (examples?)

I wonder if early on in a rebuild you have young players who you can get to buy in to high effort/energy and as things progress, players age, become more selfish in their careers, and lose a bit of the team spirit so to speak. Maybe they tune out coaches, start to think they know better, maybe don’t give effort to things that don’t benefit themselves or that they don’t believe in as they’ve matured into a certain mindset of their game/the NBA as a whole.

I feel like as players age and mature in the NBA, they expect to do less work for more results, as in play smarter not harder, and that might require more high level thinking from the coaching staff to get buy in. Like we need to play intelligently not just hard every night. Seems like vet teams don’t play as hard but play smarter to make the game easier and maybe rebuilding coaches have a hard time making that transition for whatever reason.

The key factor is skill specialization. Rebuilds require a developmental coach and winning requires a tactical coach. The transition from development to contending is the "great filter" for coaches. Only the goats survive.