Predictions for the 2024/25 Season

[p0peye]

Don't tell me I am not a fighter jet pilot just because I can't fly. I've been flying planes in video games since high school and I got fighter jet pilot written down on my jacket.

You got the analogy wrong. To be AB you'd be a fighter pilot whose first role involved not flying.

If you join the military to become a pilot, but don’t ever actually fly a plane and instead they have you under the aircraft repairing mechanical issues, you aren’t a pilot.

Even if you possess the necessary skills to fly a plane. Until you actually do it, you’re not a pilot.

Not sure why you doubt me, mate. I already said to have countless hours in high school flying simulators.

[p0peye]

You got the analogy wrong. To be AB you'd be a fighter pilot whose first role involved not flying.

By first role, I mean my only role is not to fly, but I'm a pilot of the future or else I wouldn't have the jacket!

I'm pretty sure AB is here to fly LOL

Me too. I am convinced I can fly, but the commander insists on letting actual pilots do that job first.

If we fired all the pilots, I could finally spread my wings and prove them all wrong.

And by pilots, I mean navigators and all other cabin crew as well, for some reason they get more air time than me.

[eyriq]

By first role, I mean my only role is not to fly, but I'm a pilot of the future or else I wouldn't have the jacket!

I'm pretty sure AB is here to fly LOL

Me too. I am convinced I can fly, but the commander insists on letting actual pilots do that job first.

If we fired all the pilots, I could finally spread my wings and prove them all wrong.

And by pilots, I mean navigators and all other cabin crew as well, for some reason they get more air time than me.

If you were AB you'd be one of the top fighter pilots in your class, have been hired as a fighter pilot, by a company that desperately needs fighter pilots.

Anyway, this analogy is stupid, AB is not some loser wannabe point guard.

[Bensational]

I don’t know why the team is even playing this season. We saw them play last season, clearly all questions are answered? What AB showed at 19 is all he’s ever going to be able to show. Paolo has clearly hit his ceiling. Just blow it up already.

[basketballRob]

AB was better than Suggs and Cole there rookie seasons while being 6 months younger.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Knightro]

I'm pretty sure AB is here to fly LOL

Me too. I am convinced I can fly, but the commander insists on letting actual pilots do that job first.

If we fired all the pilots, I could finally spread my wings and prove them all wrong.

And by pilots, I mean navigators and all other cabin crew as well, for some reason they get more air time than me.

If you were AB you'd be one of the top fighter pilots in your class, have been hired as a fighter pilot, by a company that desperately needs fighter pilots.

Anyway, this analogy is stupid, AB is not some loser wannabe point guard.

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

I understand they drafted him under the guise that he would play point guard in the pros.

But the Magic haven’t actually used him as a point guard at any point thus far in his NBA career, and thus he is not currently a point guard.

Will that change eventually? Probably so!

But that’s not where we are right now.

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

Dwight Howard was clearly a center prospect. He was clearly drafted to be a center.

But his first two seasons he played power forward next to Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie.

You can’t say Dwight was a center those first two years *because he wasn’t one*.

It doesn’t matter if the long-term play was to put him at the 5. Doesn’t matter if he was drafted to be a center. The Magic didn’t use him as a center, thus he wasn’t one.

The exact same thing applies to Anthony Black. What he did in college and what they intended him to be when they drafted them is not relevant compared to how they’ve actually used him on the basketball court thus far.

This is just not a difficult concept to grasp.

[eyriq]

Me too. I am convinced I can fly, but the commander insists on letting actual pilots do that job first.

If we fired all the pilots, I could finally spread my wings and prove them all wrong.

And by pilots, I mean navigators and all other cabin crew as well, for some reason they get more air time than me.

If you were AB you'd be one of the top fighter pilots in your class, have been hired as a fighter pilot, by a company that desperately needs fighter pilots.

Anyway, this analogy is stupid, AB is not some loser wannabe point guard.

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

I understand they drafted him under the guise that he would play point guard in the pros.

But the Magic haven’t actually used him as a point guard at any point thus far in his NBA career, and thus he is not currently a point guard.

Will that change eventually? Probably so!

But that’s not where we are right now.

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

Dwight Howard was clearly a center prospect. He was clearly drafted to be a center.

But his first two seasons he played power forward next to Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie.

You can’t say Dwight was a center those first two years *because he wasn’t one*.

It doesn’t matter if the long-term play was to put him at the 5. Doesn’t matter if he was drafted to be a center. The Magic didn’t use him as a center, thus he wasn’t one.

The exact same thing applies to Anthony Black. What he did in college and what they intended him to be when they drafted them is not relevant compared to how they’ve actually used him on the basketball court thus far.

This is just not a difficult concept to grasp.

He's literally a point guard. You continue to fail to separate role and position. Good talk.

[Bensational]

Me too. I am convinced I can fly, but the commander insists on letting actual pilots do that job first.

If we fired all the pilots, I could finally spread my wings and prove them all wrong.

And by pilots, I mean navigators and all other cabin crew as well, for some reason they get more air time than me.

If you were AB you'd be one of the top fighter pilots in your class, have been hired as a fighter pilot, by a company that desperately needs fighter pilots.

Anyway, this analogy is stupid, AB is not some loser wannabe point guard.

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

I understand they drafted him under the guise that he would play point guard in the pros.

But the Magic haven’t actually used him as a point guard at any point thus far in his NBA career, and thus he is not currently a point guard.

Will that change eventually? Probably so!

But that’s not where we are right now.

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

Dwight Howard was clearly a center prospect. He was clearly drafted to be a center.

But his first two seasons he played power forward next to Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie.

You can’t say Dwight was a center those first two years *because he wasn’t one*.

It doesn’t matter if the long-term play was to put him at the 5. Doesn’t matter if he was drafted to be a center. The Magic didn’t use him as a center, thus he wasn’t one.

The exact same thing applies to Anthony Black. What he did in college and what they intended him to be when they drafted them is not relevant compared to how they’ve actually used him on the basketball court thus far.

This is just not a difficult concept to grasp.

Holy hell this is some mental gymnastics. Just to quote your own post:

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

followed by

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

So you admit he has played PG then turn around and pretend he hasn’t “at all to date”. Talk about bad faith arguments.

I think the delineation you’re trying to make is that, to date, AB hasn’t been a very involved or effective PG in the NBA. That doesn’t erase his college and high school history, it just denotes what he’s shown as a 19 year old rookie. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a lot more to show and to prove. You’re free to question his efficacy all you want. You’re free to suggest he should move to a new position because you don’t think he’s good enough. That’s fair stuff. But taking issue with calling our sophomore former college PG a PG is really a pointless debate.

[Knightro]

I don’t know why the team is even playing this season. We saw them play last season, clearly all questions are answered? What AB showed at 19 is all he’s ever going to be able to show. Paolo has clearly hit his ceiling. Just blow it up already.

To be clear on one thing because I think there might be some confusion.

I’m not down on Anthony Black at all. I think he’s a very good prospect and I think he has a lot of potential. I was very pleased with his shooting and his defense as a rookie.

There are very obvious workable building blocks there.

I’m just not gonna sit here and pretend that he did things that he didn’t do.

He was a 3&D guy last year, not a point guard. That doesn’t mean that’s what he’s gonna be forever by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just factual that’s what he was last year and I don’t see a crazy change in his role on the horizon this season either. At least not right away.

[Knightro]

If you were AB you'd be one of the top fighter pilots in your class, have been hired as a fighter pilot, by a company that desperately needs fighter pilots.

Anyway, this analogy is stupid, AB is not some loser wannabe point guard.

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

I understand they drafted him under the guise that he would play point guard in the pros.

But the Magic haven’t actually used him as a point guard at any point thus far in his NBA career, and thus he is not currently a point guard.

Will that change eventually? Probably so!

But that’s not where we are right now.

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

Dwight Howard was clearly a center prospect. He was clearly drafted to be a center.

But his first two seasons he played power forward next to Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie.

You can’t say Dwight was a center those first two years *because he wasn’t one*.

It doesn’t matter if the long-term play was to put him at the 5. Doesn’t matter if he was drafted to be a center. The Magic didn’t use him as a center, thus he wasn’t one.

The exact same thing applies to Anthony Black. What he did in college and what they intended him to be when they drafted them is not relevant compared to how they’ve actually used him on the basketball court thus far.

This is just not a difficult concept to grasp.

Holy hell this is some mental gymnastics. Just to quote your own post:

I understand Anthony Black played point guard in college.

followed by

It’s just nonsensical to say that he’s IS a point guard when he has not actually played point guard at all to date.

So you admit he has played PG then turn around and pretend he hasn’t “at all to date”. Talk about bad faith arguments.

I think the delineation you’re trying to make is that, to date, AB hasn’t been a very involved or effective PG in the NBA. That doesn’t erase his college and high school history, it just denotes what he’s shown as a 19 year old rookie. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a lot more to show and to prove. You’re free to question his efficacy all you want. You’re free to suggest he should move to a new position because you don’t think he’s good enough. That’s fair stuff. But taking issue with calling our sophomore former college PG a PG is really a pointless debate.

COLLEGE IS NOT THE PROS.

It doesn’t matter if you played point guard in college if upon entering the NBA they didn’t play you at point guard.

I could care less what he did Arkansas because that has no relevance to what he did once he actually got to the Magic.

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills with some of y’all.

[Bensational]

I’m not down on Anthony Black at all. I think he’s a very good prospect and I think he has a lot of potential. I was very pleased with his shooting and his defense as a rookie.

There are very obvious workable building blocks there.

I’m just not gonna sit here and pretend that he did things that he didn’t do.

He was a 3&D guy last year, not a point guard. That doesn’t mean that’s what he’s gonna be forever by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just factual that’s what he was last year and I don’t see a crazy change in his role on the horizon this season either. At least not right away.

I’m not confused, I know where you’re coming from. I don’t disagree that what AB showed last year was limited and he has a lot more still to show us.

I don’t think your assessments or characterisation of AB is all that far off (I think in the heat of debate you do double-down on some of your hyperbole).

I suppose the differences in perspectives are this. I look at AB and think “your background is as a PG, so you’re coming in to develop as a PG until you prove you’re incapable of being one”, while I think you probably operate from a place of “show me what you can do and I’ll define you from there”. That’s just a philosophical difference, which is all good.

[Knightro]

Simple question…

Has Anthony Black played point guard in the NBA?

The answer is no. And until that changes, it’s inaccurate to call him a point guard.

It doesn’t matter if he was the reincarnation of Magic freaking Johnson at Arkansas (which he wasn’t obviously), he’s not a point guard until he actually performs the role in the NBA.

[eyriq]

Simple question…

Has Anthony Black played point guard in the NBA?

The answer is no. And until that changes, it’s inaccurate to call him a point guard.

It doesn’t matter if he was the reincarnation of Magic freaking Johnson at Arkansas (which he wasn’t obviously), he’s not a point guard until he actually performs the role in the NBA.

*checks basketball reference*

68% of his 1,164 minutes were at point guard.

[Bensational]

Simple question…

Has Anthony Black played point guard in the NBA?

The answer is no. And until that changes, it’s inaccurate to call him a point guard.

It doesn’t matter if he was the reincarnation of Magic freaking Johnson at Arkansas (which he wasn’t obviously), he’s not a point guard until he actually performs the role in the NBA.

What’s your threshold for “playing point guard”? How many times does he have to initiate an offense, or how many assists does have to generate to suddenly become classified as a PG?

COLLEGE IS NOT THE PROS.

It doesn’t matter if you played point guard in college if upon entering the NBA they didn’t play you at point guard.

When you’re talking about a raw 19 year old kid with a limited role, the developmental path he’s taken up to that point is still a factor. Hell, it’s the reason this whole debate is alive - because the AB who was drafted was a PG and now we’re analysing how his PG abilities have transferred to the pros or not. Your conclusion is that they haven’t at all. That’s cool. Me? I’m gonna give the 20 year old kid another year at least.

[Knightro]

Simple question…

Has Anthony Black played point guard in the NBA?

The answer is no. And until that changes, it’s inaccurate to call him a point guard.

It doesn’t matter if he was the reincarnation of Magic freaking Johnson at Arkansas (which he wasn’t obviously), he’s not a point guard until he actually performs the role in the NBA.

What’s your threshold for “playing point guard”? How many times does he have to initiate an offense, or how many assists does have to generate to suddenly become classified as a PG?

COLLEGE IS NOT THE PROS.

It doesn’t matter if you played point guard in college if upon entering the NBA they didn’t play you at point guard.

When you’re talking about a raw 19 year old kid with a limited role, the developmental path he’s taken up to that point is still a factor. Hell, it’s the reason this whole debate is alive - because the AB who was drafted was a PG and now we’re analysing how his PG abilities have transferred to the pros or not. Your conclusion is that they haven’t at all. That’s cool. Me? I’m gonna give the 20 year old kid another year at least.

You’re doing it again. You’re making it out like I’m down on Black’s skills and I’m not.

I’m not at all saying that Anthony Black tried to play point guard and that he didn’t perform it at a high-level. Thats not what happened and that’s not what I suggested.

I’m factually pointing out that he didn’t play point guard at all as a rookie.

They used him exclusively as a 3&D wing and any suggestion otherwise is just false.

That doesn’t mean he won’t start playing point guard in the near future. That doesn’t mean he won’t eventually become a fantastic point guard.

It simply means that so far in his NBA career he has not played point guard, thus he cannot be considered an NBA point guard at this point in time.

[Knightro]

He's literally a point guard. You continue to fail to separate role and position. Good talk.

Role is literally what’s relevant though.

What a player actually does on the basketball court is what defines what position that player actually is, not what the media guide and basketball reference and NBA2K say his position is.

[eyriq]

He's literally a point guard. You continue to fail to separate role and position. Good talk.

Role is literally what’s relevant though.

What a player actually does on the basketball court is what defines what position that player actually is, not what the media guide and basketball reference and NBA2K say his position is.

"I define the definition of position, not these other sources."

Good luck with that

[Catledge]

I'm going to go further than others and say that AB is unlikely to ever develop into a point guard. It's just incredibly rare for somebody of his size to be able to play that position in the NBA, even if they did it in college.

I also think any #18 pick is extremely unlikely to crack a healthy rotation on this team.

[anothermagicfan]

This summer I watched a caterpillar crawling around on my porch. Then he built a cocoon. Now he's beautiful butterfly!


Damnit I forgot to use green font again. Oh well

[Bensational]

You’re doing it again. You’re making it out like I’m down on Black’s skills and I’m not.

No, I simply asked what your threshold is to consider AB as a PG.

I’m not at all saying that Anthony Black tried to play point guard and that he didn’t perform it at a high-level. Thats not what happened and that’s not what I suggested.

I’m factually pointing out that he didn’t play point guard at all as a rookie.

They used him exclusively as a 3&D wing and any suggestion otherwise is just false.

Vs Lakers, November 4 2023 - Black running point, finding Goga off the attack.

Vs Milwaukee, November 11 2023 - 2nd assist comes from AB initiating the offense by beating his man.

Vs Miami, December 20 2023 - 4 assists, the 1st and 3rd coming from Black running point.

Vs New York, December 29 2023 1st assist, Black is running point (note that on the play call Steele refers to him as "the Magic rookie point guard".

Vs Sacramento, January 3rd 2024 - AB running point on the first play.

If you want to say AB didn't meet your standards of acceptable PG play and he has a lot more development to go through, by all means you're entitled to that opinion. If you want to say that AB barely played PG or took on the responsibilities of PG, or that his skills, capabilities and aggressiveness limited his effort in that role, again that's fair and reasonable and your prerogative. I'm not pretending that there's an abundance of times where AB was running point, but as seen above, he did play the role. "At all" and "exclusively" is your hyperbole you fall into when your opinion isn't accepted absolutely, and it's bad faith discussion.

That's why I asked what your threshold is to regard AB as a PG. What parameters must he fulfil for you to consider him a PG? If the above isn't enough for you to consider him a PG in development, what does he need to do to qualify?