Official 2024-2025 Magic General Season Thread I

[Bensational]

Franz looking like Paolo out there...hope we end up with two, not one and a half again - when PB returns. There's a lot of redundancy between them, but only the good kind if they can work out the ball movement between them. Suggs and KCP and even Harris all have value, but not necessarily the kind of skill redundancy that works if more than one are out there together. The defense is awesome at the POA, but maybe Franz & Paolo can BOTH ascend in their playmaking to offset the limited backcourt. Suggs is a worthy NBA starter for sure - but two of him makes for a very unconventional backcourt.

I mean how much more playmaking you want out of forwards? They're both pretty much averaging 5 assist a game which is very good for forwards

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That's pretty optimal...for two forwards. Overall, maybe not enough playmaking for a a team. Unless F and/or P can step up to Jokic level, which is a LOT to ask...someone in the backcourt needs to emerge. Coaching for it too.

As a team the Magic rank 24th in assists with 24.1apg, with GSW leading the league with 30apg.

But, the Magic also rank 5th in potential assists, and we’ve been missing a lot of wide open looks. I think it’s as simple as, if the shots go down we’ll look like we’ve got plenty of playmaking, and when they don’t we won’t.

[KillMonger]

My looming concern is how to keep this Franz when paolo comes back... I've been saying stagger a bit more maybe?

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[drsd]

So far, so go:

[RookieStar]

Franz looking like Paolo out there...hope we end up with two, not one and a half again - when PB returns. There's a lot of redundancy between them, but only the good kind if they can work out the ball movement between them. Suggs and KCP and even Harris all have value, but not necessarily the kind of skill redundancy that works if more than one are out there together. The defense is awesome at the POA, but maybe Franz & Paolo can BOTH ascend in their playmaking to offset the limited backcourt. Suggs is a worthy NBA starter for sure - but two of him makes for a very unconventional backcourt.

I mean how much more playmaking you want out of forwards? They're both pretty much averaging 5 assist a game which is very good for forwards

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Yup... their willingness to pass to their teammates because they cause so much gravity is really impressive. They would have ven more assists if our supposed shooters actually make shots.

Reminder to everyone though, they are not Luka and Jokic type of players playmaking.

[basketballRob]

Last season, we were 3rd in defensive rating at 110.8. This season, we're 2nd at 103.5. With the internal improvement and adding KCP, it feels like the defense has improved.

The last time a team ended up with a defensive rating lower than 103.5 was the Bucks in 2019-20.

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[Skybox]

Last season, we were 3rd in defensive rating at 110.8. This season, we're 2nd at 103.5. With the internal improvement and adding KCP, it feels like the defense has improved.

The last time a team ended up with a defensive rating lower than 103.5 was the Bucks in 2019-20.

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and, sadly, our offense is down a few clicks from last year's mediocrity...we doubled down on what we were already good at.

[SOUL]

Last season, we were 3rd in defensive rating at 110.8. This season, we're 2nd at 103.5. With the internal improvement and adding KCP, it feels like the defense has improved.

The last time a team ended up with a defensive rating lower than 103.5 was the Bucks in 2019-20.

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and, sadly, our offense is down a few clicks from last year's mediocrity...we doubled down on what we were already good at.

We scored 111+ in every game but one (where we just couldn't hit **** for a quarter after Paolo got hurt, and Franz going through his sickness) with Paolo healthy.

Doesn't mean we don't need better offense, but team is still improving on that end. Shot quality is good at least.

[SOUL]

My looming concern is how to keep this Franz when paolo comes back... I've been saying stagger a bit more maybe?

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Franz was basically averaging the same in those three games before being sick (on better shooting numbers) with Paolo healthy and already plays with the second unit. Not sure how much more you can stagger without one of them averaging only 20 minutes a game.

[Skybox]

Last season, we were 3rd in defensive rating at 110.8. This season, we're 2nd at 103.5. With the internal improvement and adding KCP, it feels like the defense has improved.

The last time a team ended up with a defensive rating lower than 103.5 was the Bucks in 2019-20.

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and, sadly, our offense is down a few clicks from last year's mediocrity...we doubled down on what we were already good at.

We scored 111+ in every game but one (where we just couldn't hit **** for a quarter after Paolo got hurt, and Franz going through his sickness) with Paolo healthy.

Doesn't mean we don't need better offense, but team is still improving on that end. Shot quality is good at least.

At 109.8 points per 100 possessions, Orlando's offensive rating lags well behind last year's 113.9. Lest anyone mistakenly blame the dip on Banchero's injury, the Magic were at 113.7 through five games before their All-Star forward got hurt.

[Bensational]

Schedule is so crammed for the guys to start the season. Between now and the 8th of Dec they’ll play another 12 games in 21 days, then they’ve got the Cup elimination schedule commencing.

[Bensational]

and, sadly, our offense is down a few clicks from last year's mediocrity...we doubled down on what we were already good at.

We scored 111+ in every game but one (where we just couldn't hit **** for a quarter after Paolo got hurt, and Franz going through his sickness) with Paolo healthy.

Doesn't mean we don't need better offense, but team is still improving on that end. Shot quality is good at least.

At 109.8 points per 100 possessions, Orlando's offensive rating lags well behind last year's 113.9. Lest anyone mistakenly blame the dip on Banchero's injury, the Magic were at 113.7 through five games before their All-Star forward got hurt.

Offenses and Ortg’s are down in general. Our Ortg lst season of 112.9 ranked 22nd, but this season it would be good for 16th. An Ortg of 115 would’ve ranked 15th last season, this season it’s 8th.

On the flip side, Cavs have jumped from 114.7 and ranked 16th to 122 and league leaders - with no significant change to personnel. So shows that offense can be unlocked from guys even if they may seem tapped.

[eyriq]

An interesting perspective for player performance so far.

Read on Twitter

?t=_Eect8Nd8WRCGVr41gFkxQ&s=19

[Bensational]

Wow, this team really is a tale of two halves. Check the stats below:

Overall, per NetRtg, the Magic are ranked 7th in NetRtg with 4.9, but -

In the 1st half of the game, the Magic have a NetRtg of -4.6, ranked 21st.

And in the 2nd half of games,the Magic are ranked #1 in NetRtg this season. They have an Ortg of 111.8, and a Drtg of 97.1.

Just to paint perspective around how stiflingly good that Drtg is, you have to go back to 2003/4 to find a team who can do that or better for a season (and full game, obvs), and that was the defending champion Spurs and the pending champion Pistons. Last team to post a drtg of 97 was the Bulls in 2011-12. We’ve had some elite defense out there this season to close out games!

And our 2nd half NetRtg stars have been:

Franz +18 on 31.5% USG in 14mpg
Moe + 30 on 27% USG in 10mpg
AB + 21 in 13mpg
Isaac - NetRtg +20 with a Drtg of only 80.7
Harris +29 net in 8mpg
Cole + 22 net in 7mpg


1st Half Strugglers

Isaac -23 net
Cole -23 net
Moe -22 net
AB -19 net

Gotta get the bench unit firing in first halves and we can be in more games, it seems.

[eyriq]

Wow, this team really is a tale of two halves. Check the stats below:

Overall, per NetRtg, the Magic are ranked 7th in NetRtg with 4.9, but -

In the 1st half of the game, the Magic have a NetRtg of -4.6, ranked 21st.

And in the 2nd half of games,the Magic are ranked #1 in NetRtg this season. They have an Ortg of 111.8, and a Drtg of 97.1.

Just to paint perspective around how stiflingly good that Drtg is, you have to go back to 2003/4 to find a team who can do that or better for a season (and full game, obvs), and that was the defending champion Spurs and the pending champion Pistons. Last team to post a drtg of 97 was the Bulls in 2011-12. We’ve had some elite defense out there this season to close out games!

And our 2nd half NetRtg stars have been:

Franz +18 on 31.5% USG in 14mpg
Moe + 30 on 27% USG in 10mpg
AB + 21 in 13mpg
Isaac - NetRtg +20 with a Drtg of only 80.7
Harris +29 net in 8mpg
Cole + 22 net in 7mpg
1st Half Strugglers

Isaac -23 net
Cole -23 net
Moe -22 net
AB -19 net

Gotta get the bench unit firing in first halves and we can be in more games, it seems.

Wow, that is wild. Great analysis. Unlocking the bench in the first half will be critical on this road trip.

[MasterGMer]

Does anyone know Magic's Offensive rating numbers so far this season? Shouldn't look too pretty, huh?

[SOUL]

Does anyone know Magic's Offensive rating numbers so far this season? Shouldn't look too pretty, huh?

All I care about is shot quality and it's been good. Otherwise, anything without Paolo is taken with a grain of salt. It'll never be elite with our personnel currently but if we were elite on both, we'd be a contender right now lol

[Optimus_Steel]

Wow, this team really is a tale of two halves. Check the stats below:

Overall, per NetRtg, the Magic are ranked 7th in NetRtg with 4.9, but -

In the 1st half of the game, the Magic have a NetRtg of -4.6, ranked 21st.

And in the 2nd half of games,the Magic are ranked #1 in NetRtg this season. They have an Ortg of 111.8, and a Drtg of 97.1.

Just to paint perspective around how stiflingly good that Drtg is, you have to go back to 2003/4 to find a team who can do that or better for a season (and full game, obvs), and that was the defending champion Spurs and the pending champion Pistons. Last team to post a drtg of 97 was the Bulls in 2011-12. We’ve had some elite defense out there this season to close out games!

And our 2nd half NetRtg stars have been:

Franz +18 on 31.5% USG in 14mpg
Moe + 30 on 27% USG in 10mpg
AB + 21 in 13mpg
Isaac - NetRtg +20 with a Drtg of only 80.7
Harris +29 net in 8mpg
Cole + 22 net in 7mpg


1st Half Strugglers

Isaac -23 net
Cole -23 net
Moe -22 net
AB -19 net

Gotta get the bench unit firing in first halves and we can be in more games, it seems.

What I saw the other day was championship caliber defense and its not hyperbole. It’s legitimately that good, completely wrecks teams as the games go deep into the 2nd half. Now, can we find a way to have the offense be more efficient?

[KillMonger]

Let's see all this on the road, usually defense travels but........

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[eyriq]

Mosley said he's looking at the season in increments of seven game series.

The first series we lost 3-4
The second series we won 4-2
The current series is 1-0

[GelbeWand09]

Franz looking like Paolo out there...hope we end up with two, not one and a half again - when PB returns. There's a lot of redundancy between them, but only the good kind if they can work out the ball movement between them. Suggs and KCP and even Harris all have value, but not necessarily the kind of skill redundancy that works if more than one are out there together. The defense is awesome at the POA, but maybe Franz & Paolo can BOTH ascend in their playmaking to offset the limited backcourt. Suggs is a worthy NBA starter for sure - but two of him makes for a very unconventional backcourt.

I mean how much more playmaking you want out of forwards? They're both pretty much averaging 5 assist a game which is very good for forwards

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Like I wrote before. 30 Assist%. Thats Pointguard level. Paolo 28%. The rest just can't make shots those 2 create. How many open 3's Franz assisted in the last games and AB, Suggs, TDS & KCP just bricking everything. We desperately need another playmaker at the guard spot but Paolo & Franz are already on super high level.