Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[three3d]

NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry says Paolo Banchero reminds him of former NBA player Josh Smith

“I’m going to raise the red flag over Paolo Banchero Island. This is such a key moment for him, and I hesitate to admit this — but at times, he reminds me of Josh Smith. He’s made just five of his 27 jump shots this year, and I’m not cherry-picking. I love Paolo — he’s a huge part of the future of American basketball — but last season, among the 62 most active jump shooters in the NBA, he ranked 60th in efficiency. He has a jump-shooting problem, and as the team’s most active scorer, that’s an issue. Some of the advanced numbers aren’t trending in the right direction, and this start to the season has cemented in my mind that he might not be improving at this key phase of his career.”

(Via Zach Lowe Show / h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA )

That is spot on and EXTREMELY concerning.

[RichCollab]

NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry says Paolo Banchero reminds him of former NBA player Josh Smith

“I’m going to raise the red flag over Paolo Banchero Island. This is such a key moment for him, and I hesitate to admit this — but at times, he reminds me of Josh Smith. He’s made just five of his 27 jump shots this year, and I’m not cherry-picking. I love Paolo — he’s a huge part of the future of American basketball — but last season, among the 62 most active jump shooters in the NBA, he ranked 60th in efficiency. He has a jump-shooting problem, and as the team’s most active scorer, that’s an issue. Some of the advanced numbers aren’t trending in the right direction, and this start to the season has cemented in my mind that he might not be improving at this key phase of his career.”

(Via Zach Lowe Show / h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA )

That is spot on and EXTREMELY concerning.

I don’t think it’s a great comparison. Seems like click bait / troll stuff. Seems like you bit though.

[SloNick Russia]

My take:

We won't pick up jett s option (30/10/2025)
We won't allow JI to play 52 games this season

2 casualties of the 2 second apron

Ji is one of my favorite player and I think Jett will be a very good NBA player

This doesn't make any sense. JI is not an iron man, he will miss some games due to health / rest regardless. If the goal is to sit him why do it now when Moe is still out and our bigs rotation is so weak.


Sent from my SM-S928B using RealGM mobile app

[cedric76]

My take:

We won't pick up jett s option (30/10/2025)
We won't allow JI to play 52 games this season

2 casualties of the 2 second apron

Ji is one of my favorite player and I think Jett will be a very good NBA player

This doesn't make any sense. JI is not an iron man, he will miss some games due to health / rest regardless. If the goal is to sit him why do it now when Moe is still out and our bigs rotation is so weak.


Sent from my SM-S928B using RealGM mobile app

Missing 30 games is a lot, so getting some DNP early in the season can't hurt.

As I said, I love JI and I think we need him to win a title but when you look at our payroll for the next few years you clearly can see that his salary is the one that should be removed

It sucks but it s the reality of NBA business

Ji is one of the few guys that can bother wemby

[MassimoPayne]

The ball is just not moving well. I don't know if it really can because honestly once the ball reaches Banchero the movment is done. Too much iso. He only has good games when he makes a lot of 1 vs 1 shots. That does not help the team...

[I Rasharted]

(Via Zach Lowe Show / h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA )

That is spot on and EXTREMELY concerning.

I don’t think it’s a great comparison. Seems like click bait / troll stuff. Seems like you bit though.

The comp fits for jump-shooting but glosses over the fact that Smith had the BBIQ of a tadpole and Banchero (generally) makes good decisions.

[RichCollab]

That is spot on and EXTREMELY concerning.

I don’t think it’s a great comparison. Seems like click bait / troll stuff. Seems like you bit though.

The comp fits for jump-shooting but glosses over the fact that Smith had the BBIQ of a tadpole and Banchero (generally) makes good decisions.

Compare FT%.
Compare Pts per game.
Compare Double team %

It isn’t a relevant comparison.

[drsd]

The Magic know they need to play better in order to turn things around.

SI.com link

[MasterGMer]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757221/2025/10/28/orlando-magic-fast-pace/

The way Josh frames the season makes a lot of sense. The quotes from the players all add up. It seems clean in theory. The questions I have are why isn’t it working, can it work, and if not, how long until we know it won’t?

To be honest, I like the change. Fast break offense is indeed the most efficient way to score.

In addition to our top defense, I also think we need to be elite at grinding in the trenches of half court offense also, especially in the playoff.

The game in the playoff is going to get slowed. And the King of games always come with tougher defense and better half court offense. We can not sacrifice on that with our faster tempo.

Just my opinion

[Fortune Teller]

I’d like to see Mos move Goga into the starting lineup and bring WCJ off the bench.

[eyriq]

The most intriguing early season rotation trends are all bench related.

1. Tyus is clearly the 4th guard and vulnerable to Jace
2. AB has emerged as not only the 3rd guard off the bench but the team's sixth man
3. TDS has beaten out Jett and JI and is the clear 3rd forward
4. JI is out of the rotation and vulnerable to Penda
5. MPG are light for bench players as coaches play the starters as much as possible


Guards: Bane, Suggs, AB
Forwards: Franz, Paolo, TDS
Bigs: WCJ, Goga
9/10: Tyus, ???

Edit: it's looking like a 9 man rotation

[RichCollab]

I’d like to see Mos move Goga into the starting lineup and bring WCJ off the bench.

Back to starting Goga?

[eyriq]

I’d like to see Mos move Goga into the starting lineup and bring WCJ off the bench.

Back to starting Goga?

Never been off Goga Island, personally.

[three3d]

I’d like to see Mos move Goga into the starting lineup and bring WCJ off the bench.

Back to starting Goga?

Never been off Goga Island, personally.

Goga is really the best high post initiator of offense we have

[eyriq]

Back to starting Goga?

Never been off Goga Island, personally.

Goga is really the best high post initiator of offense we have

He's the best big we have, period

[Magicman125]

I too would support Goga moving to the starting lineup, I think we need a post defender if our perimeter defense is going to continue to be leaky. I also get frustrated with how long it takes Wendell to make decisions when he gets the ball at the top of the key and how many illegal screens he sets.

[Jaxfann]

Our defense is obviously struggling - are we not underestimating the impact that Caldwell Pope made last year - obviously better than Bane and the latter has hardly improved our 3 point shooting - yet?

[magik9113]

We've always looked better -- and won more games -- with Goga starting

[eyriq]

We've always looked better -- and won more games -- with Goga starting

ALWAYS

Also, shared lineups perform better on average when Goga is in vs WCJ.

[three3d]

Never been off Goga Island, personally.

Goga is really the best high post initiator of offense we have

He's the best big we have, period

He proved that all the way till Paolo came back from injury last season. That time period was interesting to say the least.