Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[SOUL]

Paolo has definitely not helped the offense at times in the past, but he's getting some unfair reputation this year. This doesn't mean there isn't individual aspects of his game that is problematic to making us the best offense we can be, he'll dribble and stop the ball often, still not a great shooter, but the beginning of the year everyone was learning how to play together and the starters were still great.

The reason why we got better again was slowing the pace down a bit, defending better (which started when Paolo was still healthy), and the bench playing with a pulse finally.

I don't think the bench playing well is indicative of Paolo not being in the lineup.. We had one of the best benches in the league two years ago when Paolo was healthy.

[Idiosyncratic]

I think all of these samples are too small to know anything. I see both sides of the argument.

I think ultimately Paolo does need to pass the ball more which he was showing before he went down. I also think he needs to get better and more confident at shooting spot up 3s. And he needs to stay locked in on defense which I thought he was doing better before going down. We are just going to have to see how it shakes out when he returns.

If he plays at his career 54 TS% mediocre defense that would undoubtedly make us worse. But he is a young player, you would assume he is going to improve. I think he was showing a lot of positive stuff before he went down. We just have to see. The fact that he was showing signs of buying in before he went down makes me think it will be fine.

[Bensational]

Yeah splitting 5 and 7 against 9 isn’t an agenda. Let’s take out 5 horrible blowouts to start the season out of the equation bc the data wouldn’t look good.

Start the upward trend against two terrible teams.

Zero agenda pushing would have been:
12 games with Paolo numbers vs 9 games without.

Ok then....

Starting lineup with Paolo (Suggs/Bane/Franz/Paolo/WCJ)
9 games played, 101 minutes played
Ortg 122.4 / Drtg 103.1 / Netrtg 19.3 / TS% 64%

Starting lineup without Paolo (Suggs/Bane/Franz/TDS/WCJ)
9 games played, 77 minutes
Ortg 105.9 / Drtg 114.4 / Netrtg -8.5 / TS% 57.4%

What do you think of that comparison?

Where are you getting 9 games? It’s 12 games against 9.

It’s also measuring 3pt% assist% and pace overall and not a specific lineup.

Read the stats, that lineup only played together 9 games because Suggs missed games.

If you want to compare the others look it up yourself instead of baselessly crying.

[VFX]

Ok then....

Starting lineup with Paolo (Suggs/Bane/Franz/Paolo/WCJ)
9 games played, 101 minutes played
Ortg 122.4 / Drtg 103.1 / Netrtg 19.3 / TS% 64%

Starting lineup without Paolo (Suggs/Bane/Franz/TDS/WCJ)
9 games played, 77 minutes
Ortg 105.9 / Drtg 114.4 / Netrtg -8.5 / TS% 57.4%

What do you think of that comparison?

Where are you getting 9 games? It’s 12 games against 9.

It’s also measuring 3pt% assist% and pace overall and not a specific lineup.

Read the stats, that lineup only played together 9 games because Suggs missed games.

If you want to compare the others look it up yourself instead of baselessly crying.

Yeah here’s the thing.
I didn’t **** ask you anything.

While your here..
Can you fetch me some Markelle Fultz in Sacramento stats? What do those lineups look like?

[Bensational]

Where are you getting 9 games? It’s 12 games against 9.

It’s also measuring 3pt% assist% and pace overall and not a specific lineup.

Read the stats, that lineup only played together 9 games because Suggs missed games.

If you want to compare the others look it up yourself instead of baselessly crying.

Yeah here’s the thing.
I didn’t **** ask you anything.

While your here..
Can you fetch me some Markelle Fultz in Sacramento stats? What do those lineups look like?

So the moment you’re confronted with stats that refute your preconception you turn to mudslinging?

Try addressing the -27 netrtg between starting lineups without Paolo. If you want to refute numbers, go find some that support your opinion. You wanted a like-for-like comparison and I gave you one - if just didn’t support your opinion.

[VFX]

Read the stats, that lineup only played together 9 games because Suggs missed games.

If you want to compare the others look it up yourself instead of baselessly crying.

Yeah here’s the thing.
I didn’t **** ask you anything.

While your here..
Can you fetch me some Markelle Fultz in Sacramento stats? What do those lineups look like?

So the moment you’re confronted with stats that refute your preconception you turn to mudslinging?

Try addressing the -27 netrtg between starting lineups without Paolo. If you want to refute numbers, go find some that support your opinion. You wanted a like-for-like comparison and I gave you one - if just didn’t support your opinion.

No. I pointed out why an infographic was splitting data the way it was. You posted a “gotcha” with entirely different data and said “what now” like you think you did something. It was a rhetorical statement being concluded with “it needs specific context”.

So yeah if you want to post entirely different data points to refute something that wasn’t asked go ahead.

Be mad when I throw something back in your face after you claim “baseless crying” because something was pointed out without statement from the OP.

Do you really think I don’t have advanced metrics and starting lineup data and I need Bensational to post those things? No, I don’t.

The bench, Bane, and role players have significantly stepped up, which is the entire point of generating wins in this argument. It isn’t a starting lineup specific issue when we are talking about assist%, 3p%, and pace.

[eyriq]

Yeah here’s the thing.
I didn’t **** ask you anything.

While your here..
Can you fetch me some Markelle Fultz in Sacramento stats? What do those lineups look like?

So the moment you’re confronted with stats that refute your preconception you turn to mudslinging?

Try addressing the -27 netrtg between starting lineups without Paolo. If you want to refute numbers, go find some that support your opinion. You wanted a like-for-like comparison and I gave you one - if just didn’t support your opinion.

No. I pointed out why an infographic was splitting data the way it was. You posted a “gotcha” with entirely different data and said “what now” like you think you did something. It was a rhetorical statement being concluded with “it needs specific context”.

So yeah if you want to post entirely different data points to refute something that wasn’t asked go ahead.

Be mad when I throw something back in your face after you claim “baseless crying” because something was pointed out without statement from the OP.

Do you really think I don’t have advanced metrics and starting lineup data and I need Bensational to post those things? No, I don’t.

The bench, Bane, and role players have significantly stepped up, which is the entire point of generating wins in this argument. It isn’t a starting lineup specific issue when we are talking about assist%, 3p%, and pace.

You're saying that the team is better without Paolo, you obviously need as much help as you can get. But you're not looking to learn anything, are you?

[VFX]

You're saying that the team is better without Paolo, you obviously need as much help as you can get. But you're not looking to learn anything, are you?

Am I? Do I? Are you sure?

[pepe1991]

So Banchero isn't even doing contact practices yet. So we will continue for at least couple more games without him.

[KillMonger]

Meanwhile.........

Read on Twitter

Oh yeah...... Soon

[Knightro]

So Banchero isn't even doing contact practices yet. So we will continue for at least couple more games without him.

Maybe not.

[RookieStar]

Meanwhile.........

Read on Twitter

Oh yeah...... Soon

In Magic speak that is like... " maybe next year?"

[Orlando Dawg]

Have Banchero come off the bench to spread out the talent and limit his minutes.
He gets injured too much

[BadMofoPimp]

Have Banchero come off the bench to spread out the talent and limit his minutes.
He gets injured too much

He wouldn't do that on a contract year.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Have Banchero come off the bench to spread out the talent and limit his minutes.
He gets injured too much

He wouldn't do that on a contract year.

Forget about a contract year, he doesn’t need to do that at all. He can be a starter with limited minutes just like Jalen did.

[MassimoPayne]

If you want to limit paolos minutes do that but let him start
Otherwise there will be too many discussions if he should stay on the bench bla bla

[Blue_and_Whte]

Paolo has definitely not helped the offense at times in the past, but he's getting some unfair reputation this year. This doesn't mean there isn't individual aspects of his game that is problematic to making us the best offense we can be, he'll dribble and stop the ball often, still not a great shooter, but the beginning of the year everyone was learning how to play together and the starters were still great.

The reason why we got better again was slowing the pace down a bit, defending better (which started when Paolo was still healthy), and the bench playing with a pulse finally.

I don't think the bench playing well is indicative of Paolo not being in the lineup.. We had one of the best benches in the league two years ago when Paolo was healthy.

The offense in the past didn’t have a fully integrated Bane or AB and TDS having mini break out years.

The bench playing well has zero to do with PB not being there, but if that’s the hill people want to die on then using their flawed logic we don’t need Mo Wagner either. By pretending PB held players back posters are undermining the work guys like AB and TDS put in to improve. We played great defense as a team last year, and as you pointed out, one the best benches even with AB looking like a new born baby giraffe out there.

To me the obvious next step would be to integrate Jase as a regular rotation piece because he’s SO much better than Tyus right now.

[eyriq]

The bench got right during Paolo's absence. Reintroducing Paolo will restore our elite starting lineup.

[tiderulz]

Paolo has definitely not helped the offense at times in the past, but he's getting some unfair reputation this year. This doesn't mean there isn't individual aspects of his game that is problematic to making us the best offense we can be, he'll dribble and stop the ball often, still not a great shooter, but the beginning of the year everyone was learning how to play together and the starters were still great.

The reason why we got better again was slowing the pace down a bit, defending better (which started when Paolo was still healthy), and the bench playing with a pulse finally.

I don't think the bench playing well is indicative of Paolo not being in the lineup.. We had one of the best benches in the league two years ago when Paolo was healthy.

The offense in the past didn’t have a fully integrated Bane or AB and TDS having mini break out years.

The bench playing well has zero to do with PB not being there, but if that’s the hill people want to die on then using their flawed logic we don’t need Mo Wagner either. By pretending PB held players back posters are undermining the work guys like AB and TDS put in to improve. We played great defense as a team last year, and as you pointed out, one the best benches even with AB looking like a new born baby giraffe out there.

To me the obvious next step would be to integrate Jase as a regular rotation piece because he’s SO much better than Tyus right now.

yeah i agree. Bane took a bit longer than i think we all expected to mesh with the offense and TDS having a good 2nd year. and now AB breaking out, but those things werent happening at the start of the year when Paolo was playing. And Paolo has been our leading APG person except for his rookie year when he was 3rd on the team. so he isnt a black hole, he is a willing passer. We do have a new offensive coach this year yes? I want to see how the team looks like at the end of the year with everyone having more time in the system and healthy

[eyriq]

Looking at lineup data will leave you thinking Suggs is our MVP. Starting and bench units are significantly better with Suggs. We are +5.1 net overall, +10.8 with Suggs on, +1.4 with him off. He's the common thread across our best lineups.

Why is he standing out in this way?