2023-2024 Regular Season Game 5: Orlando Magic (2-2) at Utah Jazz (2-3) - 9pm

[Skybox]

Hot take… I love what Suggs does, but I am skeptical that he’s a big minute starter on a good team.

Seems like he’s perfect for 20-25 minutes of pure chaos off the bench at SG.

He and Cole seem like they’re both, perhaps, best suited as first guard off the bench (for different reasons). Maybe that’s why Cole got the deal he got and the FO actually gets that we’re still lacking a starting backcourt. Hopefully, Black shows enough in the early season to skip the line…conceptually, he’s not a bad pairing with Harris - or, more ideally, a guy like Simons or Herro (who can score 20+) on any night. Brogdon being a pretty good and gettable consolation prize. Jett’s a gunner already on the roster too.

Spring 2024…

Black/Cole
Simons/Suggs/Jett
Franz/Ingles
Paolo/Isaac
WCJ/R. Williams/M. Wagner


Fultz/Harris/Goga/ORL 24 frp(top 3)/DEN 25 frp to POR
For…Simons/Williams
*I like POR backcourt of Scoot/Sharpe, Brogdon/Harris…good blend of vets, shooting, crazy upside. Goga backs Ayton. 2 firsts. Flip, play, or expire Fultz

brogdon is cooked....can't stay healthy....i don't think the guy has ever had a full healthy season

Maybe - he played 67 games last year at 26mpg and was 6th Man of the Year. He IS 30 and has had some shortened seasons for sure. I'd value him on limited minutes (as he has been...<30) but I also don't see him as the long term answer but an excellent bridge who could become a solid, versatile bench piece after the next big move to get THE guard.

My trade calls for Simons, who's young, healthy, freak athlete, long, can handle, among the best silkiest long-range shooters in the league.

[VFX]

Hot take… I love what Suggs does, but I am skeptical that he’s a big minute starter on a good team.

Seems like he’s perfect for 20-25 minutes of pure chaos off the bench at SG.

It's not really hot take.

I get the reasoning behind this.

But you can’t really have it both ways. If you want Jordan Clarkson to go 5-20 or for Donovan Mitchell, or Jalen Green to have the worst game of the season, then you want Suggs in there. Will we see another game this season where Austin Reaves gets to the line zero times?

You have to weigh what Gary Harris could potentially do on offense compared to what Suggs is doing to opposing shooting guards.

I agree though that if the starting point guard is going to be Anthony Black, then you might want Jett or Gary in there instead. Just know that the defense will not be where it is now (top 3-5) in those minutes.

[Optimus_Steel]

I've seen enough. Black for starting PG.

I legitimately wondered to myself if he's the best point guard on this team.

It's really not that hot a take...it's a weak position for us (top to bottom) and this guy was #6 in a loaded draft. He's supposed to be the best PG on our roster, even if there are some growing pains...let's get started and get them over with.

PG is the hardest position to learn in th NBA for a rookie, we shouldn't be rushing him into a starter specially with his weaknesses as a shooter as teams will exploit that immediately. Let him build his confidence as a reserve until he builds some experience. No rush.

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[Def Swami]

Solid road win in a place that we haven't won in 8 years. Happy to get the win, and happy to see Banchero look more like himself (coincidence that it comes with first game without Fultz ). Banchero is just better when he's attacking down hill or getting the ball close to the post. He's a mismatch nightmare on most nights and the Magic have to take advantage of that. It opens up his game as a scorer and playmaker. We got good minutes from Black out of nowhere. Suggs is a menace. I love the energy he plays with. He's so reckless that he's going to make some winning plays and some bonehead plays and you're just going to have to live with that.

The late game execution was horrible again. The final 2 minutes of this game was awful. Banchero settled for a bad step back mid-range 2 on the left that bricked. Anthony had a bad foul while in the penalty that led to 2 Jazz free throws. Banchero had a turnover. Carter Jr. had an offensive foul (albeit good flop by THT). Anthony followed that up by rejecting the screen and going Leroy Jenkins on a baseline fadeaway mid-range 2 that barely grazed rim. All to lead to a wide open Markkanen 3 to take the lead. That was 4 straight offensive possessions by the Magic that led to nothing. Thank god Banchero was able to get a tough leftie lay up in traffic to go. This forum would be very different today if he didn't.

Also on the downer, it really felt like we went from 1 week of being a completely healthy roster to riddled with injuries all over again . Fultz, Harris, and Carter all going down in 1 day is something. I think we could sustain Fultz and Harris being out. But Carter is the anchor of our defense. I'm not convinced we'll be able to sustain for a prolonged time with Moe Wagner playing heavy minutes at center.

[Residual-Heat]

hot takes: Black isnt really a PG atm, and wont be able to defend that position full time. He's going to be a nice palyer and a versatile defender but in his prime and as he gets stronger i think he'll be defending 2/3/4 rather than 1/2/3. Right now, starting him at PG probably wont be successful.

Suggs missed his shots but got 4 steals and he's a clutch defender/rebounder.

We all knew that the lack of shooting in the backcourt would be a problem, that the lack of back up C will be a problem. Somehow the FO saw nothing wrong, and now it is and will bite us in the ass.

[Darth Magic]

One of the things I keep getting frustrated about is where Paolo gets the ball to operate. Someone needs to do a highlight creel of him getting the ball behind the three point line and what happens. It's usually bad. His spots are the elbow and the low block. He needs to get a steady diet of those.

[OrlChamps2030]

Hot take… I love what Suggs does, but I am skeptical that he’s a big minute starter on a good team.

Seems like he’s perfect for 20-25 minutes of pure chaos off the bench at SG.

It's not really hot take.

I get the reasoning behind this.

But you can’t really have it both ways. If you want Jordan Clarkson to go 5-20 or for Donovan Mitchell, or Jalen Green to have the worst game of the season, then you want Suggs in there. Will we see another game this season where Austin Reaves gets to the line zero times?

You have to weigh what Gary Harris could potentially do on offense compared to what Suggs is doing to opposing shooting guards.

I agree though that if the starting point guard is going to be Anthony Black, then you might want Jett or Gary in there instead. Just know that the defense will not be where it is now (top 3-5) in those minutes.

Suggs played 21, 26, and 20 minutes against Utah, LAL, and Houston.

[basketballRob]

Hot take… I love what Suggs does, but I am skeptical that he’s a big minute starter on a good team.

Seems like he’s perfect for 20-25 minutes of pure chaos off the bench at SG.

He and Cole seem like they’re both, perhaps, best suited as first guard off the bench (for different reasons). Maybe that’s why Cole got the deal he got and the FO actually gets that we’re still lacking a starting backcourt. Hopefully, Black shows enough in the early season to skip the line…conceptually, he’s not a bad pairing with Harris - or, more ideally, a guy like Simons or Herro (who can score 20+) on any night. Brogdon being a pretty good and gettable consolation prize. Jett’s a gunner already on the roster too.

Spring 2024…

Black/Cole
Simons/Suggs/Jett
Franz/Ingles
Paolo/Isaac
WCJ/R. Williams/M. Wagner


Fultz/Harris/Goga/ORL 24 frp(top 3)/DEN 25 frp to POR
For…Simons/Williams
*I like POR backcourt of Scoot/Sharpe, Brogdon/Harris…good blend of vets, shooting, crazy upside. Goga backs Ayton. 2 firsts. Flip, play, or expire Fultz

brogdon is cooked....can't stay healthy....i don't think the guy has ever had a full healthy season

Plus, he's scheduled to get $22.5m next season.

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[basketballRob]

hot takes: Black isnt really a PG atm, and wont be able to defend that position full time. He's going to be a nice palyer and a versatile defender but in his prime and as he gets stronger i think he'll be defending 2/3/4 rather than 1/2/3. Right now, starting him at PG probably wont be successful.

Suggs missed his shots but got 4 steals and he's a clutch defender/rebounder.

We all knew that the lack of shooting in the backcourt would be a problem, that the lack of back up C will be a problem. Somehow the FO saw nothing wrong, and now it is and will bite us in the ass.

Black has been guarding the PG position great. He's already a better defender than Cole and Fultz at PG.

This reminds me of when we drafted Franz, and many people thought he could only guard bigs.

I think Black will only play PG.

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[Skybox]

I legitimately wondered to myself if he's the best point guard on this team.

It's really not that hot a take...it's a weak position for us (top to bottom) and this guy was #6 in a loaded draft. He's supposed to be the best PG on our roster, even if there are some growing pains...let's get started and get them over with.

PG is the hardest position to learn in th NBA for a rookie, we shouldn't be rushing him into a starter specially with his weaknesses as a shooter as teams will exploit that immediately. Let him build his confidence as a reserve until he builds some experience. No rush.

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That weakness is irrelevant compared to the starter...in fact, Black might at least compensate somewhat by getting to the line more and superior defense & rebounding (vs the starter). His Suggs-like D also allows you to put a shooter like Harris back in the starting lineup (or even Cole who could share ballhandling burden with the delicate rookie but, ultimately, defer creation to duties to Black). I also like Cole Suggs combo getting significant minutes in reserve. Medium term goal would be to use Harris and Fultz and picks to get a new SG who can shoot it more than Harris and start next to Black for the next 5 years (I'm sure you're all tired of me saying "Simons").

Even if the two guard pairings...Black/Harris & Cole/Suggs played basically similar amounts of time, we'd continue to be competitive and we'd be moving towards the future at the same time.

[Residual-Heat]

hot takes: Black isnt really a PG atm, and wont be able to defend that position full time. He's going to be a nice palyer and a versatile defender but in his prime and as he gets stronger i think he'll be defending 2/3/4 rather than 1/2/3. Right now, starting him at PG probably wont be successful.

Suggs missed his shots but got 4 steals and he's a clutch defender/rebounder.

We all knew that the lack of shooting in the backcourt would be a problem, that the lack of back up C will be a problem. Somehow the FO saw nothing wrong, and now it is and will bite us in the ass.

Black has been guarding the PG position great. He's already a better defender than Cole and Fultz at PG.

This reminds me of when we drafted Franz, and many people thought he could only guard bigs.

I think Black will only play PG.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

I disagree. I dont think he can guard quick PGs. Sexton blew by him atleast twice.

[Skybox]

I'm excited to see more of Black...he might make Suggs expendable as much as Fultz.

I'm a big fan of Suggs, just saying...might not need 2 if Black accelerates...and we could address other needs.

(*Fultz is gone already in my mind)...the rest will be sorted, Harris might even stick around when the dust settles

[basketballRob]

hot takes: Black isnt really a PG atm, and wont be able to defend that position full time. He's going to be a nice palyer and a versatile defender but in his prime and as he gets stronger i think he'll be defending 2/3/4 rather than 1/2/3. Right now, starting him at PG probably wont be successful.

Suggs missed his shots but got 4 steals and he's a clutch defender/rebounder.

We all knew that the lack of shooting in the backcourt would be a problem, that the lack of back up C will be a problem. Somehow the FO saw nothing wrong, and now it is and will bite us in the ass.

Black has been guarding the PG position great. He's already a better defender than Cole and Fultz at PG.

This reminds me of when we drafted Franz, and many people thought he could only guard bigs.

I think Black will only play PG.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

I disagree. I dont think he can guard quick PGs. Sexton blew by him atleast twice.

I didn't see him blowing by Black.

Watch every guard on the team, including Suggs. They aren't always able to stop players from getting by them. Franz gets blown by at least once per game.

I've seen Black dozens of times stay in front of small, quick guards.

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[Residual-Heat]

Black has been guarding the PG position great. He's already a better defender than Cole and Fultz at PG.

This reminds me of when we drafted Franz, and many people thought he could only guard bigs.

I think Black will only play PG.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

I disagree. I dont think he can guard quick PGs. Sexton blew by him atleast twice.

I didn't see him blowing by Black.

Watch every guard on the team, including Suggs. They aren't always able to stop players from getting by them. Franz gets blown by at least once per game.

I've seen Black dozens of times stay in front of small, quick guards.

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at the NBA level? like who? the guy has only played like 10 minutes..
He just doesnt have the quickness to stay in front of them IMO. Suggs does.

[basketballRob]

I disagree. I dont think he can guard quick PGs. Sexton blew by him atleast twice.

I didn't see him blowing by Black.

Watch every guard on the team, including Suggs. They aren't always able to stop players from getting by them. Franz gets blown by at least once per game.

I've seen Black dozens of times stay in front of small, quick guards.

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at the NBA level? like who? the guy has only played like 10 minutes..
He just doesnt have the quickness to stay in front of them IMO. Suggs does.

I disagree, and that's why he's been playing exclusively at PG. He's a way better defender than Cole or Fultz at PG already.

Even Suggs got beat a few times last night. THT was getting to the bucket at will.

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[Skybox]

I'm excited to see more of Black...he might make Suggs expendable as much as Fultz.

I'm a big fan of Suggs, just saying...might not need 2 if Black accelerates...and we could address other needs.

(*Fultz is gone already in my mind)...the rest will be sorted, Harris might even stick around when the dust settles

If Suggs could just start hitting 2.5 of 7 from 3, he and Black could present an absolutely demonic defensive guard pairing together.

[Residual-Heat]

I didn't see him blowing by Black.

Watch every guard on the team, including Suggs. They aren't always able to stop players from getting by them. Franz gets blown by at least once per game.

I've seen Black dozens of times stay in front of small, quick guards.

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at the NBA level? like who? the guy has only played like 10 minutes..
He just doesnt have the quickness to stay in front of them IMO. Suggs does.

I disagree, and that's why he's been playing exclusively at PG.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

thats just not true.

[VFX]

It's not really hot take.

I get the reasoning behind this.

But you can’t really have it both ways. If you want Jordan Clarkson to go 5-20 or for Donovan Mitchell, or Jalen Green to have the worst game of the season, then you want Suggs in there. Will we see another game this season where Austin Reaves gets to the line zero times?

You have to weigh what Gary Harris could potentially do on offense compared to what Suggs is doing to opposing shooting guards.

I agree though that if the starting point guard is going to be Anthony Black, then you might want Jett or Gary in there instead. Just know that the defense will not be where it is now (top 3-5) in those minutes.

Suggs played 21, 26, and 20 minutes against Utah, LAL, and Houston.

Correct. It’s not the minutes. It’s the matchup. Are his minutes against a backup SG or the other teams first or second option?

It’s more about where his minutes are best used.

It might be overkill with him and AB, which is something I’d like to see once So I understand moving him to the second unit/ sixth man role if and when Black can take over.

[basketballRob]

at the NBA level? like who? the guy has only played like 10 minutes..
He just doesnt have the quickness to stay in front of them IMO. Suggs does.

I disagree, and that's why he's been playing exclusively at PG.

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thats just not true.

He's usually been the player bringing the ball up when he's been in.

His defensive rating has been 94.5 so far. Maybe stats will backup your argument in time, but currently, it doesn't.

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[Residual-Heat]

I disagree, and that's why he's been playing exclusively at PG.

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thats just not true.

He's usually been the player bringing the ball up when he's been in.

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For the most part he was playing alongside Cole yesterday. Even in preseason he played most of his minutes SG/SF. IIRC the only game where he played mostly at PG was against the Flamengos.

Great game from him yesterday and i loved to see it, but he's not ready to be a starting PG right now. In the future, maybe but i think he'd need another guard next to him that can stay infront of quick PGs.