If there was a time for Franz, Paolo or someone else to breakout, now is a great time.

The-Stallion70 · Post #1 » by **The-Stallion70** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:20 am

We built the win streak mainly with defense and right now we head into our first very difficult part of the schedule with injuries to our best defenders Suggs and Isaac. Franz is trying to get a big payday and he can make a big impression for one if he can break out during this stretch and build on it during the rest of the season. Our team needs to play differently if we can't play quite the elite level defense that we did before.

The Magic have been good so far this season but the only way our team is going to become a great team going forward is if Paolo and Franz become NBA superstars and/or if other guys could step up another level as well(Black?).

We will know alot more about our team after this stretch against Boston 2x, Denver, Philly, Miami, Milwaukee, Warriors, Suns, Minnesota and OKC. Of we don't perform well during this stretch then our team probably isn't there yet and we'll need to focus on stuff like draft, Trades, development, improving the team etc.

If some guys feel like they've been holding back for whatever reason, now is the time to stop doing that.

Post #2 » by **SOUL** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:40 am

This seems a bit hyperbolic and reactionary. They'll progress as they progress, literally 22 and 21 year olds. Giannis had his first breakout season at his age 22 year averaging 22.9 and then became a monster, Jokic was averaging 18/10 at 22, etc. Paolo has already shown some great signs this season and had his first 40 ball, Franz regularly hitting 30 point games, etc. They're certainly on pace to be our future #1 and #2.

They just need to get through this stretch at .500 (or better) and not go on a huge losing streak. I do not think this team will "pivot to the draft and development" unless the season goes off the rails with injuries or they completely turn into a different team from what we've seen, which is beating the bad teams, giving the best teams trouble, and kinda struggling with the mid teams (Hawks, Brooklyn, Cavs). Most people would've been extremely happy with 40 wins this season, and that seems extremely doable and on the low side of what people have been predicting lately.

tooler · Post #3 » by **tooler** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:00 pm

Franz needs to finish working on his adjusted 3PT shot mechanics. Paolo is taking on a bigger scoring load because we're playing 2 on 5 on offense right now, but otherwise he's content to be a team player this season.

There's no rush. Everything is going well.

p0peye · Post #4 » by **p0peye** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:10 pm

As far as I'm concerned, breaking out is what they've been doing so far this season. We are in midst of a very tough December stretch which probably will endup few games below .500. Nothing to be concerned about.

JoshuaPotter · Post #5 » by **JoshuaPotter** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:31 pm

This is coming at a bad time. Paulo has taken over the last 2 games in a dominant fashion. The win streak before that had Franz scoring 30ppg 3x in a row. (First time since Mcgrady) To top it all of last time we had scoring this good from a sophomore player was Penny Hardaway.

If we were doing any better i'd be on the forum saying ECF or bust. As it is, we just finished a historic franchise run. Not even Shaq / Dwight teams could muster that win streak. Edit : and we did it with two starters injured....

Catledge · Post #6 » by **Catledge** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:02 pm

I think it's a fair point from the thread starter, especially about the opportunity for Black. He has been really deferring until now, but with Suggs added to the list of injured, nobody would blame Black for erring on the side of being a little too aggressive now and then. Caleb Houston seems to be another guy who will have a chance to get some shots up.

Not every team is going to be as spectacularly incompetent as the Pistons are. Against real teams, somebody will have to replace the aggressiveness we were getting from Suggs.

JoshuaPotter · Post #7 » by **JoshuaPotter** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:35 pm

Catledge wrote:I think it's a fair point from the thread starter, especially about the opportunity for Black. He has been really deferring until now, but with Suggs added to the list of injured, nobody would blame Black for erring on the side of being a little too aggressive now and then. Caleb Houston seems to be another guy who will have a chance to get some shots up.

Not every team is going to be as spectacularly incompetent as the Pistons are. Against real teams, somebody will have to replace the aggressiveness we were getting from Suggs.

Not every player on our team can break out. They can get hot for sure. But break out? I think if anything we are currently spoiled and indifferent having Franz + Paulo already.

At some point, injuries will probably catch us. As is, Paulo seems to be showing flashes of dominance even in "L". Hopefully this isn't the start of a bad habit. But unofficially nobody else on our team is as reliable scoring as he and yes Franz appear to be.

I imagine we will continue to see Cole Anthony / Moe W carry a big scoring load of the bench with Ingles getting the green light more to direct the offense and toss up shots.

Catledge · Post #8 » by **Catledge** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:58 pm

JoshuaPotter wrote:
Catledge wrote:I think it's a fair point from the thread starter, especially about the opportunity for Black. He has been really deferring until now, but with Suggs added to the list of injured, nobody would blame Black for erring on the side of being a little too aggressive now and then. Caleb Houston seems to be another guy who will have a chance to get some shots up.

Not every team is going to be as spectacularly incompetent as the Pistons are. Against real teams, somebody will have to replace the aggressiveness we were getting from Suggs.

Not every player on our team can break out. They can get hot for sure. But break out? I think if anything we are currently spoiled and indifferent having Franz + Paulo already.

Perhaps I'm applying too generous of a definition to "break out." In my mind, Suggs is having a break out season in the sense that he has gone from a bench player to a legit starter. Similar with Moe going from deep bench to legit rotation player.

AB and Caleb both have a chance to take the step that Moe has taken. Maybe that's not a "break out," but it's something meaningful.

JoshuaPotter · Post #9 » by **JoshuaPotter** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:18 pm

I mean Cole + Suggs + Mo are the legit definition of having "break out" seasons.

RichCollab · Post #10 » by **RichCollab** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:24 pm

They haven’t been breaking out?

JoshuaPotter · Post #11 » by **JoshuaPotter** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:32 pm

RichCollab wrote:They haven’t been breaking out?

We are only second in the east right now. Not 1st. Far as I am concerned that is the first to lose. :wink:

GameOver25 · Post #12 » by **GameOver25** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:37 pm

I think we're fine, but that's just me. I believe the recent two game losing streak was mostly due to composure. It started to creep in during the Wizards games where we thought we can just show up and win. We're not that kind of team yet, we need to show up each and every game ready to compete, with also the understanding some nights we might just not have it offensively from deep, but we can lean on our defense.

Even though it was the Pistons, it felt like the team defensively we're used to seeing again. I want to see it carry over to the Cavs game tonight.

pepe1991 · Post #13 » by **pepe1991** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 4:36 pm

Cole and Mo are averaging like 30 ppg off bench. Isn't that definition of breakout?

tooler · Post #14 » by **tooler** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:20 pm

Stop trying to break out, and start trying to break in!!

That one is for the NBA meme fans.

jezzerinho · Post #15 » by **jezzerinho** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:55 pm

If there's been one breakout player on the Magic (and there hasn't, there have been several) it would be Bitadze.

He's gone from Pacers castoff to a Top 30 Estimated Box Plus/Minus (EPM) player in the NBA, in a matter of months.

That's what you call breaking out.

Truly, because of the team environment, the coaching excellence and the work ethic, all the players on the roster are seeing the NBA as a giant land of opportunity. Effort and enjoyment, when they combine, can be a potent mix.

Paolo for example finally looks like he's stopped second-guessing his approach to the rim. He's just feeling it and going. Effort plus enjoyment.

byeganyo · Post #16 » by **byeganyo** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:12 pm

captain obvious but Franz needs to shoot better if he is to become star... he cant start playing like Giannis, he isnt built like this. I was hopeful that he'll take another step forward, but so far it isnt happening.

The-Stallion70 · Post #17 » by **The-Stallion70** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:16 pm

jezzerinho wrote:If there's been one breakout player on the Magic (and there hasn't, there have been several) it would be Bitadze.

He's gone from Pacers castoff to a Top 30 Estimated Box Plus/Minus (EPM) player in the NBA, in a matter of months.

That's what you call breaking out.

Truly, because of the team environment, the coaching excellence and the work ethic, all the players on the roster are seeing the NBA as a giant land of opportunity. Effort and enjoyment, when they combine, can be a potent mix.

Paolo for example finally looks like he's stopped second-guessing his approach to the rim. He's just feeling it and going. Effort plus enjoyment.

The difference would be breaking out against elite teams, my friend

The-Stallion70 · Post #18 » by **The-Stallion70** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:52 pm

p0peye wrote:As far as I'm concerned, breaking out is what they've been doing so far this season. We are in midst of a very tough December stretch which probably will endup few games below .500. Nothing to be concerned about.

There is more meaningful progress if we have the same level of success against elite teams 8-)

It most certainly is not ok if we go sub 500 during a difficult stretch to the season and right back to where we were.

Our standards should be higher than just being okay with losing.

TheChaser · Post #19 » by **TheChaser** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:00 pm

Yeah strange timing for this.

JBSouthpaw · Post #20 » by **JBSouthpaw** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:05 pm

The-Stallion70 wrote:
jezzerinho wrote:If there's been one breakout player on the Magic (and there hasn't, there have been several) it would be Bitadze.

He's gone from Pacers castoff to a Top 30 Estimated Box Plus/Minus (EPM) player in the NBA, in a matter of months.

That's what you call breaking out.

Truly, because of the team environment, the coaching excellence and the work ethic, all the players on the roster are seeing the NBA as a giant land of opportunity. Effort and enjoyment, when they combine, can be a potent mix.

Paolo for example finally looks like he's stopped second-guessing his approach to the rim. He's just feeling it and going. Effort plus enjoyment.

The difference would be breaking out against elite teams, my friend

I had to double check the date of your thread. It's 2 weeks late.
1. both Franz and Paolo (defending player of the month) have broken out, plus some others.
2. JI is back starting tonight.
3. you don't count wins against: Lakers, BOS and MIL as elite teams??