2024-2025 Regular Season Game 7: Orlando Magic (3-3) at Dallas Mavericks (3-2)

[Bensational]

Last year on East almost every single mid tear team lost it's best or second player for near half of a season.
Non of them looked like this.

Sure they did.

Philadelphia went 31-8 when Embiid played last year and 16-27 without him.

It sucks that this Paolo injury happened right before arguably the toughest road trip of the season, but it is what it is.

I know it has only been two games but Maxy put a better effort in those games without Embiid than Franz has without Paolo.

Hell, look at the effort that Paolo put in while Franz was gone. It’s night and day.

It’s too early to judge, IMO. I don’t think the team have figured out how to replace Paolo’s central playmaking and right now they’re just swapping for Suggs and Franz and it’s not working as a near 1-for-1 swap.

And now they’ll be game planning to play without WCJ, too.

It’s gonna take them a while to find their footing and neither is the natural playmaker Maxey is.

[Knightro]

Nope. This is different than what is going on in Philly.

The 76ers have 100 mill tied up in Embiid and Paul George this year - and neither have played a minute this season.

I'm not saying it's the exact same thing like for like.

Just the overarching point that when your best player doesn't play, it's a lot harder to win.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Last year on East almost every single mid tear team lost it's best or second player for near half of a season.
Non of them looked like this.

Sure they did.

Philadelphia went 31-8 when Embiid played last year and 16-27 without him.

It sucks that this Paolo injury happened right before arguably the toughest road trip of the season, but it is what it is.

I know it has only been two games but Maxy put a better effort in those games without Embiid than Franz has without Paolo.

Hell, look at the effort that Paolo put in while Franz was gone. It’s night and day.

To be fair though, Paolo is huge. He definitely uses his body to his advantage. I remember being at the games and seeing him in person and he is massive.

[Bakomagic]

Tonight it looks like we need everything, shooting, defense, ball handling, passing, rebounding, coaching.

Just a straight up butt whooping.

The we need a point guard group is using this game to push an agenda are wrong imo.

If we had Tyus we still get “boat raced” tonight, just like he got boat raced game after game in Washington.

You may be right about the PG argument but tonight is not the night that proves your point.

[Rainwater]

If the front office is watching this and can’t figure out that there need to be a change, then Paolo himself should just look for a better team.

And you can go with him too

Rude! If you read my edited post you’d understood what I meant.

He is a rude poster in general don’t worry about him.

[thelead]

Franz is not a real 2. Real 2's are all-stars.

He may develop into one but he is not there yet. It's the same 'he's a max/he's not a max' argument though so we'll have to agree to disagree.

So hypothetically... the 28th best player in the NBA isn't a "real" No. 2 in your eyes because he's not one of the 24 guys voted to the all-star team?

Come on now.

If you look at all of the 2nd best players around the league, Franz is one of the better ones.

we want to be real contenders or 'one of the better' teams?

That's how I'm approaching this whole roster.

I have nothing but love for Franz but there was a reason why PG13 was my #1 wish for free agency. Yes, he is injured today but there is no doubt that he can score on his own. It sucks that he didn't want to be here (per the rumors).

I can see Franz developing into a better scorer but he's a great player because he's really good overall.... but we need a great secondary scorer that can get his own bucket and I don't trust Franz with that yet.

[Bakomagic]

Also, Caleb should actually try to turn into Swole Caleb so he can be a stretch 4, because he is worthless as a wing.

[penny_nz]

Scrub unit scrubbing HARD

[Howard Mass]

It's obviously a transition with Paolo out and it was not going to be easy against a top team like Dallas.

It will be a process that hopefully will be figured out.

[ogmagicfan]

Tonight it looks like we need everything, shooting, defense, ball handling, passing, rebounding, coaching.

Just a straight up butt whooping.

The we need a point guard group is using this game to push an agenda are wrong imo.

If we had Tyus we still get “boat raced” tonight, just like he got boat raced game after game in Washington.

You may be right about the PG argument but tonight is not the night that proves your point.

The Suns are sure looking alot better this season with Tyus running the point instead of just using their stars to take turns running PG

[D12VCMagic]

I’m not trying to hate on Franz but his play is unacceptable after that extension. He needs to step it up.

[Knightro]

I know it has only been two games but Maxy put a better effort in those games without Embiid than Franz has without Paolo.

Hell, look at the effort that Paolo put in while Franz was gone. It’s night and day.

How about Maxey so far this year?

He got a max contract this offseason just like Franz did and is shooting 38.5% from the floor and 26.3 from 3PT as the No. 1 option.

It's a lot harder, even when you're a very good player which Maxey and Franz both are, to succeed when you're put into a role that you shouldn't be in.

But that doesn't mean you're not still worth your contract.

[Rainwater]

Sure they did.

Philadelphia went 31-8 when Embiid played last year and 16-27 without him.

It sucks that this Paolo injury happened right before arguably the toughest road trip of the season, but it is what it is.

I know it has only been two games but Maxy put a better effort in those games without Embiid than Franz has without Paolo.

Hell, look at the effort that Paolo put in while Franz was gone. It’s night and day.

It’s too early to judge, IMO. I don’t think the team have figured out how to replace Paolo’s central playmaking and right now they’re just swapping for Suggs and Franz and it’s not working as a near 1-for-1 swap.

And now they’ll be game planning to play without WCJ, too.

It’s gonna take them a while to find their footing and neither is the natural playmaker Maxey is.

You are right it is early but since last year (with his inconsistent season and playoffs) I have always had my reservations about Franz being a second option. He is not helping himself right now.

[The-Stallion70]

And you can go with him too

Rude! If you read my edited post you’d understood what I meant.

He is a rude poster in general don’t worry about him.

I don't like any suggestion of trading Paolo he's the best thing to happen to the Magic in over a decade

[ORLMagicGirl15]

That was hard to watch. But it’s over.

[three3d]

Franz is not a real 2. Real 2's are all-stars.

He may develop into one but he is not there yet. It's the same 'he's a max/he's not a max' argument though so we'll have to agree to disagree.

So hypothetically... the 28th best player in the NBA isn't a "real" No. 2 in your eyes because he's not one of the 24 guys voted to the all-star team?

Come on now.

If you look at all of the 2nd best players around the league, Franz is one of the better ones.

Did Franz even play tonight lol

[ORLMagicGirl15]

We also have no size. This must be how it feels to play against a fully healthy Magic team.

[Redwood]

Paolo watching this thinking 'I'm going to need to put pressure on this FO if I'm going to stay here'

Paolo needs a real #2. We have all of our picks, Denver's pick, and a bunch of tradeable contracts.

He has a real No. 2.

And a real No. 3.

And he's a real No. 1.

What are you even talking about?

Yeah, this young team is getting whipped by contenders without their best player. How is this shocking?

The problem is right in your post, all of our young players. Specifically WHY do we have so many young players? Because so many of our draft picks have been busts. Those players (our picks) were supposed to be our veteran players by now, at a minimum our depth. We've heard this team is young since literally the Dwight trade, because they keep messing up our drafts. We've had a young team for 12 years, that's beyond absurd. If Black and Howard don't work out, that will stretch out another 5 years.

I'm completely in favor of a new front office, it's time.

[Redwood]

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2581018/kentavious-caldwell-pope

This is what 20+ million buys you these days.

[richi_v25]

I'll exempt Suggs but our whole teams looked like ash... on a positive note our jerseys looked nice. Don't worry guys we have another blowout coming real soon.