2024-2025 Regular Season Game 68: Orlando Magic (31-36) at Minnesota Timberwolves (38-29) - 8pm

[GameOver25]

i mean at that point he had to do it....he was supposed to be getting more rest but had to come back in the game a bit earlier than usual because nobody could score....so when that happens yeah, you're the best player and at times you have to put the team on your back when everyone else having a tough shooting night...

I don't disagree in theory, I'm just saying objectively what I know about what kind of shooting efficiency wins games in current year NBA I just don't think it was a great game even with all factors considered and I think he got way too ISO happy when it was close. IDK just my objective opinion. He was still one of our better players tonight, because most players sucked outside of Caleb being incredibly hot and adding 4 steals on top.

who's saying great? at that point in the game we weren't getting any stops so it's going to be bucket for bucket and hope they miss, in that kind of game if we can't score we're getting left behind...he did what he could to try and get us back when the others didn't have it going....paolo did enough, wasn't some great amazing game but when he's trying to win us the game you got people "paolo iso can't help himself" after watching everyone else lay bricks? no blame should be placed at his feet tonight, he did enough that's all i'm saying

Chill man, I retract the Paolo ISO, he can't himself. He's been better.

[basketballRob]

Paolo 32 ppg in his last 8 games.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/paolo-bancheri-last-8-games

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[KillMonger]

the real perpetrator here is wendell...i know he was in foul trouble but man....you still played over 30 minutes....4 points...2 boards....he got extended....weltman extended this man

[Knightro]

All I know is that I've been on him about his efficiency from day 1 and he's finally putting it together and figuring out how to consistently score efficiently. AND he's rebounding the last few games. I'm not expecting good defense out of him if he's doing those other things. Now, what I can't accept is when he trails everyone on defense... but what we've been seeing as of late is a max contract guy. The others need to step the F up.

Paolo was 10/24 shooting with 4 minutes left in the game.

6/8 in the final four minutes with 5 of the 6 makes coming when the Magic were down 3 possessions and Minny was conceding twos to avoid threes.

He was fine. He wasn’t as good as the final box score would indicate.

There was some significant stat padding going on. And ultimately I’m not knocking him, if they’re conceding shots, take them and hope they miss at the FT line isn’t a terrible strategy.

[Knightro]

the real perpetrator here is wendell...i know he was in foul trouble but man....you still played over 30 minutes....4 points...2 boards....he got extended....weltman extended this man

He’s just not a good player anymore.

There was a time three-ish years ago where he was actually a good bit underrated, but that ship has sailed and he’s been mostly bad for two years now.

[KillMonger]

I don't disagree in theory, I'm just saying objectively what I know about what kind of shooting efficiency wins games in current year NBA I just don't think it was a great game even with all factors considered and I think he got way too ISO happy when it was close. IDK just my objective opinion. He was still one of our better players tonight, because most players sucked outside of Caleb being incredibly hot and adding 4 steals on top.

who's saying great? at that point in the game we weren't getting any stops so it's going to be bucket for bucket and hope they miss, in that kind of game if we can't score we're getting left behind...he did what he could to try and get us back when the others didn't have it going....paolo did enough, wasn't some great amazing game but when he's trying to win us the game you got people "paolo iso can't help himself" after watching everyone else lay bricks? no blame should be placed at his feet tonight, he did enough that's all i'm saying

Chill man, I retract the Paolo ISO, he can't himself. He's been better.

it's all love man, had to use something as an example the arrow landed on you

[KillMonger]

the real perpetrator here is wendell...i know he was in foul trouble but man....you still played over 30 minutes....4 points...2 boards....he got extended....weltman extended this man

He’s just not a good player anymore.

There was a time three-ish years ago where he was actually a good bit underrated, but that ship has sailed and he’s been mostly bad for two years now.

yeah, people would always say...."yeah he's good for the contract he's under" well that's going to change very soon....another guy besides KCP that's literally stealing money lol

[Idiosyncratic]

the real perpetrator here is wendell...i know he was in foul trouble but man....you still played over 30 minutes....4 points...2 boards....he got extended....weltman extended this man

Yeah and what happened to Goga? We are getting nothing from the center position at this point, going into the offseason with two black hole spots when we thought it was just 1 a couple months ago.

[eyriq]

Atlanta lost so all is well. I think we played pretty good all things considered.

[Rainwater]

All I know is that I've been on him about his efficiency from day 1 and he's finally putting it together and figuring out how to consistently score efficiently. AND he's rebounding the last few games. I'm not expecting good defense out of him if he's doing those other things. Now, what I can't accept is when he trails everyone on defense... but what we've been seeing as of late is a max contract guy. The others need to step the F up.

Paolo was 10/24 shooting with 4 minutes left in the game.

6/8 in the final four minutes with 5 of the 6 makes coming when the Magic were down 3 possessions and Minny was conceding twos to avoid threes.

He was fine. He wasn’t as good as the final box score would indicate.

There was some significant stat padding going on. And ultimately I’m not knocking him, if they’re conceding shots, take them and hope they miss at the FT line isn’t a terrible strategy.

You keep saying this like it was a blowout but you do realize the Magic were only down 2 with less than 4 mins to go. Don’t think giving up was an option at that point.

The game didn’t really feel out of reach until the last min. That is when the stat paddling began if you want to call it that.

[thelead]

All I know is that I've been on him about his efficiency from day 1 and he's finally putting it together and figuring out how to consistently score efficiently. AND he's rebounding the last few games. I'm not expecting good defense out of him if he's doing those other things. Now, what I can't accept is when he trails everyone on defense... but what we've been seeing as of late is a max contract guy. The others need to step the F up.

Paolo was 10/24 shooting with 4 minutes left in the game.

6/8 in the final four minutes with 5 of the 6 makes coming when the Magic were down 3 possessions and Minny was conceding twos to avoid threes.

He was fine. He wasn’t as good as the final box score would indicate.

There was some significant stat padding going on. And ultimately I’m not knocking him, if they’re conceding shots, take them and hope they miss at the FT line isn’t a terrible strategy.

Not going to go back and forth on this because, ultimately, it doesn't matter and we're both being a bit pedantic but Paolo entered the 4th shooting 9/20 from the field. He started cold in the 4th (1-4) and then finished strong when Minny had to pull Rudy (but even before Rudy was pulled, Paolo started making shots again and it was a tied game with 3:32 to go after he made a few buckets). At the end of the day he was okay offensively as the lead scorer and there are many other issues to worry about with this team besides giving Paolo a max contract.

[thelead]

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht has 20 pts as the 2nd option tonight on 8-16 shooting (4-9 from 3). Wish we would have traded up for him. 1 pick away.

[KillMonger]

the real perpetrator here is wendell...i know he was in foul trouble but man....you still played over 30 minutes....4 points...2 boards....he got extended....weltman extended this man

Yeah and what happened to Goga? We are getting nothing from the center position at this point, going into the offseason with two black hole spots when we thought it was just 1 a couple months ago.

maybe him losing his starting spot had something to do with it however it could also be the injury....whatever mojo he had its gone

[OrlandoDream]

Wendell Carter is the most pathetic excuse of a player that I have seen here in quite some time. His effort and lack of urgency is embarrassing. 30min and 4reb. Naz reid came in and got 7 in 20min. Completely useless. Idk how Mosley continues to start him and barely play JI or Goga.

[eyriq]

Franz with an absolute stinker.

oNet, dNet, tNet

Franz, -5.2, -2.1, -7.3
Paolo, +6.0, -0.8, +5.2

Caleb was tremendous. WCJ was cheeks

[Rainwater]

Wendell Carter is the most pathetic excuse of a player that I have seen here in quite some time. His effort and lack of urgency is embarrassing. 30min and 4reb. Naz reid came in and got 7 in 20min. Completely useless. Idk how Mosley continues to start him and barely play JI or Goga.

Gogo has also been trash and JI is not a full-time center. Mose doesn't really have many options.

[OrlandoDream]

Wendell Carter is the most pathetic excuse of a player that I have seen here in quite some time. His effort and lack of urgency is embarrassing. 30min and 4reb. Naz reid came in and got 7 in 20min. Completely useless. Idk how Mosley continues to start him and barely play JI or Goga.

Gogo has also been trash and JI is not a full-time center. Mose doesn't really have many options.

Goga played better to start the game then wendell the the whole game. our C situation sucks but Goga would have given more effort. Also why is JI not playing more then 10min!>?!

[thelead]

What are JI's advanced stats compared to last year? I haven't looked into it but I feel like he started terrible but has been better (defensively) as of late. I still do not get why he's still on some sort of minutes restriction when WCJ and Goga have been struggling.

[Rainwater]

Wendell Carter is the most pathetic excuse of a player that I have seen here in quite some time. His effort and lack of urgency is embarrassing. 30min and 4reb. Naz reid came in and got 7 in 20min. Completely useless. Idk how Mosley continues to start him and barely play JI or Goga.

Gogo has also been trash and JI is not a full-time center. Mose doesn't really have many options.

Goga played better to start the game then wendell the the whole game. our C situation sucks but Goga would have given more effort. Also why is JI not playing more then 10min!>?!

Honestly, Gogo didn't do much when he was in the game. I barely remember him playing. Given how poorly all the centers have been, I just don't know how you can judge Mose for whoever he chooses to play.

[Knightro]

All I know is that I've been on him about his efficiency from day 1 and he's finally putting it together and figuring out how to consistently score efficiently. AND he's rebounding the last few games. I'm not expecting good defense out of him if he's doing those other things. Now, what I can't accept is when he trails everyone on defense... but what we've been seeing as of late is a max contract guy. The others need to step the F up.

Paolo was 10/24 shooting with 4 minutes left in the game.

6/8 in the final four minutes with 5 of the 6 makes coming when the Magic were down 3 possessions and Minny was conceding twos to avoid threes.

He was fine. He wasn’t as good as the final box score would indicate.

There was some significant stat padding going on. And ultimately I’m not knocking him, if they’re conceding shots, take them and hope they miss at the FT line isn’t a terrible strategy.

You keep saying this like it was a blowout but you do realize the Magic were only down 2 with less than 4 mins to go. Don’t think giving up was an option at that point.

The game didn’t really feel out of reach until the last min. That is when the stat paddling began if you want to call it that.

His basket with 3:32 to go tied the game and then Wolves immediately went on a 9-0 run that essentially put the game out of reach.

Paolo scored four baskets and made three free throws *after* that 9-0 Wolves run. All four baskets and all three free throws came with the Magic down three possessions.