2024-2025 Regular Season Game 74: Dallas Mavericks (35-38) at Orlando Magic (35-38) - 7pm

[drsd]

Boxscore thoughts:

Orlando lost the FG% battle and lost the game.

5-30 from three (16.7%). There is no other stat in this game to discuss.

0 points from KCP
0 points from Caleb
0 points from Gary
0 points from Jonathan
2 points from Tristan
3 points from Goga

I mean......to say the least, this isn't enough production especially considering most if not all of these guys are in the rotation....

Caldwell-Pope on 33 minutes, 0-4
Houstan on 15 minutes, 0-1
Harris o 12 minutes, no FGAs
Isaac on 6 minutes, 0-1
da Silva on 6 minutes, 0-4

That is 0 made FGs on 10 attempts in 72 cumulative minutes.
...
Bitadze was all world to the above by going 1-2 on 18 minutes.

[cedric76]

This one is on Moses again:-(

[jezzerinho]

Orlando's "offense" was a disgrace. Just 2 guys trying Iso-ball while a bunch of other players stood around. No player movement, no ball movement, no disguise, little or poor screening, no pick&roll/2-man game. The outside shooting was atrocious? Well do something else with your roster then. Use them differently. But don't have them stand and watch 1 or 2 guys iso it to death.

Mosely needs to take ownership of this offensive mess and do something about it.

[drsd]

The 5-30 turdball got me to re-reflect on the horrible distance shooting.

The Magic now seems certain to finish shooting better than 30.5% from three, so here is the tracker on this teams position in horrible distance shooting.

The 2012-13 Minnesota Timberwolves shot 30.5% from three

This 2024-25 Orlando Magic is currently at 31.2% from three
Orlando is tied with the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers shot 31.2% from three

Orlando thus seems to "be the worst since BLANK" (blank to fill in either 2012-13 or 2013-14).
So: It is nearly certain now that this is the worst three-point shooting team over the last 12 or 13 years, depending on how many 33% "outbursts" bs sub-20% turdball games over the last 8. But not a top-3 worst team that was once being tracked.

This has Orlando likely worse than:
The 2015-16 Lakers shot 31.7% from three
The 2014-15 Charlotte Hornets shot 31.8% from three

[Rainwater]

This is shaping up to be one of those classic litmus test games for this fan base about Paolo.

Shooting great. Efficiency is really good.

But he has 6 turnovers through 3 quarters and is playing awful defense.

But because no one else is shooting it particularly well, I suspect he’ll get a pass since he’s the only one scoring.

It’s an interesting dynamic anyway.

I just don't know how Paolo is being blamed for everything.

His defense wasn't bad at all today. Had to rewatch the game just to make sure. Typically, there was something glaring but there was nothing today.

He wasn't losing his man like he typically does and wasn't getting blown by.

The Mavs only scored 101 points today, and Paolo had the 3rd best defensive rating (again a stat I hate) for guys playing over 20 mins.

People complained about Paolo's TS%. Since that has improved, the goal post has seemed to changed to something else.

In a game were the Mavs struggled to score, the magic only hit 5/30 from 3, magic players went scoreless including a starter, the second best struggled for the most part; I just don't see now Paolo (or his defense) is the problem when he went 35, 10, 4 on good efficiency.

[drsd]

we allowed 101 pts in 2025... and people are talking about Paolo's defense...

just wow...

We shot 16.7% from 3 on 30 attempts. That's where the loss came from. Hit 5 more (of those WIDE open 3's) and we score 15 more points and win... while still shooting poorly (33.3%) compared to league average.

This is the narrative.

Dallas shot only 47%, lost the rebound-differential battle (Orlando +4) but won the TO differential battle (Orlando +2), which sums to Orlando holding the Mavs to two less positions.

That resulted in Orlando holding Dallas to less FGAs and less FTAs than the Magic took.
Orlando made 3 less FGs off-set by making 3 more FTs.
The Magic did what was required defensively.

Dallas made 6 more three pointers on 8 less 3PAs, than the Magic. That is the game.

If one wants to consider defense, the question for Orlando is "why wasn't the perimeter defense better?"
Well for one, Orlando was focused on interior defense and did quite well there. For two, the Mavs starters also sucked shooting threes.
Indeed the Magic held the Mavs to a low 3PA line of only 22.

Offensively Dallas won becasue Max Christie and Jaden Hardy combined for 7-9 from distance.
How's that on Banchero?
(the rest of the Mavs was 4-13 = 30.8% fro three).

[KillMonger]

This is shaping up to be one of those classic litmus test games for this fan base about Paolo.

Shooting great. Efficiency is really good.

But he has 6 turnovers through 3 quarters and is playing awful defense.

But because no one else is shooting it particularly well, I suspect he’ll get a pass since he’s the only one scoring.

It’s an interesting dynamic anyway.

I just don't know how Paolo is being blamed for everything.

His defense wasn't bad at all today. Had to rewatch the game just to make sure. Typically, there was something glaring but there was nothing today.

He wasn't losing his man like he typically does and wasn't getting blown by.

The Mavs only scored 101 points today, and Paolo had the 3rd best defensive rating (again a stat I hate) for guys playing over 20 mins.

People complained about Paolo's TS%. Since that has improved, the goal post has seemed to move.

In a game were the Mavs struggled to score, the magic only hit 5/30 from 3, magic players went scoreless including a starter, the second best struggled for the most part; I just don't see now Paolo (or his defense) is the problem when he went 35, 10, 4 on good efficiency.

yeah, this is not the game to call out paolo's defense, he was fine tonight....i guess they had to meet a quota or something, got to find something negative to say about him

[drsd]

As long as our offense will be two players shoot 50% of team shots, best we can look is looking like some variation of Suns with KD & Booker.

That simply isn't how basketball should be played. In every game where both of them are not hot, you are in great danger of losing.

Supporting cast should be better but they hardly shoot 4 shots a game, they are simply out of rhythtm.

During the 3-game winning streak, by the eye-test, the Magic was running more PnRs, running more fast-breaks, and getting efficient scoring from bench players.

To quote Steele: Is this anything?

[drsd]

I just don't know how Paolo is being blamed for everything.

Banchero is now on five straight 30+ point games.
and fifteen straight 20 point games (with two 40s in this run).

16 games ago, he went for 19 points, in a blowout win, which is why the 20 pointer streak isn't much longer.

[pepe1991]

As long as our offense will be two players shoot 50% of team shots, best we can look is looking like some variation of Suns with KD & Booker.

That simply isn't how basketball should be played. In every game where both of them are not hot, you are in great danger of losing.

Supporting cast should be better but they hardly shoot 4 shots a game, they are simply out of rhythtm.

During the 3-game winning streak, by the eye-test, the Magic was running more PnRs, running more fast-breaks, and getting efficient scoring from bench players.

To quote Steele: Is this anything?

Who defends you matters.
3 wins streak vs:

Wizards- just allowed 162 points -top 5 most points allowed in nba history (without OT) and Wizards worst loss in franchise history. They are THAT bad.

Lakers- no PF/C in sight.

Hornets - team that lost: 35 to Clippers, 32 to Hawks, 35 to OKC, 17 to Heat ( and somehow beat Knicks )


Dallas team is crippled ( no PF, C backup C available) but they have actual defensive principles, where other 3 previous teams have no clue what they are doing. Lakers players understand concept of defense, but don't have players to make it work. I mean, their best individual defender is 40 and he hasn't been good on defense for 5 years at least.

[Bensational]

KCP playing 33 minutes and scoring 0, going 0-3 from 3. Harris playing 12 minutes and scoring 0 (didn’t even take a shot).

That’s basically one whole position giving you zero points all game long. Can’t win games like that. Need more from our veterans.

[drsd]

KCP playing 33 minutes and scoring 0, going 0-3 from 3. Harris playing 12 minutes and scoring 0 (didn’t even take a shot).

That’s basically one whole position giving you zero points all game long. Can’t win games like that. Need more from our veterans.

It is so frustrating! The friggen job discussion is right there: Shooting guard.

[pepe1991]

KCP playing 33 minutes and scoring 0, going 0-3 from 3. Harris playing 12 minutes and scoring 0 (didn’t even take a shot).

That’s basically one whole position giving you zero points all game long. Can’t win games like that. Need more from our veterans.

They bring championship experience that doesn't show in box score

[basketballRob]

Stealth tank. If Sacramento beats us, then we'll be in 11th in the tank race. Chicago, Dallas, and Sacramento will be ahead of us.

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[basketballRob]

The Heat has 5 games left against the bottom 5 teams. Chicago has 4 games against the bottom 6. Orlando has 1 game against the bottom 6.

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[ORLMagicGirl15]

As long as our offense will be two players shoot 50% of team shots, best we can look is looking like some variation of Suns with KD & Booker.

That simply isn't how basketball should be played. In every game where both of them are not hot, you are in great danger of losing.

Supporting cast should be better but they hardly shoot 4 shots a game, they are simply out of rhythtm.

During the 3-game winning streak, by the eye-test, the Magic was running more PnRs, running more fast-breaks, and getting efficient scoring from bench players.

To quote Steele: Is this anything?

Who defends you matters.
3 wins streak vs:

Wizards- just allowed 162 points -top 5 most points allowed in nba history (without OT) and Wizards worst loss in franchise history. They are THAT bad.

Lakers- no PF/C in sight.

Hornets - team that lost: 35 to Clippers, 32 to Hawks, 35 to OKC, 17 to Heat ( and somehow beat Knicks )


Dallas team is crippled ( no PF, C backup C available) but they have actual defensive principles, where other 3 previous teams have no clue what they are doing. Lakers players understand concept of defense, but don't have players to make it work. I mean, their best individual defender is 40 and he hasn't been good on defense for 5 years at least.

That means nothing. We lost to the Trailblazers, Jazz, and Toronto and they had no defensive identity. Each game lost was due to shooting.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

The Heat has 5 games left against the bottom 5 teams. Chicago has 4 games against the bottom 6. Orlando has 1 game against the bottom 6.

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If we fail to make the playoffs, then maybe Weltman can finally understand that shooters are worth having on this team. I don’t know what will open this guy’s eyes to do something in the off seasons, but it seems like it has to be drastic so he doesn’t sit on his hands and make the claim that “injuries did us in”.

I get it, this was a weird season. The injury to Paolo and Franz, the season ending injuries to Jalen and Mo, the constant lineup changes, people going in and out with little Knick knack injuries and so on. But that meant a lot of our guys got opportunities that they were not expecting and hardly any of them stepped up when they had the spotlight. To have this many inconsistent players broke this team.

We know two things for sure, Paolo and Franz, as long as they are not injured, they are going to do whatever they can to show up. But for everyone else, it’s a crap shoot. Will KCP make 2 3s? Will Gary actually score? Are we getting good or bad AB? What is Cole doing? Will Goga get minutes? Why is WCJ pump faking for the 4th time when guarding by no one? Will TDS have a good offensive night? Will JI play and if he plays will it be over 10 minutes as our highest paid player? Will it be Caleb or Jett? Every single game is “choose your own adventure”.

[basketballRob]

The Heat has 5 games left against the bottom 5 teams. Chicago has 4 games against the bottom 6. Orlando has 1 game against the bottom 6.

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If we fail to make the playoffs, then maybe Weltman can finally understand that shooters are worth having on this team. I don’t know what will open this guys eyes to do something in the off seasons, but it seems like it has to be drastic so he doesn’t sit in his hand and make the claim that “injuries did us in”.

I get it, this was a weird season. The injury to Paolo and Franz, the season ending injuries to Jalen and Mo, the constant lineup changes, people going in and out with little Knick knack injuries and so on. But that meant a lot of our guys got opportunities that they were not expecting and hardly any of them stepped up when they had the spotlight. To have this many inconsistent players broke this team.

Weltman probably throws Mosely under the bus.

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[meatwad4343]

I just don't know how Paolo is being blamed for everything.

Banchero is now on five straight 30+ point games.
and fifteen straight 20 point games (with two 40s in this run).

16 games ago, he went for 19 points, in a blowout win, which is why the 20 pointer streak isn't much longer.

I don't get it either, I feel like it's more on the guy we paid 25m a year to putting up zeros on the stat sheet and Gary Harris getting paid to do cardio and not having a point guard. Paolo is the least of this teams problems.

[Skybox]

KCP playing 33 minutes and scoring 0, going 0-3 from 3. Harris playing 12 minutes and scoring 0 (didn’t even take a shot).

That’s basically one whole position giving you zero points all game long. Can’t win games like that. Need more from our veterans.

That’s $ 30m between them…the minutes of both should be replaced by Suggs (who plays the same way- but better getting $35m)

…it’s possible that ORL might be unbalanced