Orlando or Detroit?

[Driguez]

There’s no doubt the Magic and Pistons are the two best up and coming playoff teams in the East. But that said, which team will finish higher in the standings next season?

Suggs
Bane
Banchero
Wagner
Carter Jr

Cunningham
Ivey
Thompson
Harris
Duran

As it stands right now, which team is better going into next season?

So poll? I like Detroit, I'm a fan but Orlando is further ahead. FO got rid of 2 net negatives and added a guy who does a lot of what the team lacks exceptionally well, next season will tell.

[fateis007]

I am taking Franz, Bane, Paolo over anyone not named Cade, so the answer is pretty simple.

[JujitsuFlip]

Suggs played in like 35 games last season. If you look at starting lineups they’re Knicks level. Obviously potential to be better in a few years

Two 4s and two 2s, not quite the Knicks lol

[RookieStar]

Suggs played in like 35 games last season. If you look at starting lineups they’re Knicks level. Obviously potential to be better in a few years

Two 4s and two 2s, not quite the Knicks lol

Curious.. who is this other 4? If you are talking about Franz... even in Team Germany he never played the 4. In Orlando, we never play him at the 4 unless its a late game situation emergency type.

Also... dunno if you call Suggs a 2. We also pegged him as a 1 at best or comboguard at worst.

[JujitsuFlip]

Suggs played in like 35 games last season. If you look at starting lineups they’re Knicks level. Obviously potential to be better in a few years

Two 4s and two 2s, not quite the Knicks lol

Curious.. who is this other 4? If you are talking about Franz... even in Team Germany he never played the 4. In Orlando, we never play him at the 4 unless its a late game situation emergency type.

Also... dunno if you call Suggs a 2. We also pegged him as a 1 at best or comboguard at worst.

Yes, since Suggs at 1 and Franz at 3 has worked so well thus far...

Bane and Suggs are both better served off ball.

Go look at Franz best stretch of basketball in his career after Banchero tore his oblique, it's at 4/PF.

[RookieStar]

Two 4s and two 2s, not quite the Knicks lol

Curious.. who is this other 4? If you are talking about Franz... even in Team Germany he never played the 4. In Orlando, we never play him at the 4 unless its a late game situation emergency type.

Also... dunno if you call Suggs a 2. We also pegged him as a 1 at best or comboguard at worst.

Yes, since Suggs at 1 and Franz at 3 has worked so well thus far...

Bane and Suggs are both better served off ball.

Go look at Franz best stretch of basketball in his career after Banchero tore his oblique, it's at 4/PF.

For the record... last season when Suggs wasnt injured we had a better record with him at 1 and gary harris at 2.

Also.. Franz had a good stat at that stretch because we literally had no one else to score. But look at our record then compared to last season when he was the 3.

[Bologna Smasher]

Magic are the better team right now when healthy. I also think their key pieces are more proven than the Pistons.

I like both Duren and Ivey, but both of them still have a lot of developing to do. I think the Pistons really need a legit second option next to Cade until they start making some real noise. Duren also needs to keep improving on defense to become a legit anchor on that team. Ausar has been good, but he's still a major work in progress. A lot of the pieces are already there, but they need that one big secondary piece.

[JujitsuFlip]

When Orlando has a functional offense, all the numbers will go up. They were 27th last season. If Orlando gets up around 10th, I expect the shooting percentages will go up around 50 pts.

I am sorry but you all need to fire Mosley for this to ever be a reality.

2025: 27th
2024: 22nd
2023: 26th
2022: 29th

At some point we just have to acknowledge this guy has no clue how to coach an NBA offense. Maybe whatever happened with Bynum in CLE killed his confidence but c'mon this guy ever getting a team to top 10 is not within reach.

[TheChaser]

Orlando had a jump start season back in 23-24. League noticed, and even though there were considerable injury issues (and I mean considerable); they were due to take that little step back down to earth reality check that many young teams tend to do. Detroit, imho will take that small step back as well next year. But with normal to better health next season, Orlando should show that (as of today) they are further along in the process than Detroit and will actually compete in the east beginning next season.

[Knightro]

You could be right I'm more worried it's the spacing, as I said before it's not that Bane doesn't help but it's better to have 4 B- shooters than 1 A+ and 3 D+ shooters in terms of building a functional offense and Wagner/Suggs both give me real doubts. I love your size and defensize identity but I just think you basically need at least one of Wagner and Suggs to have a career year from behind the arc if not both.

Suggs does have a .397 3PT% season on his resume and it was only a year ago. So it's not like he's never been capable.

Franz worries me more.

They've both had more bad shooting seasons than good, maybe I'm being too negative

Totally fair.

I just think with Suggs, especially offensively, less is more.

For the first time in his career, he's going to be a clear cut 4th option offensively. That should have him doing *mostly* catch-and-shoots, attacking closeouts and back cuts in the halfcourt and being a floor runner in transition.

I would expect, although there's no guarantee with injuries and all that, his efficiency to jump back up since his role offensively will be much more simple and defined than it has been in past years.

[jkvonny]

No poll??

I say Orlando if healthy , they are more into their progression. Compared to Pistons. Started a couple of years ahead already, more playoff seasons. Further ahead. Good defensive team. And now they added more offense in Bane. Even before Bane the Magic were the better team.
Detroit is just getting started. A bit of a surprise last season. Both of these teams are young.
As of today , Orlando is the pick.

Also, the Magic plays in the weaker division. Southeast Division. Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Washington.
Orlando should win that division again, maybe 50 wins or more.

Detroit is in the stronger division. Central Division: Indiana, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago.
Pacers or Cavs should win that division. Detroit probably finishes around 44 wins.

[PhilBlackson]

Orlando because they have more talent overall.

If Cade had players at Franz, Bane & Suggs level then I'd say DET but that's obv not the case.