2025-2026 Regular Season Game 2: Atlanta Hawks (0-1) at Orlando Magic (1-0) - 7pm ET

[CocoaFan]

Some observations. Paolo looked like he was dragging that leg with the sleeve on around all night. He was awful. I hope he isn't injured. Mosely leaves Franz and maybe Paolo in for too long of stretches. You could tell Franz was gassed in the 3rd quarter tonight and in the 2nd half of the first game too. We've got a deeper bench this year he needs to use it. Why was Tyus Jones in so long when Atlanta was coming back. AB would have done a much better job on Young. What happened to our fast paced offense. Are we giving it up after 1 game. Team generally looks a bit out of shape. What were they doing in training camp? Is Moseley counting on the players to condition themselves? We could very easily be 0-2 without the heroics in game 1. If we do continue the fast paced game it's definitely going to benefit Franz way more than Paolo and Franz should take a big leap and Paolo's iso game will suffer. Just some random thoughts. It's going to take these guys some time to gel. These sky is falling comments after 1 bad game are hilarious.

[SOUL]

I do think Mose should extend the lineup to 11 though. I was under the impression with our faster pace, more guys would be in and out.

[thelead]

Paolo at 44.3 TS% to start the season. We can't keep doing this... Franz is at 64.9 TS%.

[Knightro]

I do think Mose should extend the lineup to 11 though. I was under the impression with our faster pace, more guys would be in and out.

I mean really they're only playing 9, not even 10.

Isaac and Jett both got in the game, but as far as the actual rotation, it's more of a 9 man rotation with Franz staggering with the backups.

[bigdogdylan5]

This was flat out one of the most frustrating basketball game I have been to in a while. We can all bitch about Black, WCJ, and Tyus and your right on some level but this was an inexcusable Paolo game. He was pouty his body language was off and he gave limited effort. That can’t happen. We just gave him this massive contract and he needs to be the leader of this team. He still has a lot of maturing to do and I really hope he can pull himself out of it because this was a big red flag for him being the player we all hope he becomes

[Husky1]

AB's lack of growth on offense is concerning.

He just doesn't have confident (or highly functional if we're being candid) ball handling and that just really makes anything he wants to do so much more difficult.

The concerning part of AB is that he is almost exactly the same player today that he was his entire rookie year. He is just not a good fit on this team.

Bingos! ( I actually think his handle has gotten worse )

[Optimus_Steel]

As far as the deep fadeaway three with 10 seconds left, I have to imagine Paolo thought the failed Bane action had burned up almost the entire possession and that there was a lot less/almost no time on the clock.

Either way, a troubling lack of awareness for guy this far into his career.

An absolute brain fart and terrible play but Durant called a timeout earlier this week with no timeout. It happens.

[OrlandoDream]

Paolo at 44.3 TS% to start the season. We can't keep doing this... Franz is at 64.9 TS%.

He does this almost every year. He will have his breakout game in the next 2-3 and we will all be back to singing MVP and superstar songs.

[FFBlitzace]

I think the reason I'm so disappointed is precisely because of the fact that it was free throws and turnovers. We have been killing ourselves in every "shoot yourself in the foot" category for years and it doesn't look like that's going to be any different any time soon. We may play faster and shoot 3s better and all that, but if we suck at the line and turn it over a ton, we're just not going to be all that good. You can't sabotage yourself every night like we have done for years and expect to be elite.

[Knightro]

ESPN Net Points for the game

TDS +5.1
Suggs +2.4
Franz +1.5
Goga +0.9
Jett +0.5

Black -0.6
Carter -2.3
Bane -2.7
Jones -3.1
Paolo -6.0 (!!!)

[BCS]

Paolo at 44.3 TS% to start the season. We can't keep doing this... Franz is at 64.9 TS%.

He does this almost every year. He will have his breakout game in the next 2-3 and we will all be back to singing MVP and superstar songs.

Yup, I remember last year, he had, if I recall correctly, his worst game ever or whatever and next game he drops 50 vs Indy. Things can change quick.

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[TheChaser]

I stand corrected. Ouch, ugly loss


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[thelead]

Paolo at 44.3 TS% to start the season. We can't keep doing this... Franz is at 64.9 TS%.

He does this almost every year. He will have his breakout game in the next 2-3 and we will all be back to singing MVP and superstar songs.

He will undoubtedly snap out of it sooner rather than later but his normal efficiency is not going to cut it. I don’t think some of you understand the leap in efficiency Paolo needs to make to reach MVP/lead your team to a championship levels. He’s not even close, even when he is playing at an all-star level.

[thelead]

ESPN Net Points for the game

TDS +5.1
Suggs +2.4
Franz +1.5
Goga +0.9
Jett +0.5

Black -0.6
Carter -2.3
Bane -2.7
Jones -3.1
Paolo -6.0 (!!!)

You would think Paolo was the guy tired from playing all summer or recovering from a major injury…

[eyriq]

ESPN Net Points for the game

TDS +5.1
Suggs +2.4
Franz +1.5
Goga +0.9
Jett +0.5

Black -0.6
Carter -2.3
Bane -2.7
Jones -3.1
Paolo -6.0 (!!!)

Tells the story.

[George3265]

Was at the game. Paolo may have had a bum foot. Don't know if he landed wrong on it or someone stepped on it. But i remember when it happened.....he ran to mid court after Wendell got fouled on a play and he tied his left sneaker and started some ankle stretches.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I cant remember the last time I was this mad after a loss. Cant stop thinking about Paolos 3 and countless turnovers.

[pepe1991]

3 major factors in loss:
turnovers. Pace is higher but players still need to take care of a ball. 21 TOs on 21 assists is just ugly
Free throws. Can't miss so many.
Your top 2 player can't play like complete a**

Thing is, nobody on Hawks even played that well. You lost to a team that shot 3-19 for 3 among starters ...

But no much time to cry, they play again within 18 hours.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Mosley is still a **** pussy when it comes to challenges!! Challenge a **** play!!

[GelbeWand09]

Paolo at 44.3 TS% to start the season. We can't keep doing this... Franz is at 64.9 TS%.

He does this almost every year. He will have his breakout game in the next 2-3 and we will all be back to singing MVP and superstar songs.

He does this every year and ends the year with below average efficiency. It's not like he got bad starts and ends up with 60% TS at the end of the year.
I ve never sang superstar songs because he isn't even a positive impact in his whole career so far but gonna get maxed anyway.
He has to step up biiiiiiiiig time. One good game, or week or month are not enough. He finally, needs to put a 60%TS season together because that's the number he needs to have to be a impactful high usage one way player. So far he is a glorified less efficient Randle who's shortcomings are covered by a great defense, Franz 2 way play and 2 years a go and this season by a good bench.
I just fear that's what he is. A guy who's bread and butter are drives but who can't finish them because of his bad touch at the rim and compared to other great tall drivers either lack of skill/feel Doncic, Lebron or lack of real elite athletism like Giannis, Zion or LeBron.
Thats no overreaction, that's his game since he came in the leaque and at Duke. Sure he probably gonna score 30 the next 2 games but in the end that's not enough for what we gonna pay him soon when every 3rd of his games are 6 for 18 ones. Unlike Cade or Trae in some seasons he can't cover his non elite eff. With high level playmaking to still carry are good offense despite his shortcoming. He needs to be highly efficient to have positive impact.