Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[drsd]

Orlando is quietly on a 5-2 run over the last seven games.

Didn't you say they will win 60 ?

In my dreams!

(I said 52 wins; but wondered WHAT-IF to get to 60).

With Banchero's injury, 50 would be a big if. Right?

[pepe1991]

Orlando is quietly on a 5-2 run over the last seven games.

Didn't you say they will win 60 ?

In my dreams!

(I said 52 wins; but wondered WHAT-IF to get to 60).

With Banchero's injury, 50 would be a big if. Right?

Last year they had better record without him, so, assuming his injury isn't awful ( 3+ months) it shouldn't matter that much.

Played with schedule a little bit.


x4 vs Nets
x 4 vs Hornets ( already beat them once, 3 to go)
x3 Pacers
x2 Pelicans
x2 Kings
x4 Wizards
x2 Jazz


That's 21 games, win 18 of those.


You can stay below .500 win rate versus everybody else and still win near 50 games

Current record 6-6
20 trash games remaining
70 games to play - 20 from trash (assuming going 18-2)
= 50 serious games = .46 win rate = 23 wins ( 23-27 record)

Total win count = 6+18+23 = 47 wins
Total loss count = 2+27+6 = 35 losses

That's pretty much exactly how Magic won 47 games in 2023-24.

Matter of fact that is how Knicks won 51 games last year. Godawful 15-23 vs winning teams, but mastered 36-8 vs trash = 51 wins. Problem? Well. in playoffs you actually have to beat somebody good for once.

[zaymon]

I wonder what will be our starting 5 without Banchero.

We looked promising with Bane/Suggs/Black trio. Thats propably one solution, but than we would have to make weird rotations to match Tyus with some good defender.
Second idea is TDS, but than we lose someone with a little more height who can fill that Franz role from the bench.
We can start JI but how many minutes is he capable playing.
We can start Jett but than our defense suffers the most.
For me the most interesting and bold idea is starting Penda. It would be similar to starting Black during our run two years ago. I dont know if he his ready but if he can defend, move the ball and not making stupid decisions....

[Magic_Johnny12]

I wonder what will be our starting 5 without Banchero.

We looked promising with Bane/Suggs/Black trio. Thats propably one solution, but than we would have to make weird rotations to match Tyus with some good defender.
Second idea is TDS, but than we lose someone with a little more height who can fill that Franz role from the bench.
We can start JI but how many minutes is he capable playing.
We can start Jett but than our defense suffers the most.
For me the most interesting and bold idea is starting Penda. It would be similar to starting Black during our run two years ago. I dont know if he his ready but if he can defend, move the ball and not making stupid decisions....

I think out of seniority they start JI, but Tristian is first off the bench ultimately playing the more minutes.

[Knightro]

I would be interested in starting Penda.

[JBSouthpaw]

I would be interested in starting Penda.

Mosley likes to keep that 2nd unit together, so it wouldn't surprise me.

with JI, Penda, TDS AND Franz able to guard the 4, Coach can mix and match quite a bit. Maybe more AB at the 3 and we see some Jase? Howard may need to step up.

[eyriq]

I would be interested in starting Penda.

Mosley likes to keep that 2nd unit together, so it wouldn't surprise me.

with JI, Penda, TDS AND Franz able to guard the 4, Coach can mix and match quite a bit. Maybe more AB at the 3 and we see some Jase? Howard may need to step up.

It would fit their M.O. from previous seasons

[thelead]

Well, if Paolo misses a few weeks, and then takes some time to get back to game shape, that all-nba bonus is not going to happen.

Always gotta look at the positives. It sucks for Paolo but it'll help the team a bit.

[Ducklett]

How long is Paolo going to be out? Did they announce it?

[KillMonger]

he could be out anywhere from days to months depending on the severity.....but who's playing in his place? I'm thinking penda might be the way to go....because first thought was TDS but i don't really like his PF minutes, he just gets bodied out there at times vs bigger guys....Penda a legit 240

[eyriq]

A nice little heuristic to understand if our team is on point is if we have 15 assists by halftime. It's a dub if we do.

[RookieStar]

You guya forget how coach Mos operates? Hed rather start a 3rd stringer rather than promote a bench guy to starter.

Remember WCJ injury? Goga started so MoeW still was in te bench. Etc etc

[RookieStar]

How long is Paolo going to be out? Did they announce it?

RealGM Doc says anywhere from 1-8 weeks. Based on our history, you gotta take the extreme time.

[RookieStar]

Just out of curiosity, what do you think will happen IF and this is a big IF... we go on a winning streak without Paolo and we unlock Franz and Bane while doing so?

By that I mean Franz gonna average 30-5-5 and Bane can finally make 5 3pters a game at least.

[Kent]

Just out of curiosity, what do you think will happen IF and this is a big IF... we go on a winning streak without Paolo and we unlock Franz and Bane while doing so?

By that I mean Franz gonna average 30-5-5 and Bane can finally make 5 3pters a game at least.

Stay the course.

Tatum and Brown figured it out and won a championship.

Having a good problem isn't a problem.

[Knightro]

I would be surprised if Paolo misses more than a couple of weeks.

If it was a severe strain, the MRI would have revealed that and they would have put a more firm timeline of minimum time missed on it.

[fendilim]

he could be out anywhere from days to months depending on the severity.....but who's playing in his place? I'm thinking penda might be the way to go....because first thought was TDS but i don't really like his PF minutes, he just gets bodied out there at times vs bigger guys....Penda a legit 240

The way Mos has ran his rotations in the past, he doesn't elevate someone from the 2nd unit, because he prefers to keep his 2nd unit rotations intact.

So, yes, it is possible that we play Penda, but I think this more likely goes to JI. Cause JI wasn't even part of the regular rotation of the 2nd unit anyway.

[RookieStar]

Is it strange that we arent PANAC time even with the news that Paolo might be out for a week or 2? Aka 3-5 games? Lol

Either we matured or we are confident

[KillMonger]

he could be out anywhere from days to months depending on the severity.....but who's playing in his place? I'm thinking penda might be the way to go....because first thought was TDS but i don't really like his PF minutes, he just gets bodied out there at times vs bigger guys....Penda a legit 240

The way Mos has ran his rotations in the past, he doesn't elevate someone from the 2nd unit, because he prefers to keep his 2nd unit rotations intact.

So, yes, it is possible that we play Penda, but I think this more likely goes to JI. Cause JI wasn't even part of the regular rotation of the 2nd unit anyway.

JI that can only play in 5 minute spurts? i hope not

[KillMonger]

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