Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[jezzerinho]

Good news because the high pace transition plan didn't work.

[jezzerinho]

I really can’t stress how much I think we will go up a level when Mo gets back. Like our starters are great we just are missing 10 points a game off the bench. I think it will be so much easier for Black and Tyus when a team really has to respect the roll man.

Totally agree. It'll transform the bench and will reduce the minutes for the 2 bigs struggling to give us offense. Plus Mo is just such a sparkplug. He gets everyone going. Franz will be pumped to have him back.

But most of all, because Mo is playing for his life now. We may not be able to keep him but he's going to be putting it all out on the court for the best possible next deal.

[eyriq]

Improvement!!!

[Blue_and_Whte]

My kid is now yelling “TRISTAN” during our shooting drills.

[KillMonger]

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[Orlando Dawg]

When was the last time JI got a block?
Opponents are now scoring on him point blank in his face like they have him figured out.

[Skybox]

When was the last time JI got a block?
Opponents are now scoring on him point blank in his face like they have him figured out.

That Sengun shot was just terrible. How did he end up pinned under the basket with Sengun catching the ball 5' from the rim, instead of denying the pass? There was a good play drawn up by Udoka with Isaac getting switched off of KD, but there's no excuse for his defensive position with less than 2 freaking seconds. No one in the league has the advantage defending a big skilled guy from that position.

Isaac at his best was a war machine, but he's a shell of that now-that play was just bad individual defensive positioning.

I've been hanging on to his role as a defensive X-factor, even in limited minutes...I'm about done with that.

[Fortune Teller]

It doesn’t seem like he even jumps anymore, whether that’s mental or physical. He never fully came back from missing 2+ years and they’ve had so many chances to move off him and just wouldn’t.

[fendilim]

[bigdogdylan5]

Good news because the high pace transition plan didn't work.

I feel like the high pace didn’t work thing is a little simplistic. It does work right now when deployed strategically. I think early on with new players we were deploying it a little too much but it’s not a bad idea. If we get a stop or a turnover we need to push the pace and try and attack while defense is on its heels. In the same vain I think the idea of pace in half court is just being faster in running our sets. Last two years we were way too plotting but if your faster more deliberate in your play movement that can help you against a set defense. I think what everyone realizes is it was a little too much too fast leading to a lot of turnovers and defensive breakdowns. They need to continue to deploy faster pace but implementing it gradually.

[GelbeWand09]

OK, this pic is amost avatar worthy

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[jezzerinho]

OK, this pic is amost avatar worthy

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He's playing great and should only get better really.

What makes me laugh though about him is how damn SERIOUS the kid is. Jeez, it's OK to smile once in a while Tristan - you're making millions playing a game of putting a rubber ball in a metal hoop.

He's got the most ridiculous "game face" in basketball. In fact, I think I'm nicknaming him Gameface!

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I really can’t stress how much I think we will go up a level when Mo gets back. Like our starters are great we just are missing 10 points a game off the bench. I think it will be so much easier for Black and Tyus when a team really has to respect the roll man.

Maybe after 10/15 games when he comes back. He still need to get his conditioning back and acclimated to the team.

[tooler]

I haven't posted much this season because I tuned into an early game and thought the team looked like trash, so I figured I'd ignore them for a while. No use panicking.

Some high level thoughts from afar:

I thought it was interesting that Steve Kerr said he thinks the increased pace of the NBA is leading to more injuries, right around when the team decided to dial it back. I like the emphasis on transition points, but I don't think it's a bad thing to play at a slower overall pace. Our players are injury-prone as it is.

The discussion surrounding Paolo and Franz reminds me of watching Boston Celtics fans fight about Tatum and Brown non-stop... the same season they won the championship. No team or player is going to be perfect. I understand that everyone will keep yapping about it, so I'll just tune it out.

I do think the stupidest line of thinking on the board is the idea that we trade Paolo. The NBA isn't a fantasy land. We'll never get back equal value for him. The moment he is traded, this team's championship window has closed and the next rebuild should begin. Whether you think he's a good player or not, we have a much better chance letting it play out with this roster to see what happens. I'm not saying Paolo and Franz will suddenly become 3-point snipers. But at minimum you need to try a different coach. There's too much talent on the roster to give up.

Another thing I can't get engaged on is the endless discussion about Anthony Black. I just don't care that much about him. If he finds a 3-point shot, then he'll be a useful role player. If not, he should be shipped out. My heart won't be broken.

I do think it's unfortunate about Jonathan Isaac. He was an X factor a couple seasons ago in a contract year. Oh well!

The only other interesting topic this season is Franz's exhaustion level and how he plays through the nose injury or whatever else is going on. Do we still wonder whether all the Euro play the last few seasons has affected his stamina, or is that not a thing?

[GelbeWand09]

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[bigdogdylan5]

Ugh the magic talk between Simmons and Lowe on their league pass ranking podcast was so damn frustrating just spare yourself the annoyance. Makes you realize these media people and their egos are so fragile. They will turn on you faster than anything if they feel you make them look wrong even for a couple games lol.

[GelbeWand09]

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[VFX]

Just to stop mucking up game threads with the same talking points that will inevitably annoy people…

-Trading Paolo at this juncture is dumb. Not happening.

-That doesn’t mean the pairing is perfect. It’s not.

-The offense in the last 5 games looks the best it’s looked all season so far with this in mind.

- AB and TDS development into more reliable scorers sets this team apart further than the addition of Bane this season. Not sure this happens if Paolo is never injured.

-Suggs looks like more of a point guard in the last 5 games than he ever has. He’s making better reads and getting a better shot rhythm.

- Folding Paolo back into the offense will be very informative whether people will like the results or not is another story.

[eyriq]

Just to stop mucking up game threads with the same talking points that will inevitably annoy people…

-Trading Paolo at this juncture is dumb. Not happening.

-That doesn’t mean the pairing is perfect. It’s not.

-The offense in the last 5 games looks the best it’s looked all season so far with this in mind.

- AB and TDS development into more reliable scorers sets this team apart further than the addition of Bane this season. Not sure this happens if Paolo is never injured.

-Suggs looks like more of a point guard in the last 5 games than he ever has. He’s making better reads and getting a better shot rhythm.

- Folding Paolo back into the offense will be very informative whether people will like the results or not is another story.

Paolo better not come back with a return of the King mindset like he did last year where he then proceeded to suck it up weeks in a row.

[BadMofoPimp]

Magic will have to find a way to unload Slim before next season just to reach $200m on the cap.