NBA Matchups: October 25

BKN @ ORL | PHI @ TOR | CHA @ ATL | DET @ CLE | IND @ NYK | MEM @ HOU | CHI @ MIL | GSW @ UTA | PHX @ LAL | NOP @ POR

Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic

Team Totals:

Injury Report: Jonathan Isaac (Q, hip)

Nets projected starters: Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Fernandez quotes: Said he liked how they were physical and fouled 32 times, said the Hawks were pushing them out of the way, said they still have to watch it with bad fouls, said he liked how Clax played and it was unfortunate he couldn’t play more, said Thomas worked on both sides of the floor and he had to “wrestle” with Dyson.

Mosley quotes: Said the guys really stuck to the game plan against the Heat, said they are great when they attack the basket and that’ll get to open shots, said their depth was huge and Black stepped in for the Suggs fouls, said their best players have been poised.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Nets will be giving up the goods with how much they foul, how much they’ll turn the ball over, and how fast they play. The Hawks had a whopping 33 transition possessions to rank second in the league (Warriors), and the talk has been consistent from Fernandez that they want to play this way. Their interior defense should get better as Claxton’s minutes come up, but this is just an unfair fight. The Magic really leaned into the 3-point volume with 49 3PAs, which is more than they took in any game last season. They had 39 C&S shots (all 3s!!) as it was a massive drive-and-kick game, and the Magic will get whatever they want. On the other side, this Magic defense is F’n legit with a ton of ball pressure and ability to take away open looks. This one could be over quick.

*Cam Thomas lit up a really tough matchup in Dyson Daniels with 36 points on Wednesday, and he’ll get another really tough one, as he likely runs into Jalen Suggs and KCP. The Magic have routinely not doubled on the ball too much to give on-ball scorers a chance to produce (Herro did have it going). Thomas was ultra-aggressive with his downhill game with 18 drives, and he was pretty heavily used in PNR even with the Nets going small without him. He’s really the only Net I’d be into and nobody is going to play him for blowout risk.

*I’m basically out on the rest. Ben Simmons did actually look quite good on Wednesday and had 16 potential assists. I would expect Nic Claxton to have a cap on him, so he’s not in play yet.

*Whew, Paolo Banchero’s perimeter game was on fire against the Heat with 12 points on jumpers, as he led the team in touch time (5.2 minutes). One big difference was his seven transition possessions to almost double his 3.7 per game last year. That was against an awesome transition D, and now he gets what should be one of the worst. Paolo’s MIP case may improve here.

*Franz Wagner was pushed down a bit on Wednesday, which isn’t a surprise against a Miami defense that is suited to slow his play style down. Franz only had two on-ball opportunities in the opener, and I’d have some mild concern that’s sticky. Still, this BKN rim defense should be quite bad as Clax works his way back, and he’ll be running all over these guys. I’d expect a really nice game from Franz.

*Jalen Suggs had some foul trouble to ruin his debut, but there was consistent buzz that he was going to be a bigger part of the offense. I don’t love his scoring upside, but I would be on the lookout for some lower dime lines.

Great matchups: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner

Good matchups: Cam Thomas, the rest of the Magic

Bad matchups: The rest of the Nets

Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors (front end)