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What the Orlando Magic are thankful for so far this season
Apr 27, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) celebrate after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter during game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports | Nathan Ray Seebeck/Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
If you were writing the script for the Orlando Magic’s season, it is hard to imagine how things have gone so far would have been on the page.
Yes, the Magic saw Paolo Banchero seemingly take a leap and drop a 50-point game. But the excitement over that individual achievement quickly dissipated. In the next game, he tore his right oblique and will likely be out until around Christmas.
At least, everyone has that Christmas gift to look forward to.
This week though is about Thanksgiving. Everyone will join their Magic family at the Kia Center on Wednesday to see the Magic take on the Chicago Bulls. Then they will hopefully be with family, friends and loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday (the Magic will be off but traveling to New York City for a five-day, three-game stay in the Big Apple).
As the Magic approach Thanksgiving, they are breathing some sighs of relief. The injury to Banchero instead of sinking the season has seemingly unlocked something inside of them. Orlando has won nine of its past 10 games and sits at 12-7, third in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic can still accomplish all of their goals to get home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference. They have done more than survive.
This upcoming five-game road trip to New York City and Philadelphia will be a major test for them as will the homestand beyond it. We will learn a lot about the Magic before the next holiday.
But this week is about Thanksgiving. It is time to go around the table and say what the Magic are thankful for to start this season. And what will feed them heading into the rest of the season.
The best young duo in the league
Everything for the Orlando Magic starts with their two young players and budding stars. They are the buzz of the league. Even in Paolo Banchero’s absence, everyone is excited to see what the Magic become.
Even before Banchero’s injury he seemed like he had made a leap, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the floor. He seemed to put to rest the questions of his inefficiency as he led the Magic early in the season.
Banchero’s injury though opened the door for Franz Wagner to emerge as a star in his own right.
Wagner is averaging 23.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while maintaining his efficiency at 47.4 percent shooting and 35.6 percent from beyond the arc. Since Banchero’s injury, Wagner is averaging 25.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game on 46.5/34.4/82.4 shooting splits.
Banchero may not make the All-Star team this year because he will not have played enough games. But Wagner will make the team. And both of the Magic’s young forwards should be in All-Star games for years to come.
Home Sweet Home
Coach Jamahl Mosley loves to talk as much as he can about the energy his team gets from the home crowd. He is complimentary of the home crowd. Indeed, the Kia Center has been a bundle of energy supporting the Magic all year.
Orlando is simply a different team at home than it is on the road. And it is not just about the perfect 8-0 record entering Wednesday’s game. The Magic are a significantly better team at home.
The Magic have a league-best +16.6 net rating at home this year – a 115.5 offensive rating against a 98.8 defensive rating. The Magic even shoot a respectable 33.0 percent from three at home (still 27th among teams at home, but not abysmally bad like on the road).
Orlando has not lost a home game since March 29, when the team lost a close game to the LA Clippers. The Kia Center has truly become a fortress for this Kingdom on the Rise.
A culture of defense and togetherness
When Jamahl Mosley arrived in Orlando, the franchise was lifeless. The team went through years of rebuilding seeking an identity. They collected talent without vision or togetherness. It was not working.
The seeds of the Magic’s defense were laid in those early years. But more importantly, a culture of togetherness was built in those early years. With careful tending, the right people, some smart draft picks and complete buy-in, that identity is starting to grow into something devastating.
It is most easily seen in the team’s 104.6 defensive rating, third in the league at the moment. It is the second straight year the Magic are ranked in the top five in defensive rating. It is an identity that seemingly goes beyond the team’s freakish inability to shoot.
But it is seen everywhere else too. The Magic are as tied together as any team in the league. And that has endeared them to the fan base. It is the big reason they can push each other so hard.
And it is as much a reason as any that the Magic are where they are with a bright future ahead of them.
Nov 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots the basketball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, Scary Terry has hops. At 30-years-old and with a decade of play under his belt, Terry Rozier can cut like a knife, shake loose defenders, deflect, drive, and kick the ball out to the wing on a layup with the court vision still 20/20. He shoots, too. Tidy jumpers, deep and swooning corner threes, tricky little one-handed layups, fastbreak two-handed deliveries, Rozier runs through them like a personal rolodex.
Perhaps it’s a good reminder, for you as much as me, that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it. For one, despite what we’re led to believe by watching NBA basketball and listening to people talk about it, 30 isn’t old. Besides age, there’s a more important personal factor: whether an athlete keeps up. NBA basketball gets pushed in new directions every season as competitive teams break the mold and not yet competitive teams try to keep up.
Optimization is an unfortunate word in our modern and decidedly capitalist lexicon, but it’s what good athletes do. If there’s a skill to develop, they figure out what it is. Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mid-range this season is a perfect and very successful example. The bigger thing these smaller improvements add up to are teams with a depth of different weapons to pull out against the seemingly unbeatable juggernauts at the top. Occasionally, front offices identify what their unique skillset or style of play can be — think the decidedly big Cleveland Cavaliers, or the micro, play-every-position, Thunder — and build toward it.
For an athlete like Rozier, who many were quick to call a Kyle Lowry 2.0 when he arrived in Miami, the improvisation he’s shown with the Heat was born out of necessity but also an aptitude for reading the room. The Heat are a workaholic organization with a next-man-up mentality they don’t just talk about as an inspirational soundbite, but is twined through the fibre of all that they do.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The point guard position is in good hands. Shaun Powell takes stock of the position and what the future looks like. (NBA)
Opinion The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game format all it wants, but there’s only one fix. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Feel Good What happens with the money collected from fines? How the league turns bad moments into good deeds. (SB Nation)
Injury Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. are expected to return for the Orlando Magic against the Chicago Bulls, bolstering the lineup. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Bulls will take on the Magic at the Amway Center at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest
Nov 26, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) on the floor after a collision with San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Injury Concerns and Player Updates
Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues are another significant concern. With a history of multiple meniscus surgeries, Embiid’s situation remains precarious. His recent absences highlight the risks associated with drafting him early in fantasy leagues. The high failure rate of such surgeries suggests that Embiid’s availability might be limited, making him a risky trade target.
Donovan Clingan’s grade 2 MCL sprain is also noteworthy. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reevaluate him in two weeks, but this type of injury typically requires a longer recovery period. With Clingan sidelined, players like Ayton and Rob Williams are expected to see increased playing time, making Williams a valuable addition to fantasy rosters.
Lauri Markkanen’s Injury Impact
Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury adds another layer of complexity to fantasy basketball strategies. Markkanen, who has been dealing with back and knee issues, was helped off the court after a knee knock. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a severe ACL or MCL tear, it could sideline him for at least a week, if not longer. This development opens up opportunities for players like John Collins to step up and fill the void, potentially increasing their fantasy value.
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