Philip Rossman-Reich here, the host of the daily Locked On Magic podcast, with your daily Locked On Magic newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Magic and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Orlando Magic in the driver’s seat for NBA Cup glory
Nov 12, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic Jamahl Mosley against the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel/Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
In the NBA Cup’s second year, it is still a novelty. It is still something that everyone is trying to figure out.
Is this thing important? Do these games bring added intensity and added stakes? Are they special beyond the special court designs and different graphics on the broadcast?
It takes time, of course, to build a tradition. It was a novelty last year when the Los Angeles Lakers won the first trophy. There was a lot of ridicule for them putting up a banner to celebrate this trophy.
It is not the big golden trophy at the end of the year. No one will ever pretend it is. But it is a different kind of competition. And give some of the most competitive players in the world a chance to win something – and a little extra money – and they will go for it.
The real purpose of the NBA Cup though should be to promote up-and-coming teams. Like the mid-card belts in wrestling – the Intercontinental Championship, for instance – it is a stepping stone to the big trophy. Would the Indiana Pacers have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals without their trip to the NBA Cup Finals? Would Tyrese Haliburton have made All-NBA without that spotlight?
Maybe the NBA Cup means very little and it is just a small distraction on the way to the Playoffs. But it sure is fun when you have a chance to win the thing, right?
The Orlando Magic certainly saw it as a stepping stone last year. The win over the Boston Celtics a year ago on Black Friday that closed their group play at 3-1 with a 30-point cushion to win the group was a sign of their potential that season. That fact – and the 20-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets in the opener that cost the Magic the chance to advance still rings in their ears.
The Magic have taken that lesson to heart this year. They came out and dominated the Charlotte Hornets by 25 points in their opening game. They won by 12 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
As the Magic return to NBA Cup play for the final two days of group play Friday at the Brooklyn Nets – they close Tuesday at the New York Knicks on a game returned to TNT – they are in the driver’s seat. They are unbeaten and have the Eastern Conference-best +37 point differential.
The Magic likely would claim the top seed in the Eastern Conference with two more wins. They likely would earn a home quarterfinal game with a win over the Knicks on Tuesday. They likely advance with even a close loss in one of the games remaining in group play.
Orlando has bigger ambitions than winning the NBA Cup. They want to compete for the big trophy in June more than the little one in December. With Orlando’s offense, the team’s championship window is maybe not open yet.
But the Magic can serve notice to the rest of the league of their intentions and potential. They can take that stepping stone.
That is why the NBA Cup remains so vital to a young team why the Magic. And why winning and advancing in these games matters so much to this team. This is a chance to win some hardware and provide further proof their time is coming.
Nov 27, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a call against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel/Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards went off on Wednesday night, and it wasn’t in the game.
The Timberwolves star had a lot of frustration to share after Minnesota lost to the Kings, and tallied their fourth straight loss in a row.
“We thought defense was our identity, and it’s not looking like that,” Edwards said in the locker room. “Our identity right now, me and Mike [Conley] was talking about it, I think is we soft as hell as a team, internally. Not to the other team, but like internally we soft, like we can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids, just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Like everybody, like the whole team, we just can’t talk to each other and we gotta figure it out, man, because we can’t go down this road.”
He spoke at length, not holding much back, but the most interesting flag came in Edwards comments about the team as a whole. He noted that everyone on the team had their “own agenda”, which made it particularly difficult for him, as the de facto leader, to get them on the same page. Wolves beat reporter for the Star Tribune, Chris Hine, said Edwards lamented the team was “growing apart”, partly because it felt so difficult to have honest conversations with teammates.
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
Biz Former Timberwolves GM and current president of Paris Basketball David Kahn predicts the NBA will be in Europe “within two years” (EuroHoops)
Feel Good Orlando Magic players, including Cole Anthony and Wendell Carter Jr., gave back to the community this Thanksgiving. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis The Magic’s young core led by Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero is becoming a must-watch, showing growth and potential to disrupt the Eastern Conference hierarchy. (The Ringer)
Preview The Magic will face off against the Nets at Barclays Center in the latest NBA Cup group stage matchup. Read the preview.(NBA)
LaMelo Ball Is Out On Friday - What Are The Fantasy Basketball Implications?
Nov 27, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe/Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
As we gear up for a packed NBA schedule, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the game with the latest injury updates and strategic streaming options. With ten games on the horizon, there’s plenty to consider for your fantasy basketball lineup.
Injury Updates and Streaming Strategies
The New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets face off in an early game, and the injury report has thrown a few curveballs. Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson are out for the Knicks, while the Hornets are missing key players like Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Miles Bridges. The unexpected absence of LaMelo Ball due to a calf issue adds another layer of complexity. With Ball sidelined, Vasa Micic becomes a prime streaming target, offering value for both Friday and Saturday games. Keep an eye on Jalen Brunson, who seems to be finding his rhythm again, which is a positive sign for fantasy managers.
On the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks front, Darius Garland’s recent dip in usage and shooting is worth monitoring. Meanwhile, Trae Young’s impressive assist numbers continue to shine, despite some Achilles concerns. For streaming, Ty Jerome is a viable option if Dean Wade and Caris LeVert remain out, while DeAndre Hunter offers potential upside for the Hawks.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s breakout game boosts Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hoping to gain some much-needed shooting to add onto their already stellar defense. Through nearly a quarter of the season, Caldwell-Pope has helped make the Magic’s defense even better.
What Orlando Magic fans should be thankful for this season It is the night before Thanksgiving and while the Orlando Magic have one more game to go before a holiday off, we are looking back at the first 19 games and taking stock of where this team is out.
Why Orlando Magic’s shooting struggles didn’t stop their win Poor shooting was once again front and center as the Orlando Magic struggled against the Charlotte Hornets. But their defense traveled and gave them a chance.
