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 have mastered their way to win
Dec 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (5) and Orlando Magic forward Moritz Wagner (21) battle for a loose ball in the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross/Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
There were two stories that came out of Tuesday’s Orlando Magic loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The first belonged to the winners. This was Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard being superstars and guiding a Bucks team with championship aspirations back to Las Vegas – the only team to repeat trips to the NBA Cup semifinals. This was a team that has found its groove and is seeking redemption for a disastrous trip last year.
The second belonged to the losers.
The scrappy Orlando Magic team showed out on the big stage despite being without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner (both out with torn right obliques). They fought the Bucks to the end, giving up the lead with about 30 seconds left.
The Inside the NBA crew extolled the Magic as the “OKC of the East” with Kenny Smith at one point saying Jalen Suggs was a year away from being an All-Star. The national audience finally saw what Magic fans have known for three years.
But the loss did not sit right with a lot of players – Jalen Suggs most of all after the game, at least publicly. They felt they left something on the table and lost their chance to advance.
That disappointment says everything about this team. If they proved anything in the games after Banchero’s injury, it is that they are more than capable of winning.
Through the first 27 games of the season, Orlando has developed its way to play. And it has benefited from knowing how to win, overcoming any questions about the players the team is missing.
“We played great,” Moe Wagner said. “You lose some, you win some. You’ve got to move on with the same energy, the same spirit and the same fight. . . . It’s pretty obvious we know the way how to win. If we were a little more disciplined today, we go home with a win.”
The Magic have displayed a lot of maturity this season. They used their Playoff debut last year as a galvanizing force. It was proof of what they can do. And they grew from it.
The injuries have only temporarily derailed that ascent. Even with them, they still sit in third in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic have learned and mastered the keys to their success. It starts with their defense and their ability to force turnovers. Even with minor slipping these last two games overall defensively (against two solid offensive teams in the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks), the Magic are forcing gobs of turnovers.
Orlando remains a disruptive team. That has always been the team’s ticket to success. And when a team is down bodies and down key players, this is the identity it has to lean on.
“They understand how we need to play night in and night out,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We have to defend the right way, we have to stick to the gameplan, you have to value possessions. All of those small things matter. Regardless of who’s on the floor, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to defend. We’re going to try to do all the right things to put ourselves in a position to be successful within a game. That’s what they’re learning and understanding throughout this process and why those small possessions matter.”
That is all part of the maturity this team is going through. They were a young team last year winning for the first time. They acknowledged all offseason that they made mistakes despite all of their success.
They are mostly not repeating them. It was the period of the season when they faced injuries last year that they faltered and fell back to the pack. That is not happening this year.
Orlando has a better understanding of what it takes to win and how this team wins. That is what the Magic continue to show.
A common refrain about Spike Lee movies is that the city of New York feels like a living, breathing character. It has a presence in his films beyond that of a typical urban backdrop. It has dialogue; it impacts events.
Well, the Knicks crowd, amplified by the presence of Gotham villain Trae Young, felt three-dimensional in this NBA Cup quarterfinal, moaning, groaning, and cheering every time the ball ricocheted off a body part or players tumbled to the ground. It felt like it could change the events on the court, albeit with little control, like a player tilting a pinball machine. Even from my couch, I could feel the energy pulsing from the screen.
The atmosphere was electric; the quality of play was suspect. I’m not sure I’d let my loved ones watch, but for a specific breed of basketball fan (like the one who subscribes to this newsletter), it was gloriously grimy.
It was a miracle either of these teams hit triple-digits. The ball spent more time squirting out of rugby scrum-style dog piles than it did going through nets. The Knicks posted their lowest offensive rating of the season; the Hawks’ two best players, Jalen Johnson and Trae Young, combined for 43 points on 42 shots. Atlanta started the game 1-for-10 from deep, while New York had a stretch where they missed 12 straight triples.
In the end, however, it was Trae Young rolling phantom dice on the Knicks’ logo to celebrate going to Vegas.
The Hawks defense might be legit. Young is an easy target, but he also suckers teams into getting out of their offense to try and attack him, leaving them vulnerable to the swarm of kinetic, lengthy athletes that are standing by to help at a moment’s notice. Dyson Daniels chewed Jalen Brunson up (14 points on 15 shots), using a toothpick to get every last morsel.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Rumor What is the league doing to address referee gambling concerns, and how effective can safeguards be? (Front Office Sports)
Preview The Magic will host the Knicks on Dec. 15 at the Amway Center. The game follows their elimination from the NBA Cup. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Shaq, Charles Barkley, and other analysts weighed in on the Magic’s performance against the Bucks in the NBA Cup. (Orlando Sentinel)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
A Kawhi Leonard Update & A Fantasy Basketball News Catchup
Nov 20, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks on from the bench in the first half against the Orlando Magic at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard’s Uncertain Return
Kawhi Leonard’s return remains a topic of speculation. Recent reports suggest that his comeback isn’t imminent, leaving fantasy managers in a bind. If you’re holding onto Leonard, patience is key, but be prepared for a potentially lengthy wait.
Jimmy Butler Trade Rumours
The rumour mill is buzzing with talk of a potential Jimmy Butler trade. While speculation is rife, it’s essential to remember that these rumours often don’t materialise. The complexities of NBA trades, including salary cap constraints and team dynamics, make it challenging to predict outcomes. Instead of getting caught up in the hype, focus on the players currently delivering consistent performances. If Butler does get traded, assess the situation then, but for now, it’s best to concentrate on tangible fantasy assets.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
- The impact of Mitchell Robinson’s injury on the Knicks’ rotation - Evaluating Max Strus’s fantasy value upon his return - Donovan Clingan’s potential role with the team - The latest on Fred VanVleet’s shooting struggles and assist numbers - A look at the upcoming matchups and their fantasy implications
Stay ahead of the game by keeping these insights in mind as you navigate the ever-changing landscape of NBA fantasy basketball.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
How Orlando Magic Can Learn from Bucks Defeat The Orlando Magic showed resilience and their identity in an NBA Cup loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. In their second game since Franz Wagner’s injury, the Magic again showed their resolve and that they will not be a pushover. More than that, they showed they can win.
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks: NBA Cup Quarterfinals at a crossroads The Orlando Magic hoped to enter the NBA Cup knockout rounds with a healthy roster. But with the injury to Franz Wagner, their quarterfinal game against the Milwaukee Bucks comes at a time where the team is at a crossroads trying to rediscover how they will play.
Franz Wagner’s injury: How will Orlando Magic adapt? Franz Wagner’s injury leaves the Orlando Magic facing a pivotal moment. How will the team adapt without their rising star?
