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 cannot sustain their comeback habit
Jan 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) tries to knock the ball away from Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) as he passes it from the floor in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel/Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic are playing at a deficit.
They know and feel it every time they take the floor. Their offense is not easy. They already struggle to shoot but now they struggle to create downhill. There is nothing easy.
That is what anyone would expect missing their two best players. Paolo Banchero is inching closer to his return. Franz Wagner has started doing some light movement too. The Magic have to be patient before their two creators return.
The cost of doubling down on a defensive identity is that the offense is constantly behind. And so the Magic already start games from behind.
Just not on the scoreboard.
When the team starts a game trailing by double digits, that mountain gets even taller.
It is not unscaleable, though. The Magic erased a 25-point deficit to defeat the Miami Heat, a 15-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, and a 21-point deficit to defeat the Brooklyn Nets. The Magic have proven they are resilient and can bounce back.
But that feeling of resiliency and invincibility is a house of cards. It is not sustainable to come from behind.
“I thought we did a good job fighting back,” Jalen Suggs said. “It’s dope and you can look at it from a great point of view and glass half full that we are coming back and overcoming deficits. We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the fact that we are getting down. We are putting ourselves in these holes and spotting these teams leads and then having to fight, scratch and claw to get back into the game to give ourselves a chance.”
There is that half glass full that the Magic can erase deficits and rally. They can sharpen their execution, use their defense to create offensive energy and get back into games. Orlando is never out of the game.
When the Magic fell behind by 18 points in the first half, committing seven first-quarter turnovers as the Detroit Pistons buried threes at an unreal rate, the Magic did not panic. They knew they could comeback and that with the right adjustments they would.
Orlando reduced the deficit to three points in the fourth quarter. The Magic still gave themselves a chance to win. But the energy and urgency it took to get back eventually led to their collapse.
The Magic made only two of their final 12 shots to lose 105-96. They started missing shots short and then made critical errors on defense. There was no coming back from this. Unlike those other three wins, Orlando could not get over that final hill.
“We have that never-give-up mentality,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “No matter if we are up or we are down. We’ll continue to fight through the whole game. But for us, the biggest thing is we can’t start how we’ve been starting. We can’t be down 10-15 points in the first quarter and be fighting the whole night to get back into the game. I think that’s one of our biggest flaws right now. It shows in the fourth quarter when we are not making shots or taking tired shots. We’ve just got to play better.”
The Magic are trying to find a sustainable way to win until Banchero returns. They will need a sustainable way to win even when Banchero is back in the lineup. And part of that is starting stronger and avoiding the deficits that require the team to expend excessive energy to get back.
The comebacks have been fun. But Orlando needs to avoid them to get where they want to go.
The Orlando Magic are giving a one-fingered salute to the universe
Dec 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) dunks during the second half against the Miami Heat at Kia Center. | Mike Watters/Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic will never stop.
Injuries have piled up like rush hour traffic near the Disney parks. Orlando’s three best offensive players — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Mo Wagner — are all out, the first two with rare torn oblique injuries and the latter for the season with a torn ACL. They should be dead and buried, with the funeral service concluded long ago.
Instead, the Magic keep raging, sticking out their middle fingers to the basketball gods who seem determined to throw every obstacle imaginable in their path. They’re 3-3 in the six games since the elder Wagner’s injury (including the win in which he went down in the first quarter), pairing a defense that gets more ferocious after each blow with an offense that has cobbled together just enough points to keep things interesting.
Jalen Suggs has become the de facto number-one option, a role he is ill-suited for. Suggs is shooting 41% from the field and 31% from deep, but you’d never know fromthe 37% usage (a monstrous figure) he’s posted in the last six games. The Magic’s offense looks best when someone else can help him out. Rookie Tristan da Silva has been the unlikely second banana many nights — he’s had five games in his last eight of at least 15 points after only notching one such performance in his first 23. Consistency, unfortunately, is hard to find; da Silva also had two games in his last three where he scored exactly zero points.
But there are still plenty of reasons for concern.
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.
Analysis The Orlando Magic learned an important lesson about their comeback style in a recent game against the Pistons. The analysis focuses on the tactical takeaways and areas for improvement. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Prediction Bleacher Report’s 2025 NBA mock draft includes professional comparisons and full two-round predictions, offering insights into potential future stars. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Magic face the Raptors tomorrow at the Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Implications of Jaden Ivey’s Injury
Jan 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) grabs his leg as he falls to the court after being injured against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel/Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The start of 2025 in the NBA has been nothing short of chaotic, with injuries taking centre stage. Jaden Ivey’s injury is particularly concerning, as it appears to be quite serious. The Detroit Pistons guard was having a strong game with 22 points and five three-pointers before the unfortunate incident. The severity of the injury suggests that Ivey might be sidelined for the remainder of the season, which is a significant blow to the Pistons and fantasy managers alike.
Fantasy Implications of Ivey’s Injury
With Ivey potentially out for the season, the Pistons will need to adjust their lineup. Ausar Thompson is likely to see an increase in minutes and responsibilities. Thompson’s ability to contribute across various categories makes him a valuable pickup in fantasy leagues. While his shooting may be inconsistent, his defensive stats and hustle play could provide a much-needed boost to fantasy rosters.
Malik Beasley might also see an uptick in playing time, although his recent performances have been less than stellar. Beasley is primarily a points and threes contributor, and his role could expand in Ivey’s absence. For those in deeper leagues, Marcus Sasser could become a viable option, especially if Cade Cunningham faces any setbacks.
Click the button below to see who’s rising and falling on the Bulls and Wizards.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks: What went wrong? Energy reveals their weaknesses The Orlando Magic seemed overwhelmed by their mounting injuries and could not find their footing in a 29-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Their energy simply was not there.
Franz Wagner’s coming return gives hope to Orlando Magic’s offense Franz Wagner’s rapid recovery from his injury is a beacon of hope for the Orlando Magic as they navigate the NBA season. With the team ranking 27th in offensive rating, the return of key players like Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero could be game-changing and lift their biggest weakness.
Why Jamahl Mosley is Orlando Magic’s First Half MVP The Orlando Magic have spent the first half of their season trying to hold the boat steady. Major injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner threw the season for a loop and forced the Magic to adjust quickly.
