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 playing with an energy deficit
Jan 9, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic have always been able to count on one thing: Their energy.
They play with maddening intensity and hound opponents into the dust. They wear them down into the fourth quarter with unending energy. That is a defining feature for the Magic.
Injuries have taken a lot from the Magic this season. Missing their best offensive players has left a team scrambling to make shots and create for each other. Missing one of their best defenders has not put much of a dent on the defense.
But energy is supposed to be essential to the team.
More recently, the Magic have started to find themselves in an energy deficit. Like they are running on empty. They get frustrated with the poor shooting and letting it affect their elite-level defense. Those bad habits creeping in feel like a product of all the injuries and absences finally taking their toll on this try-hard team.
That is not an excuse. The Magic have shown they can win these games. Missing this element makes it nearly impossible.
“We don’t have those guys who are usually our energy guys with us right now,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “Right now it’s got to be collective as a team and as a group. Not just coming from me and CoJo. Everyone has a say so. We need to hear it. We feed off each other’s energy. If one person is down or not focused or anything, it tends to linger. We try to stay focused and just play.”
The Magic’s biggest absence right now might be playing without Jalen Suggs (out with a low back strain) and Moe Wagner (out for the season with a torn ACL). They were players who provided constant energy with their play and gave the team an edge and bravado. They made plays on both ends that gave the team no choice but to lift their level of play.
Orlando can play with the right energy. The team did so in the win over the New York Knicks on Monday. And when the Magic do this, they can beat any team.
But then they have games like Thursday’s 104-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They did not play without effort, but they were a little lax at the beginning of the game. Anthony Edwards got into a good shooting rhythm and the Wolves staked a 29-18 lead.
With all the Magic are missing, the constant uphill climbs are difficult for this team to recover from. It is not a sustainable way to play.
And it is not that Orlando cannot come back. The team tied the game at 37 in the second quarter. But the Timberwolves reclaimed control with a 15-2 run to end the first half. The Magic never really threatened. And Anthony Edwards’ dominant dunk late in the third quarter closed the door completely.
It has only been in the last few weeks that the Magic have felt all those absences. They do not have a way to create energy, it has to be a constant.
“There was just a lull to the game and we didn’t have the energy we needed to come out,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We’ve talked about we can’t let the offense, shot making or misses impact our defense. I think that was a big portion of that first quarter just trying to generate that energy with a group of guys.”
The good news is that help is on the way. Banchero was listed as QUESTIONABLE for Thursday’s game. It is anticipated he will return Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Banchero’s presence and his ability to create offense and be a drumbeat will be a welcome addition.
Players are excited for his return. They know the impact he will make – even as he reintegrates into the rotation. That will give the team a big energy boost.
Orlando hopes a little bit of health will make the team feel like itself again.
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Intuit Dome. | Kiyoshi Mio/Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard left the Clippers behind in Denver on Wednesday, he travelled solo back to Los Angeles to meet his family as they evacuated their home in the Pacific Palisades. As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire — the biggest of the five separate fires burning in L.A. — has scorched through close to 20,000 acres of land, homes, buildings and infrastructure. Leonard’s family and their home are safe, and because natural disasters thankfully still trump the audience demand for athlete participation, Leonard’s also able to be away from the team and focus on what’s most important.
Not to draw too flimsy a point between disaster and basketball, but Leonard’s return to the Clippers had been top of mind for me prior to the fires, and his necessary absence now offers another lens to view his prolonged absence this season.
After he was pulled from Team USA’s Olympic play this summer, Leonard underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee. It’s same knee he had surgically repaired after an ACL tear in 2021 and a meniscus tear in April 2023, as well as the quad injury that eventually led to him parting ways with the Spurs over concerns of recovery mismanagement.
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
Must Read Steve Kerr and JJ Redick share the impact of the Los Angeles fires on their families’ lives. (ESPN)
Biz Aging NBA stars like Jimmy Butler may be in for a rude awakening. (Forbes)
Fans Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner remain in the top 10 of the second NBA All-Star fan vote returns, showcasing strong support from dedicated fans. Their popularity highlights the growing excitement around the team’s young stars. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Injuries have plagued the Orlando Magic, impacting their season significantly. The team, once confident in their depth, now finds itself struggling to cope without key players, highlighting the fragility of their roster depth. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Trade The Orlando Magic should consider trading Jonathan Isaac before the deadline. Exploring his trade value now could be crucial for the team’s future strategy and roster flexibility. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Ranking As the trade deadline approaches, NBA power rankings illustrate where each team stands. The Orlando Magic’s position offers insights into their performance and potential moves leading up to the deadline. (Bleacher Report)
Rumor Speculation surrounds a potential three-team trade involving Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler. Such a move could significantly impact various teams, including the Orlando Magic. The trade scenario presents intriguing possibilities for team dynamics. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Milwaukee Bucks will meet the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Friday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Slate: Injury Updates and Streaming Options
Jan 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) drives against Washington Wizards forward Richaun Holmes (22) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NBA action continues with seven games on tap for Friday, and there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow. Let’s dive into the key matchups and player situations that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Pelicans-Sixers matchup is plagued by absences on both sides. For New Orleans, Herb Jones (shoulder), Brandon Ingram, and Trey Murphy (ankle) are all sidelined. However, Zion Williamson is set to return after sitting out the previous game. The Sixers will continue to be without Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and KJ Martin.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic
The Magic are on a back-to-back, while the Bucks are in a favorable schedule spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton are all listed as probable for Milwaukee. Orlando will be without Gary Harris, and Jalen Suggs is expected to remain sidelined. Paolo Banchero is reportedly set to return for this game.
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.
