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.
Jamahl Mosley is the Orlando Magic’s first-half MVP
Dec 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-Imagn Images
By all accounts, the Orlando Magic’s season should have sunk on Oct. 30.
A team with a mediocre offense losing their best scorer and player should have been it. Most of the Magic faithful hoped the team would just hover around .500 until Banchero returned in early January.
Franz Wagner carried the team and sustained the Magic’s spot near the top of the Eastern Conference until he got hurt. Then it felt like the Magic were really done for.
But there has been a rallying cry for the Magic for much of the last month, “We are enough.” Even with all the injuries, the Magic keep stacking improbable wins – from a 25-point comeback against the Miami Heat to upsetting the Boston Celtics to taking down the New York Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back without their three main players.
The Magic are one game better than they were at the midpoint of last season’s breakthrough year. They have Banchero back in the lineup. They will (allegedly) get healthier as the season progresses.
That is a credit to the players, the coaching staff and, most importantly, coach Jamahl Mosley.
It is safe to say this season is not what it is with all of the team’s preseason goals in front of them without the culture and belief Mosley has instilled in this team. It is why I cannot give the Most Valuable Player of the Orlando Magic’s season to any one player, I have to give it to their coach – as much as he hates taking the credit for anything this team does.
Mosley has built a culture of defense, accountability and belief in three years leading into this season.
Everyone is committed to defense as the basis for the team’s success. The Magic are second in the league in defensive rating and that has carried them through the season. They keep the scores low giving their offense a chance to make up ground even with a low percentage.
Because of the team’s continuity, the team has belief in what the coaches are preaching but also in each other. Mosley has given the team ownership over everything this team does and they hold each other to the standard, lifting each other and encouraging.
There is no other way to survive this period of injuries and still succeed without that belief. Most of the players have seen this work during the last three years. They will all run through a wall if they believe it will help them.
All those strands point back to Mosley. He has been the architect of creating this culture of selflessness (which starts with him).
Culture is a word that president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has publicly said he detests. It can mean anything you want it to mean. You do not know what it is until you see it. It has to be more than a buzzword.
Having players step up in the face of all of these injuries and still maintain this standard for defense speaks to that culture.
That comes from the team’s leader in Mosley. He has pulled all the strings as frayed as they are with the injuries and put the Magic in a position to achieve their goals. The team has delivered for him.
Without Mosley and his presence, it is hard to imagine the Magic surviving this first half of the season. Instead, they have raised expectations for what this team can do when they are finally healthy.
Jan 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles up court against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. | John E. Sokolowski/John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Something I realized last night at the Warriors-Raptors game, perhaps more pressingly than the last time the team was in town a season ago — this thing isn’t going to last forever.
You wouldn’t get that impression from Steph Curry, who takes his pre-game warmup last and happily engages with the fans who show up an hour before tip-off to watch him. Curry’s off-court presence, compared to his superstar contemporaries, has always been demure and private, but watching him revel and work within that outsized adoration is a privilege in itself. No fan in attendance watching him take feathery lob after feathery lob, or take a volleyball spike to the basketball so he could meet it mid-air for a dunk, was thinking about the finite nature of Curry — performer or competitor.
Even if the underlying desire of proximity to greatness stems from the understanding that one day that greatness will no longer exist, that reality doesn’t translate in the moment. In the moment, there’s just Curry, laughing with his coaches, signing the backs of jerseys, going through footwork, prepping for the night’s game.
Where the impression of a dynasty in its final stages becomes more pronounced is through the words of Warriors coach, Steve Kerr. Asked about how difficult it is to maintain a dynasty, and Kerr reverted to Curry.
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 Orlando Magic’s trade deadline strategy is clear: if they aim for a playoff run, strategic moves are necessary. Evaluating the current roster and potential trades will be pivotal for their postseason aspirations. Trade deadline plans reveal the team’s approach to strengthening their lineup. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Analysis Assessing where the Orlando Magic stand in the standings provides insight into their playoff potential. Detailed analysis of their current position and upcoming challenges highlights the path forward. Current standings offer a snapshot of their season trajectory. (Orlando Magic Daily)
Prediction Early 2025 NBA Draft predictions feature potential prospects and their comparisons to current NBA players. These insights provide a glimpse into future talent that could impact teams like the Magic. Mock draft analysis helps fans anticipate new additions. (Bleacher Report)
Trade Speculating on what every NBA team might do if the 2025 trade deadline were today, this analysis includes potential moves and strategies that could reshape rosters. For the Magic, it’s about positioning for future success. Trade scenarios offer a strategic outlook. (Bleacher Report)
Analysis TheDetroit Pistons are emerging as a serious surprise story this season. (TSN)
Biz Explosive court documents show co-conspirators and other shocking details in Jontay Porter’s ongoing betting scandal. (The Athletic)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Injury Update: Key Players Sidelined and Return Timelines For Fantasy Basketball
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) attempts a three point basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, injuries continue to play a significant role in shaping team dynamics and fantasy basketball strategies. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most impactful injuries across the league and their potential implications.
The Utah Jazz are once again at the forefront of injury-related drama. Lauri Markkanen’s back spasms and John Collins’ hip issue have raised eyebrows, with many speculating about potential load management strategies. Keyonte George’s heel soreness has kept him out for five consecutive games, while Jordan Clarkson’s plantar fascia injury could potentially end his season. The Jazz’s injury situation is one to monitor closely, as it could lead to increased opportunities for players like Kyle Filipowski and Isaiah Collier
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid’s knee injury has kept him out for four consecutive games. This absence highlights the risks associated with drafting Embiid in the first round of fantasy drafts. With a busy schedule ahead, including back-to-back sets, Embiid’s playing time could be limited even upon his return.
For more insights and a deeper dive into NBA injuries and their fantasy implications, tune into the Locked On Fantasy Basketball podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
• Portland Trail Blazers injury updates
• Phoenix Suns roster changes and injury concerns
• Orlando Magic’s lengthy injury report and fantasy implications
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
NBA East Squad: Can Defense Save the Orlando Magic Season? The Locked On NBA East Squad panel debates the Orlando Magic’s offensive woes, noting their league-worst three-point shooting percentage and discussing potential trade options to improve their offense without sacrificing their defensive identity. (470)
Orlando Magic hit a road block in their recovery in double OT loss to Miami Heat The Orlando Magic are feeling more whole with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner back and now Goga Bitadze back in the lineup. But after prolonged absences, they are all still working their way back into playing shape and regaining chemistry with their roster.
Orlando Magic’s Star Duo: Banchero and Wagner’s All-Star Potential The Orlando Magic’s stars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner stepped up to lead the Magic to a win over the Detroit Pistons. They took over the game.
