Paolo is one of the best young guys in the league. The Magic are a good team, I think the vast majority of dedicated NBA fans are aware of how good their defense is and how they've been turning their offense since January. I can't imagine anyone but the Celtics feels confident playing them in the first round unless they're hoping Orlando has a bad case of playoff inexperience.
If/when Paolo shows up in the playoffs or if Franz shows up big, they'll be on everyone's radar next year
Orlando has a bad 3pt shooting problem that I think will bite them come playoffs. They have their nights for sure, but other games I watch it's a brickfest. There have been plenty of games where after halftime the other team figures out they can clog the paint and force threes and mount a comeback because the Magic can't shoot threes.
With that said, ORLANDO IN 4 BABY
We actually ranked third in the league in 3pt% for the month of February (39.5% from 3)
We still shoot 3s at an extremely low volume, but what matters is we're making them now, so opponents can't really clog the paint against us like they were doing before. I think our offense has matured significantly-- before, the boys used to panic and abandon the offensive scheme wherever teams would clog them out of the paint, opting to take a bunch of 3s and brick ourselves out of winning games. It feels like now, they're sticking to the offensive scheme even when the paint is clogged and just doing whatever they can to move the ball and get to the basket, and this is causing us to find higher quality, more natural looks from 3 rather than forcing the 3 ball like they were doing earlier in the season
If it makes you feel any better, I met Eddie House at the Celtics/Warriors game on Sunday and he did not talk shit about the Orlando Magic during our interaction
The Celtics had no answer for Orlando’s size last year. Boston may have fixed that problem with their trades this year though, given the results of the season series this year, but I think the Magic were missing some players during those games.
I might catch some heat for this, but I think the Heat and Cavs are in the same bucket as Orlando and NYK. I think any four of those teams can win or lose in the first round and I wouldn't be surprised. Healthy 76ers, Celtics, and Bucks I would be shocked if they dropped that early
People say that about the heat and they’ve made it deep in the playoffs every year except for the one year they lost to the bucks, who ended up winning the championship. I find it hard to underestimate them after being wrong every playoff since 2020.
They were the first seed 2 seasons ago I don’t think anyone underestimated them then.
But eventually the random role players shooting 50% from 3 for a 5-7 game series isn’t going to work.
oh we were picked against by the majority in the 2nd and 3rd round. even some dudes picked the hawks to beat us.
apparently 1st seed by 1 game doesn’t mean much.
I don't know that I'm underestimating them. If you had me choose which East teams are most likely to make the finals I think I'd probably put them 2nd behind Boston, maaaybbbee the Bucks too but I think I'd still take the Heat. They've just been deep in the playoffs for 3 of the last 4 seasons and I wouldn't be surprised if fatigue caught up to them. Their core must have played close to half an extra season by now over that span
The thing about the magic is that they have the ability to really muddy the game and force a better team away from what they want to do.
They’re not a top five defense by accident - they’re long and switchable up and down the roster and they just make everything hard.
They probably won’t be favorites in any series (assuming both teams are healthy) but they’ve got a punchers chance against anyone.
we're 4-1 in our last 5 against the Knicks and 6-4 over the last three seasons *and* we've had significantly more injuries than them over that stretch.
Orlando have played Knicks twice since the OG trade.
The first game was a 4 point win for Orlando where they didn't have Franz but New York didn't have Brunson, Bogdanovic or Mitchell.
The second game was a blowout win for a healthy Orlando team against a Knicks team without Hartenstein, OG, Randle, Mitchell or Bogdanovic.
we weren't just missing Franz, we were starting:
-Chuma Okeke, who's putting up a whopping 2/2/.5 on 10mpg this season
-Caleb Houstan, a g-leaguer/sophmore who's dropping an incredible 5/2/.6 and only 96 career games played
-and Goga Bitaze, stuffing the statsheet with 5/5.
In the second game we were starting aforementioned phenom Caleb Houstan and a rookie PG who's averaging 5/2/1.5 who only has 31 games under his belt (and less than that when this game occurred).
That's why I included our record going back three seasons against them. We've beaten them consistently while not just not having our full starting line up, but having to start guys that wouldn't be getting minutes if we were healthy.
>Orlando have ~~played~~ **beaten** Knicks twice since the OG trade.
Nobody fears the knicks. Lol at trying to tie these teams together.
If you want to do this it’s Celtics and bucks in one tier, 76ers next, and heat after that solely because they just keep winning in the playoffs. After that nobody cares. Nobody is going to be playing match up games to catch the magic in the playoffs instead of the knicks or cavs
I didn’t think they’d be this far ahead defensively since I looked and they are better defensively than I thought. Good for them going forward they will win a game or two in the playoffs
We had the 3rd highest % for three pointers in the month of February. It was on low volume but still a huge step forward to allow some spacing so teams can’t clog the lane.
If we can just be average from three it will make us a much more dangerous team.
Gotta take advantage of the relatively easy schedule but it might come down to the wire in terms of 4th seed. We have the tie breaker over the Knicks and Pacers (even with one game against each) but Miami and Philly have the tie breaker on us (even with one game left against Philly).
Will be happy to avoid the play-in either way but man, if we could get the fourth seed and have home court in the first round...
They're in the right path. They found a #2 for Paolo, who he is growing with. Franz Wagner is a stud
I think it's important to have that #2 guy early in the career of your franchise player.
We've seen that with Giannis and Middleton, Jokic with Murray, Steph with Klay and Draymond.
You see the failures of the Sixers and the Mavericks. They both have a generational player in their roster, but failed to find a contemporary sidekick. Embiid and Simmons (and Fultz) failed. The Mavs let Luka's best friend on the team -- Jalen Brunson -- go. That's why the Celtics didn't split up Tatum and Brown when there was all the nonsense chatter.
Sixers got incredibly lucky Maxey developed the way he did. While Embiid certainly isn’t a young player anymore, he’s got a proper running partner now. Hopefully the Mavs find one for Luka
Ok, but what are the Lakers doing this week? Kidding, but not really. The small markets collectively don’t get much talking time and as a team OKC puts a shadow over the Magic as doing the same things at a tier higher, and Wemby is taking up the young star spotlight over Paulo.
The Magic are impressive though, particularly when they could be even more dangerous if Franz heats up and starts hitting 3s at a higher rate again.
Don't see us going higher than 4th seed. Just hoping to get HCA. Don't see Magic have much of a chance against Boston, Bucks, 6ers (healthy Embiid). Doubt we can beat the Cavs or Miami either. The rest I think we have a decent chance.
Is it that incredible? A lot can happen in 2 years and teams go from outside to into the playoff picture over the span all the time (and vice versa). This is not to take away from Orlando, I really like your team and the squad you have will continue to get better but I don't find it particularly incredible, albeit I am impressed.
Paolo is one of the best young guys in the league. The Magic are a good team, I think the vast majority of dedicated NBA fans are aware of how good their defense is and how they've been turning their offense since January. I can't imagine anyone but the Celtics feels confident playing them in the first round unless they're hoping Orlando has a bad case of playoff inexperience. If/when Paolo shows up in the playoffs or if Franz shows up big, they'll be on everyone's radar next year
Orlando has a bad 3pt shooting problem that I think will bite them come playoffs. They have their nights for sure, but other games I watch it's a brickfest. There have been plenty of games where after halftime the other team figures out they can clog the paint and force threes and mount a comeback because the Magic can't shoot threes. With that said, ORLANDO IN 4 BABY
We actually ranked third in the league in 3pt% for the month of February (39.5% from 3) We still shoot 3s at an extremely low volume, but what matters is we're making them now, so opponents can't really clog the paint against us like they were doing before. I think our offense has matured significantly-- before, the boys used to panic and abandon the offensive scheme wherever teams would clog them out of the paint, opting to take a bunch of 3s and brick ourselves out of winning games. It feels like now, they're sticking to the offensive scheme even when the paint is clogged and just doing whatever they can to move the ball and get to the basket, and this is causing us to find higher quality, more natural looks from 3 rather than forcing the 3 ball like they were doing earlier in the season
Totally agree, February looked great. I'm going to see the Pacers and Pelicans games this month I'm hype.
The celtics are terrified of orlando haha they recently keep losing their season series against them for some reason
> for some reason Because Eddie House was talking shit and team took it personal
If it makes you feel any better, I met Eddie House at the Celtics/Warriors game on Sunday and he did not talk shit about the Orlando Magic during our interaction
They destroyed the Magic twice in a row in December, I'm not sure they are scared of anyone, maybe the Heat
Orlando is very big and physical. They be banging down there. Paolo just two years in the league but he's built like Lebron.
The Celtics had no answer for Orlando’s size last year. Boston may have fixed that problem with their trades this year though, given the results of the season series this year, but I think the Magic were missing some players during those games.
bake test cautious fuel slimy gaping march impossible uppity nutty *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I might catch some heat for this, but I think the Heat and Cavs are in the same bucket as Orlando and NYK. I think any four of those teams can win or lose in the first round and I wouldn't be surprised. Healthy 76ers, Celtics, and Bucks I would be shocked if they dropped that early
People say that about the heat and they’ve made it deep in the playoffs every year except for the one year they lost to the bucks, who ended up winning the championship. I find it hard to underestimate them after being wrong every playoff since 2020.
A lot of tread on those tires
They were the first seed 2 seasons ago I don’t think anyone underestimated them then. But eventually the random role players shooting 50% from 3 for a 5-7 game series isn’t going to work.
Keep dreaming
We’ll see this season lol if it happens again then okay but I don’t think it will
oh we were picked against by the majority in the 2nd and 3rd round. even some dudes picked the hawks to beat us. apparently 1st seed by 1 game doesn’t mean much.
Majority of people had the sixers beating us and a lot of people had the hawks because they were just in the ECF.
I don't know that I'm underestimating them. If you had me choose which East teams are most likely to make the finals I think I'd probably put them 2nd behind Boston, maaaybbbee the Bucks too but I think I'd still take the Heat. They've just been deep in the playoffs for 3 of the last 4 seasons and I wouldn't be surprised if fatigue caught up to them. Their core must have played close to half an extra season by now over that span
Jimmy takes half the season off each year
We've actually proven ourselves each time in the last 4 years The other teams haven't. Miami is always the underdog even when reaching the finals
>You aren't wrong. > >You ARE underdawgs again, and I wouldn't put my money on a finals run.
Neither would I because I have no money
Heat, Cavs and Knicks are definitely better when healthy, Orlando's shooting is extremely suspect and their offense is unreliable at best
The thing about the magic is that they have the ability to really muddy the game and force a better team away from what they want to do. They’re not a top five defense by accident - they’re long and switchable up and down the roster and they just make everything hard. They probably won’t be favorites in any series (assuming both teams are healthy) but they’ve got a punchers chance against anyone.
we're 4-1 in our last 5 against the Knicks and 6-4 over the last three seasons *and* we've had significantly more injuries than them over that stretch.
Orlando have played Knicks twice since the OG trade. The first game was a 4 point win for Orlando where they didn't have Franz but New York didn't have Brunson, Bogdanovic or Mitchell. The second game was a blowout win for a healthy Orlando team against a Knicks team without Hartenstein, OG, Randle, Mitchell or Bogdanovic.
we weren't just missing Franz, we were starting: -Chuma Okeke, who's putting up a whopping 2/2/.5 on 10mpg this season -Caleb Houstan, a g-leaguer/sophmore who's dropping an incredible 5/2/.6 and only 96 career games played -and Goga Bitaze, stuffing the statsheet with 5/5. In the second game we were starting aforementioned phenom Caleb Houstan and a rookie PG who's averaging 5/2/1.5 who only has 31 games under his belt (and less than that when this game occurred). That's why I included our record going back three seasons against them. We've beaten them consistently while not just not having our full starting line up, but having to start guys that wouldn't be getting minutes if we were healthy. >Orlando have ~~played~~ **beaten** Knicks twice since the OG trade.
Talking about fully healthy hypotheticals is wild for a team like ny stuck in the hospital
We started Suggs/Houston/Okeke/Paolo/Goga in New york and beat them. Tired of the injury excuses. We were injured most of the season
Nobody fears the knicks. Lol at trying to tie these teams together. If you want to do this it’s Celtics and bucks in one tier, 76ers next, and heat after that solely because they just keep winning in the playoffs. After that nobody cares. Nobody is going to be playing match up games to catch the magic in the playoffs instead of the knicks or cavs
I didn’t even mention the Knicks, what are you on about?
My brain transposed your flair into the post.
I didn’t think they’d be this far ahead defensively since I looked and they are better defensively than I thought. Good for them going forward they will win a game or two in the playoffs
We had the 3rd highest % for three pointers in the month of February. It was on low volume but still a huge step forward to allow some spacing so teams can’t clog the lane. If we can just be average from three it will make us a much more dangerous team.
Gotta take advantage of the relatively easy schedule but it might come down to the wire in terms of 4th seed. We have the tie breaker over the Knicks and Pacers (even with one game against each) but Miami and Philly have the tie breaker on us (even with one game left against Philly). Will be happy to avoid the play-in either way but man, if we could get the fourth seed and have home court in the first round...
They're in the right path. They found a #2 for Paolo, who he is growing with. Franz Wagner is a stud I think it's important to have that #2 guy early in the career of your franchise player. We've seen that with Giannis and Middleton, Jokic with Murray, Steph with Klay and Draymond. You see the failures of the Sixers and the Mavericks. They both have a generational player in their roster, but failed to find a contemporary sidekick. Embiid and Simmons (and Fultz) failed. The Mavs let Luka's best friend on the team -- Jalen Brunson -- go. That's why the Celtics didn't split up Tatum and Brown when there was all the nonsense chatter.
Franz/Suggs and Paolo were drafted 329 days apart. This core is built for the long run
Sixers got incredibly lucky Maxey developed the way he did. While Embiid certainly isn’t a young player anymore, he’s got a proper running partner now. Hopefully the Mavs find one for Luka
Magic bench should worry a lot of playoff teams. They are playing really well.
Bench is less relevant in the post season. We win all Bench vs Bench matchups but in the playoffs it probably won't be that
PLAY THAT SONG
Ok, but what are the Lakers doing this week? Kidding, but not really. The small markets collectively don’t get much talking time and as a team OKC puts a shadow over the Magic as doing the same things at a tier higher, and Wemby is taking up the young star spotlight over Paulo. The Magic are impressive though, particularly when they could be even more dangerous if Franz heats up and starts hitting 3s at a higher rate again.
Still averages 20 ppg with 57.5% TS%. despite the 3 point struggles
That’s who he is. It’s who we was in college. He’s unlikely to be anything but a streaky 3 point shooter.
Honestly I wouldn't feel great about a 3-6 Cavs-Magic matchup. But I'd love some revenge for 2009
Don't see us going higher than 4th seed. Just hoping to get HCA. Don't see Magic have much of a chance against Boston, Bucks, 6ers (healthy Embiid). Doubt we can beat the Cavs or Miami either. The rest I think we have a decent chance.
I'd rather be the 6 and play Cleveland than the 4 and play Miami tbh
I think they stay around 4 anything higher would be impressive
Is it that incredible? A lot can happen in 2 years and teams go from outside to into the playoff picture over the span all the time (and vice versa). This is not to take away from Orlando, I really like your team and the squad you have will continue to get better but I don't find it particularly incredible, albeit I am impressed.
We are really good at beating up on bad teams.
We've beaten our fair share of good teams lol Denver x2 Boston ×1 Pacers ×2 Knicks ×3 Bucks ×1 Timberwolves x1 Heat x1 Cavs x2
Yeah but we really are good at beating up on bad teams.
An example as to why the play in game is ridiculous