5 Orlando Magic games that should get flexed onto national TV

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 06: Aaron Gordon #00 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on January 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Clippers won 106-96. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic were once again largely left off the national TV schedule — with just one ESPN appearance. Here are five games to change that.

When the Orlando Magic’s schedule came out earlier this week, there were a few things that fans looked forward to.

They wanted to see where the trouble spots are and when the West Coast trips would take place, the longest homestands and the run to the end of the season with the promise of the playoffs. Those parts matter to the team as they map out their season.

Storylines and narratives for the season are already well underway. Mostly because we are hunting for content.

The other narrative the schedule creates is who the league wants to focus on. The national television schedule also creates its own list of narratives. It sets the national story and national narrative for the season.

And the Magic are once again left out.

Nobody expected the Magic to have a bunch of national TV games. They lack star power and are not in a big market. ESPN and TNT were not going to put them on national TV a lot.

But this was still a playoff team. A fun young team with a lot of players who could develop into solid players. They are still a team that expects to make the playoffs and take the next step.

The national TV schedule is usually a little late picking out those teams. Instead they go with the sure things like the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis (31 national TV appearances), the LA Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (26 appearances), the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry (30 appearances) and the Houston Rockets with James Harden and Russell Westbrook (26 appearances).

National TV breakdown for all 30 teams. (ABC included this time, apologies.) Lakers have the most, Cavs and Hornets the least. pic.twitter.com/7yA3Ku5RpP
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) August 12, 2019

The Philadelphia 76ers with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Al Horford and Tobias Harris lead the Eastern Conference with 24 appearances.

The Magic will have just one formal national television appearance — a March 4 game at Miami. That is the same amount they had last year. At least it is not the final game of the season, which still felt like a throwaway last year.

Orlando will get five games on NBATV. Having six national TV games — one on ESPN and five on NBATV — ranks 22nd in the league. It is not like the Magic are completely ignored.

But, yes, they are not on national TV again. Among last year’s playoff teams, the Orlando Magic have the fewest total national TV appearances (tied with the Detroit Pistons, including NBATV broadcasts).

There is always the chance to get flexed onto TV. If a player takes a star turn or the Magic race to the top of the standings, it will be hard for the league or its television partners to ignore them any longer.

So what games should the league keep their eye on? Glad you asked.