Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Who is the Orlando Magic’s rival?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Apr 13, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) reacts for a rebound with Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) reacts for a rebound with Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) drives the ball during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls

Among the complicated reasons the mid-1990s Magic broke up (read: Shaquille O’Neal leaving for Los Angeles), was the Chicago Bulls.

Michael Jordan‘s return to excellence and the way Chicago manhandled Orlando in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals was a big part of the Magic’s breakup. The Bulls were that much better than the Magic.

So there is some history between the franchises — not to mention the Playoff series that wasn’t in 2012 and Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose‘s battle for the MVP that season.

Really though, this is a good team the Magic have defeated several times in the last three years. For whatever reason, this Magic team plays well against the Bulls. In the last three years, Orlando has gone 3-7 against Chicago in the last three years and 3-4 in the last two years. That run includes the triple overtime thriller from 2014 and last year’s two nail-biters (the Bulls’ crazy comeback and Victor Oladipo’s game-winner from last year).

The Bulls certainly point to their two losses to the Magic as part of the reason why Tom Thibodeau is no longer their head coach. The loss in January reportedly sent some of management into a frenzy and the loss late in the season was emblematic that something was not quite right.

It is good to see this classic (for the Magic, at least) rivalry get renewed. The Magic want to be where the Bulls are at. They want that defensive ethos. It would have been juicier had the Magic somehow gotten Tom Thibodeau to coach their team.

There should still be some juice in these games this year. For whatever reason, this Magic team gets up to play the Bulls.

Next: They called us out