The Orlando Magic have enjoyed success this far in the season, but aren’t getting any attention, we’ve got an article that might help with that.
The Orlando Magic have enjoyed a fairly quick start to the season, standing at 20-18 heading into the team’s trip to London on Thursday. Around this time last year, they were 13-27, and almost unbearable to watch.
This year, they made some changes to the front office, hiring Scott Skiles, and adding some veterans that have helped them along the way.
Us Magic fans see how greatly improved they are from previous years, but does everyone else?
The answer is no, most people outside of Magic fans pay zero attention to them. Times have changed since the early years, there is not a superstar on the team (See: Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, Anfernee Hardaway) to entice people to watch the Magic whenever they play. There are no national television appearances to get some form of national notice, just League Pass obsessives.
What we do have, is an accumulation of young talent, each with their own skill set, that has made the Orlando Magic one of the most underrated and fun teams to watch this season.
According to FOX Sports Florida, the Magic have enjoyed a 96% increase in local viewership, meaning almost twice as many Floridians have tuned into the Magic this year.
However, the Magic have not gotten much national attention, rarely any mentions from ESPN (then again, do they really mention anything outside of Stephen Curry or LeBron James?) and the occasional mention elsewhere. Even in the power rankings, such as those from NBA.com and ESPN, have the Celtics higher on the rankings than the Magic, even though this happened.
The games themselves are quite entertaining. Orlando ranks eighth in assists and ninth in points allowed per game, as its always fun to see ball movement and defensive energy. The Magic played arguably the most entertaining game in the NBA thus far in the season, with a thrilling double overtime loss to the Thunder.
Now do you see, what this team is capable of? You will. Oh. You will. And you will be able to spread the gospel.
Anyway, let’s dig into why you and/or your friends should tune into the Orlando Magic.
Next: The up and comers
The Up and Comers
Victor Oladipo
Arguably the Magic’s most exciting player. Blending a high motor, with major athleticism, always produces good results. He has been working hard ever since he came into the league, and it is really hard not to like this guy simply for his work ethic.
In this video, Oladipo shows his handles and athleticism in a Team USA scrimmage, granted, there was All-Star Game level defense in this video, but a poster is still a poster.
Tobias Harris
A “Melo-Lite” sort of player. By that, I mean he essentially plays very similar to Carmelo Anthony, notably working out with him in the offseason a couple years ago.
What better way to prove this point, than a duel between the two very own players. Obviously, Carmelo Anthony gets the majority of attention in the video, being that he is a superstar, but that is why you are here, you want reasons for paying attention to the team, here is one.
Nikola Vucevic
Consistently Orlando’s best player, the should-be All-Star is averaging 17.1 and 8.3 rebounds per game entering Thursday’s game, along with a career high 2.8 assists per game.
Arguably being the league’s best offensive center, he can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor up to 20 feet. His footwork is impeccable, and he always makes good decisions with his shots.
Last year, he was a bit of a black hole on offense, the ball would get to him, and he would almost always attempt a shot. This year, he is passing out of the post more, looking for the open man, and making great decisions with the basketball.
Despite being in the playoff hunt, and being one of the better centers in the league, Vucevic is not even in the top-15 voting frontcourt for the All-Star game, losing out to unworthy names like Kristaps Porzingis, DeMarre Carrol and Joakim Noah.
Check out this game-winner, this is a shot a lot of guards in the NBA cannot even make. Meanwhile us Magic fans have a 7 foot Montenegrin making them.
Evan Fournier
If you have paid attention to the Magic at all this year, you already know what horrible fate awaits you if you google his name — just please do not. At least be as specific as possible when doing so. “Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier NBA” is your best bet if you ever decide to look his name up through a search engine.
Anyway, the 6-foot-6 guard has become the better player of the Arron Afflalo-Fournier trade, thanks to some Rob Hennigan secret sauce magic. Probably the Magic’s most clutch player, hitting a game-winning shot against the Timberwolves (shown in the Payton video), and closing out the game earlier this season against the Rockets.
Next: The young guns
The Young Guns
Elfrid Payton
If it were not for Andrew Wiggins, we might be talking about Payton as the 2014 Rookie of the Year.
The point guard has vastly improved this year, cutting down on the turnovers, and showing more consistency on his jump shot, which was non-existent his rookie year.
Take a look at his highlights from one of his best games of the year, as he seemingly gets into the paint with ease, removing the need for having a shot, but hey, more weapons in the arsenal.
Aaron Gordon
Improving miles ahead of last year, going from unable to shoot to having a reliable 3-ball, and is easily one of the most entertaining players on the team. One of the most athletic youngsters in the league, at age 20 (even younger than me) and rather than type out how athletic he is, I’d rather show you….through
interpretive dance!
, videos. Observe.
He makes the above dunk look effortless, essentially doing this off vertical.
During Summer League in his rookie year, Aaron Gordon showed what he offers the Magic, and ever since then we expect nothing less than plays like this from him.
Mario Hezonja
In similar fashion to Aaron Gordon last year, we are not seeing much playtime from Hezonja during his rookie year. Although, every time he steps on the court, you see what he is capable of.
You can see his shooting form is pure perfection, he has good passing instincts, and lacks nothing in the confidence department.
He has yet to show much of his athleticism, but when he played for FC Barcelona, he was on the giving end of posters left and right, hopefully those will come in the NBA soon enough.
And those are just some of the notable names on top of guys like Andrew Nicholson, Dewayne Dedmon, and Shabazz Napier.
Next: The History
The History
The 1990s Orlando Magic featured some of the best basketball ever displayed on the hardwood. With players like Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott. It all started when Shaquille O’Neal was drafted with the first overall selection in 1992. After barely missing out on the playoffs his rookie year, the team then drafted Anfernee Hardaway the following year.
Setting up a dynasty waiting to happen, one that could have competed with Michael Jordan‘s Bulls year after year if it wasn’t for injuries and the departure of one of the greatest centers in NBA history. They even did so in 1995, defeating the Bulls 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs on the way to the NBA Finals. Becoming the last team to beat Jordan in the playoffs, now that is something to brag about.
Then the team went on to defeat Reggie Miller‘s Indiana Pacers in an epic seven-game showdown.
Some of the most memorable Orlando Magic moments in franchise history (Only spanning 27 years) were during this era. Shaq and Penny would have been the best dynamic duo next to Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
So, if you need yet another reason to watch the team, think about the brief, but fantastic history that has occurred with this team. Many memorable moments will happen once again with this team.
The 90’s Magic will even get their own 30 for 30 feature on ESPN, premiering in April.
Next: The commentary
The Commentary
The commentary for Magic games is some of the best you will find throughout the NBA. David Steele and Jeff Turner are the two of the best in the business.
They are not your typical bias commentators that will make the other team look like they should not even be on the same floor with their team. They offer valuable insight for both the Magic and opposing teams as well.
Take a look at this video, when the Magic were home against the Heat, more often than not, they didn’t seem so monotone whenever the Heat scored a basket, which is what a lot of local commentators would end up doing.
These guys also know how to have fun.
The Magic are getting better by the day, and it is time to capture the NBA’s attention once again, for the past couple years the team has been keeping all this talent locked away, and is now one of the NBA’s best-kept secrets.
After all, they are eighth in the Eastern Conference, might as well tell your buddies to pay attention now, because they might be in the playoffs.
Next: London game an opportunity for NBA, for Orlando Magic
Wouldn’t you want to catch up on what they’re all about come April? I sure would.