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Orlando Magic ranked 29th in Zach Lowe’s League Pass rankings

By Philip Rossman-Reich

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic dribbles past Markieff Morris #5 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Verizon Center on March 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic dribbles past Markieff Morris #5 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Verizon Center on March 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic are not going to be appointment viewing on League Pass. Zach Lowe of ESPN ranked the Magic 29th in his annual League Pass Rankings.

NBA League Pass is its own subculture of NBA fans.

Sure, the national television schedule gets a good chunk of the NBA story for the casual fans. The main storylines and big players all get their place in the spotlight. It is more than enough to follow the NBA — and the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls disproportionately.

That is not the day-to-day of the NBA. The joy of the NBA is not in the Finals anymore — the contenders are well known and in this year’s case, the favorite is an overwhelming favorite. The joy in the NBA is more about the journey. And that journey is captured on local television channels every night — and then beamed nationally to the world through League Pass.

The rise of the Denver Nuggets last year or Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play out on ESPN and TNT all year. They were on League Pass. And NBA fans delighted in each of these games as they watched these young players and teams grow.

The surprises throughout the year come from these nondescript games and nondescript teams from the beginning of the season.

This is all deeply embedded into the NBA culture. As are the sights and sounds of each individual complex.

For the last several years, Zach Lowe of ESPN has tried to capture all of these cultural elements in his annual League Pass rankings. He weighs the aesthetics of the game — jerseys, court design — with the quality of the local broadcast and how entertaining the team will be to come up with what is as close as we can get to a definitive ranking of watchability.

Lowe has always loved the Orlando Magic’s broadcast and simple court aesthetics. Not to mention STUFF and his antics.

But the team still remains the biggest impediment to the Magic. Orlando’s uncertain future and inconsistency have the team landing 29th in his annual League Pass ranking. The Magic still have a long way to go.

"Zoom out, and it’s unclear where exactly the Magic go barring a breakout from [Aaron] Gordon or [Elfrid] Payton — neither of whom seems likely to sign an extension before the Oct. 16 deadline. If the new front office builds a good team over the next half-decade without tanking — or lottery luck — they’ll have done great work."

More than anything, it seems Lowe is tired of seeing the same storyline from the Magic. The team is still waiting for Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton to bust out, getting some flashes from them toward the end of the season yet again.

Everything else about the Magic is enjoyable. Lowe calls the television broadcast with David Steele and Jeff Turner “first-rate.” And the aesthetics of Magic games on television are strong.

But the issue remains the roster. It is not clear whether there is a star on this team. Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton are promising but completely unknown. It would seem this is a team that could break out. But there is no evidence they are about to bust out in that way.

It is a roster, as Lowe points out, that is a mess. And if last year was any indication, when the team itself was downright unwatchable for long stretches, no one could blame any individual for wanting to pass on the Magic.

In many of these watchability rankings, the Magic fall in the bottom five. There is nothing to dissuade that. At least in the near term.

The Magic are playing a more wide-open, entertaining style now. But the team still lacks much star power or consistent shooting to make it work to its best. The Magic are clinging to Playoff hopes, but even they recognize they have their work cut out for them.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag: All is new again

It is safe to say, national expectations remain low for the Magic. But the beauty of League Pass is there is always a surprise. Maybe the Magic can rise by mid-season.