1 advantage the Orlando Magic have over every Southeast Division team

1 advantage the Orlando Magic have over every Southeast Division team

Atlanta Hawks: Size

One of the hallmark games of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season was its 50-point scoring outburst in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks in a game back in December.

For a team as offensively challenged as the Magic can be, the fact they had a quarter like this is a testament to what their potential can be — and maybe how lost the Hawks were defensively throughout the season. Atlanta was certainly a team in turmoil last year.

Orlando did only win that one game against Atlanta in the four meetings last year. But outside the first game at Amway Center, the two losses in Atlanta were tight. The Magic certainly could feel how close they were to beating the Hawks — a Dejounte Murray foul spoiled a wild fourth-quarter comeback in the final two minutes that could have extended the Magic’s five-game win streak in December.

The Magic could not quite crack the Hawks last year. Trae Young made several big plays to secure those wins — Young averaged 27.8 points and 14.0 assists per game on 42.9/29.4/93.5 shooting splits, but all four games occurred before January.

Orlando still has to find some discipline to lock down a player like Young as they tended to struggle with those elite guards who could get hot. The Magic have the numbers that make them look like an elite defense, but they are still putting together the finer points of being an elite defensive team.

But the way they beat the Hawks is still instructive of who they can be. The Magic’s size is a problem for a lot of teams. It was a problem — especially Bol Bol who had 21 points and several highlights in the 50-point first-quarter game — the Hawks never really solved.

Bol is gone, but Orlando’s unique size and versatility remain. The Magic have a size advantage at seemingly every position save for Clint Capela at center against Wendell Carter.

Orlando’s size, especially with Paolo Banchero (19.5 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 5.0 assists per game vs. Atlanta last year) and Franz Wagner (18.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game vs. Atlanta last year), would seem to give Atlanta some issues.

That is especially true now since the Hawks have seemingly committed to playing smaller after trading away John Collins (let’s not mention what Jonathan Isaac seemed to do to him before his injury in 2020).

Atlanta’s speed is certainly something that gives Orlando problems on the perimeter. But the Magic should have a major advantage with its size and versatility. They can take advantage of switches and attack this smaller Hawks team.

This will be one of the key matchups for the Magic in their postseason chase. Orlando will have to use its size to attack Atlanta and give the team an edge in this battle.