NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
Here we are 31 games into the Orlando Magic 2022-23 season and with a record of 11-20 and in the middle of a winning streak that has Magic fans seeing some of the talent and hope the front office talks about. Lots to be excited about but the record doesn’t show how many big leads have been lost or lapses on defense have made wins become losses. Injuries at the start of the season lead to a bumpy liftoff but things now are coming together. A few weeks ago it seemed like maybe all hope was lost. The losses piled up and the effort on both sides of the floor was brutal. One thing is clear to me the roster is talented and in a league where it feels like it’s always about what assets do you have they have plenty and we could see some moves at the trade deadline.
Bright Spots:
It starts with the top pick in this year’s draft Paolo Banchero and to think people actually thought it was worth a debate on who should go number. He has been everything the team needed and wanted. His game fits today’s NBA game he lives at the free-throw line and hits at a high clip. Also, I would say coming from a winning program like Duke he has already become a leader on the squad. Franz Wagner is a beast! The way he attacks the basket and hits some of the most funky-looking shots is really amazing. The return of Markelle Fultz on November 30th has made an impact as he found his role and is almost like a steady backup QB in the NFL. He manages the game and doesn’t try to do too much while also joining the club of above-average mid-range shooters in the league. Ahead of the season a few years ago the running joke was who are the guards since they have so many bigs. And now that joke has turned into a strength the way this team can bully you in the paint and ranks 18th in opponent’s points in the paint. Do everything big Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Bamba, and the human battering ram Admiral Schofield all mix it up and play tough. Mo Bamba is playing solid ball and the question soon will be do the Magic keep him or do you move him for a veteran piece? We will soon find out and don’t think the rest of the league isn’t paying attention to the young guys as well. No way I couldn’t talk about the unicorn know as Bol Bol. After 3-years of spending more time in suits than his uniform he is healthy and getting playing time. Safe to say he is leading the way for Most Improved Player. He is a 6’3 guard in a 7’2 frame when he gets a rebound and starts the break I get major Giannis vibes and there is nothing wrong with that. Driving the ball and also knocking down the three ball he can hurt you in many ways. To keep things positive we won’t talk about his work on defense he isn’t the only Magic player lacking in that department. Yet another solid building block for Orlando.
We Have To Get Better:
For this, I have 3 things I see each and every game.
Improve the 3rd quarter. How many games have leads been erased by slow starts coming out of the half or poor effort on the defensive side?
Improve the ball movement on offense and less hero ball. Now I know during this current streak we are seeing improvement but it needs to continue in order to win more games. Watching a different guy take his turn going 1-on-1 with the other team is not the formula for winning basketball. And with some of the shooters, available ball movement makes the game easy for everyone. The last and most difficult is to stay healthy! Having the full roster will give us a real look at what they do or don’t have. Dare I say a big part of the current winning streak is due to the fact they have bodies suiting up nightly.
Looking Ahead:
I want to see if any moves are made to the roster. Paolo is blockbuster stuff and when if ever does he hit the rookie wall? Bol Bol is one of the best stories of this young season and so fun to watch. No one is saying this team is going to the play-in game but they should be a competitive squad for the rest of the season. I know most of us a month in thought oh, God here we go again but things have turned around a bit, and got to keep the faith and stay #MagicTogether.
