NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
With the NBA All-Star Weekend in the rearview mirror, the Orlando Magic are ready for the 2nd half of the season and a playoff push. It was awesome to see Paolo Banchero rep the squad along with the recent mending of fences with the Magic sending Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey in the rafters. Now with a few more days of rest Thursday, the next 30 games begin as does the goal of making it to postseason play. To my surprise, not one move was made at the trade deadline so this is our roster. After a strong start injuries and the grind of an 82-game season caught up with this young team as well as a slip on the defensive end. Not only are they trying to make the postseason, but also figure out who sticks with Orlando this offseason as well. I would have liked to see poor shooting addressed with the Orlando Magic ranking near the bottom in 3-point and overall shooting—nothing like a serious threat from deep to open up the lane for Franz Wagner and Paolo.
It is an issue now but will be one even more in the playoffs and that is having a solid point guard to set up the offense among other things. Markelle Fultz struggles to do two things, stay on the floor and shoot the rock. So the PG by committee approach will continue and maybe a decent point drops into the buyout market. Having a vet who can settle things down when needed or get the team into a key set is super important in postseason play, just ask the Boston Celtics. This will be one of those things we will see played out over the final few months of ball.
How will the team handle expectations is another thing to keep an eye on for such a young team. Moving from the fun young team to being expected to win are two very different things. Coach Mosley and his staff will have to guide the guys and make the games that slip away in the end are the exception and not the rule. Currently sitting at the 8 spot a bad loss here or there can be the difference for Orlando. Having never been in that spot before the way this team responds will be something to look at and remember in terms of playoff seedings.
The great play of the 2nd unit must continue and will be a factor in how the rest of the year plays out. Off the jump, one thing this 2nd unit does well is tightening things up on the defensive end. Jonathan Isaac is a great defender and forces teams to shoot tougher shots while Gary Harris and Cole Anthony play the passing lanes. Having that type of burst off the bench only helps so continued improvement would be one of the keys going forward.
With the Magic being all over All-Star Weekend from Saturday night to the game the league and its fans see what is bubbling down south. Half the race is done now as we round the corner it is all gas and no brakes. Teams will not underestimate the Orlando Magic moving forward with a bona fide All-Star on its roster and maybe a second one in Franz. This is where the fun starts and we see growth from not just the team but the coaching staff as well, this is new for everyone and what the goal was back at training camp. I’m hoping for a healthy second half and some shaking up in the standings from these kids. Here We Go.
