The Penny & Pops Podcast is hosted by Adam Papageorgiou (Pops) and Spenser Strode (Penny). All things Orlando Magic basketball related are discussed. The opinions expressed are local and certainly strong. We aim to present unique viewpoints that you won't find in traditional media outlets. We want…
Magic lose in TD Garden, 120-89. Series over. Adam Silver called Tony Brothers at halftime of this Game 5 with the Magic up 2 in Boston. Brothers tags 3 questionable fouls on Paolo Banchero, gets him out with 5 fouls, and the Celtics avalanche was on from there. Orlando loses this series 4-1. We go another year without a series win and no road playoff game victory. Similar offensive story, not a lot of help for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
This should be even going back up to Boston, but the Magic missed way too many open shots and left the game in the refs' hands. Celtics win Game 4 107-98. They closed the game on a 16-7 run. This game was tied 91-91. Paolo was gassed. Franz couldn't hit an open 3. Other than Cory Joseph, no one else on the Magic really stepped up offensively. And you hand Boston a 3-1 series lead. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Orlando is on the board. Led once again by their stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic at home scrap their way to a 95-93 Game 3 victory to make it a 1-2 series against Boston. Franz had 32 points, Paolo dropped 29. It's the second youngest duo in NBA history to have consecutive 25-point playoff performances together. The only younger duo was Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC. The Magic won this game with essentially two guys scoring. And some fantastic hustle and defense. It sets the stage for a fascinating Game 4. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Orlando hands over Game 2 to Boston, 109-100, and trail the series 2-0 coming home. Magic blew this game. You knew the refs were going to screw you with no Jayson Tatum. Too many missed open Orlando shots. Too many missed free throws. Another wasted defensive effort because guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can't hit an open 3. Once again, it was Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner performing…and not a lot of help from the supporting cast. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Magic lost Game 1 in Boston 103-86. The main worry came to fruition. Boston buried us with 3s and Paolo Banchero (36 points and 11 rebounds) and Franz Wagner (23 points) need other support guys to step up and hit shots. No other Magic player beyond the two stars had more than 7 points. The good news is Orlando is up for a fight, and we have Game 2 to look forward to. Orlando's defense was overall good enough. Jayson Tatum (17 points) and Jaylen Brown (16 points) were overall subdued. But Boston has a ton of scoring depth and Derrick White (30 points) and Payton Pritchard (19 points off the bench) picked up the slack. The Magic didn't get to the free throw line enough, and Boston's big strength in the second half was fast break points. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Our Orlando Magic-Boston Celtics series preview! Can Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner outduel Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? How big of an advantage will Boston's supporting cast have over Orlando's? Can the Magic overcome math and the massively historic 3-point advantage the defending champions hold over Orlando? Will it be a sweep? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are a perfect 1-for-1 in their play-in tournament history, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at Kia Center. Defense and great supporting cast offensive contributions proved too much for the Hawks overcome. The Magic claim the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will next ship off for Boston with Game 1 of the series happening on Easter Sunday. On a night where Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner received extra defensive attention, Jamahl Mosley's supporting cast really showed up. Especially the likes of Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony. The Magic proved why they had the 2nd best defense in the NBA. Even managed to frustrate Trae Young so much he got thrown out. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Magic had a relaxing weekend. Their last two regular season games were meaningless, and even with guys sitting we still finished the campaign 41-41. Now it's play-in time. The first play-in game in Magic history is happening Tuesday night 7:30 pm at Kia Center against the Atlanta Hawks. It'll be on TNT. You win on Tuesday, you get a trip up to Boston on Easter weekend to begin a playoff series. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as a duo had a historic franchise season statistically. The Osceola Magic head to a Game 3 deciding meeting in the G-League Finals with the Stockton Kings on Monday. Is Shaquille O'Neal really going to help walk Dwight Howard out for his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame speech? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Two home games. Two nights. Two victories. The Orlando Magic just won their second consecutive and 8th ever division title, claiming the Southeast crown with a 96-76 Fan Appreciation Night regular season home finale victory over the Boston Celtics. PA Announcer Paul Porter was officially honored by the team, which didn't go great. The Magic are 40-40 and have a chance to finish his injury-plagued regular season .500 or better. The Magic are the 7th seed and guaranteed to host the 7 v. 8 play-in game next Tuesday April 15th. The opponent won't be known until later this week. It'll either be the Hawks, Bulls, or Heat. The Denver Nuggets fired their coach and GM and are spiraling. Orlando is getting Denver's first round pick (top-5 protected) for the upcoming 2025 Draft. Instead of that pick being in the mid-20s, it could be in the teens. Could the Magic have interest in Jamal Murray in the offseason? The Osceola Magic are in the G-League Finals having one of the first game of the 3-game series. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are forcing out their only public address announcer in the franchise's 36-season history. Paul Porter will forever be the in-arena voice of the Magic. He was basically hired by Pat Williams, the cornerstone figure whose life is supposed to be honored this entire 2024-2025 NBA season, himself in 1989. Paul should get to decide on his terms when to walk away. This is another situation where the DeVos family and Alex Martins have handled a situation with a franchise legend very poorly. Dwight Howard, having been inducted into the team's Hall of Fame, has been announced as a first-ballot inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Fully deserved and a no-brainer lock of a decision. Dwight gets in twice in the same year as the 2008 Team USA Olympic ‘Redeem Team' is also going in. Paolo Banchero continues his scorching hot post-All-Star break scoring streak as he won an Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Didn't win the monthly award, but his play is a big reason why the 38-40 Magic are very close to reaching .500 and claiming the 7th seed in the East with four games left in the regular season before play-in action begins. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic continue to steady themselves in the month of March. They're 7-7 and could finish over .500 for the month. There are 7 games remaining in this 2024-2024 NBA regular season. The Magic are guaranteed to be participating in the play-in for their chance at getting into a first round playoff series after dropping 18 triples against the Kings. Can they grab the 7th seed and get themselves some homecourt advantage for the play-in? Can they finish 41-41 or better for the campaign? Paolo Banchero is certainly doing his part, averaging over 30 ppg for the entire month. It's a peek at his stardom ahead. Dwight Howard had a good return with his Magic Hall of Fame induction day. Looking at how Paolo and each of his teammates performed in March. Post Note: Realized that Gary Harris was forgotten. Which let's be honest, there are games he's forgettable. But, Gary is showing some signs of life. 10 games off the bench played in March. 14.1 minutes per contest. 1.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg. 30.0 FG%, 26.7 3PT%. Still not decent, but it is an improvement of late. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic improved to 32-37 after ending the Cleveland Cavaliers' 16-game win streak on their floor. That was the longest winning streak in the NBA in 3 years. The Magic finished their five-game road trip 3-2. Could this be a sign of the squad finding their second wind with less than a month to go in the regular season? Dwight Howard is getting inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame…on a night where we play the Los Angeles Lakers of all teams. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Rhonda Smith-Banchero, the mother of Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero, had some interesting social media reactions/posts that were necessary and did a solid job of laying out all of the frustrations that exist currently with the franchise. Except that unhappiness should be directed at President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. Moreso than Head Coach Jamahl Mosley or any individual player on the roster. The pressure is mounting for the DeVos family, Alex Martins, and Jeff Weltman. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic followed an under-.500 month of February with another very disappointing home loss to begin the month of March against the Toronto Raptors. Maybe it was due to too much wine and cheese. Orlando is continuing a downward spiral that sees them 29-33, and struggling just to maintain play-in positioning. Jeff Weltman failed and continues to fail to make moves to help this team out. There has been no offensive assistant replacement for Nate Tibbetts. There has not been veteran, 3-point shooting, point guard replacements made for Joe Ingles and Markelle Fultz. Jamahl Mosley needs to get more aggressive with this starting lineup and rotations to compensate. Will he do that? Worse yet, Jalen Suggs is having left knee surgery that is removing cartilage from his knee. That is of great concern in the short term and the long term of Jalen's NBA career. The Magic have been bad without Suggs on the court, and they'll have to figure out how to win games without Suggs for the rest of the regular season. And the Magic just gave him a 5-year $150 million extension that begins next season. It's not a lost season yet, but it will be if the Magic don't make the playoffs. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The All-Star break is over. Orlando Magic player Mac McClung is a 3-time consecutive dunk contest champion now, creating NBA history. Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva got to partake in the Rising Stars event. The entire weekend was overall a mess of a showing for the league. How to improve the NBA All-Star Weekend and NBA product in general as a whole. From an Orlando Magic perspective, the team is 27-29 going into the final 26 games of the regular season. Jalen Suggs is still out injured. Why Jeff Weltman's inaction has maybe put Head Coach Jamahl Mosley on the hot seat should the rest of the season be a disappointment. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
To the stunned surprise and dismay of most Orlando Magic fans, Jeff Weltman didn't do anything at the NBA Trade Deadline. It's not about this season, although it was nice that the Magic found a way to scratch and claw their way to a home victory over the San Antonio Spurs after a brutal road trip. Something had to be done to help with the long-term success of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and that didn't occur. Now it's about hoping there are no consequences. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The 24-24 Orlando Magic have been battered and bruised in January and are just now getting bodies back. Franz Wagner, Goga Bitadze, and Jalen Suggs (if he can avoid picking up new injuries) in particular. The Magic are the 7th seed in the East currently, but should look to make at least one transaction by the February 6th trade deadline. Why Jeff Weltman will do something now and the advantages of not waiting for the summer to consolidate and improve the team. Plus, Tristan da Silva and Mac McClung are going to All-Star Weekend. The NBA rearranged 3 future Magic games. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The 23-18 Orlando Magic continue to astonish and find ways to win games they have no business taking, having reached the halfway point of the 2024-2025 season. Paolo Banchero made his triumphant return, but it's been lessened due to more teammates going down due to injury. The Magic found a way to beat the Philadelphia 76ers with only eight available bodies. And although the team still is holding onto the East's 4th seed, one bad week could see them fall down to 9th. Plus, All-Star voting, Shaquille O'Neal v. Dwight Howard, Mo Wagner has his ACL surgery, the trade deadline approaching. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
This episode is dedicated to ZDF's ‘Wagner Brothers' German language four-part 3-hour documentary on Franz and Moritz Wagner. Their parents Beate and Axel play a major role, as well as the brothers' additional support system. It's a brilliant production that puts a lot American sports and NBA documentaries to shame. It's uncensored and you see plenty of raw emotion and feelings displayed. Most the content focuses on 2023 and 2024, including the German national team winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a return to Michigan, and the grind of the 2023-2024 Orlando Magic season that included a playoff meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. As well as Germany's 2024 Summer Olympics showing in Paris, France. This is a Wagner family focused documentary, not entirely Orlando Magic focused. Here's the link to the documentary: https://www.zdf.de/sport/the-wagner-brothers Speaking of the Magic, Orlando is currently 21-16. They've had a rocky start to January 2025 with more injuries plaguing players like Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black. The team just had a very disappointing home loss to the Utah Jazz. It feels like the Magic have reached their limit and truly need bodies returning. Thankfully, a Paolo Banchero return isn't far away. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
With no Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. With Mo Wagner out the rest of the season. With no Anthony Black. With Jalen Suggs departing in the first half with a wrist injury, the Orlando Magic found a way to complete yet another 20-point comeback beat the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. It's a season series sweep for Orlando. The Magic end the 2024 calendar year with a 20-14 record. Orlando enters 2025 still as the East's 4th seed. It's the first time since the 2010-2011 season where the Magic enter January with at least twenty victories. Jamahl Mosley deserves to win Coach of the Month for December (it goes beyond the 6-7 win-loss record). Tristan da Silva deserves to be Rookie of the Month. It's probably the happiest the fan base will be going 3-4 in a seven-game homestand. 2025 New Year's resolutions are being assigned to the team. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Your now 18-12 Orlando Magic are still 4th in the East and pulled off the gutsiest and greatest regular season win in Kia Center's history. That building has been open since October 2010, and has never seen a better undermanned win like that since the Heart N Hustle season. No Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, or Jalen Suggs. Orlando's top 3 players. No Gary Harris. Lost Mo Wagner in the first quarter, and he may be done for the season if he needs a knee procedure. Wendell Carter Jr. gets ejected in the second period. The Magic were without their best four scorers and still beat Miami in a Pat Williams era throwback comeback win. The 121-114 win tied the biggest comeback in franchise history (you have to go back to November 1989). Cut it to within 10 in the third, then trailed by 22 entering the fourth quarter. The 22-point start of the fourth quarter deficit is tied for the 7th largest comeback victory in NBA history. Cole Anthony had the first 35/5/5 game in less than 30 minutes in team history. Not having Mo Wagner the rest of the season is rough to navigate big picture wise, but for now this is a glorious win over our in-state rival. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Magic lost their first home game of the season at the hands of the New York Knicks. That would make a fun playoff series. Orlando is now 17-11 and 10-1 at home. The Magic are at Kia Center for the rest of December. But with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner out with torn right oblique rehabs/injuries, Jalen Suggs is the #1 option. The team needs to find reliable guys who can step in and provide consistent production. They already pulled off one big win over the Suns, and the Magic almost pulled off another in Milwaukee but lost in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. A Westcourt entertainment complex update. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Franz Wagner tried, but the Orlando Magic went from down forty to losing 121-106 at Madison Square Garden to the New York Knicks to finish off NBA cup group play. The Knicks win East Group A with a 4-0 record. Magic at 3-1 sneak into the fourth and final East quarterfinal spot as the wild card thanks to their great point differential in the prior three contests. Orlando will have to fly up next week to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Despite the disappointing performance on TNT at MSG, the Magic are still 15-8 and the 3rd seed in the conference. It's still great to enjoy a game in a basketball cathedral such as MSG. Lights, food, buzz, energy, music, celebrities. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Magic swept their two-game weekend series in Brooklyn. Pops was at the win on Sunday inside Barclays Center against the Nets. Franz Wagner is not only a strong favorite to be named an NBA All-Star for the first time, but he's playing at an All-NBA level with Paolo Banchero out. Orlando is 15-7, still third place in the East, winners of six consecutive games and 12 of the team's last thirteen contests. The Magic are the hottest team in the NBA, and are also 3-0 in NBA Cup East Group A play with a big fourth and final group decider occurring Tuesday inside Madison Square Garden against a very challenging New York Knicks opponent. The Knicks have to win or they're eliminated from the cup. If by chance you hear snoring in the background, that would be Argos the tired goldendoodle. He's enjoying the cold northeast weather. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Live from Los Angeles, California. The Magic's streak of six consecutive victories ended in Los Angeles at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers inside the Intuit Dome. Orlando is now 9-7 and face the second night of a back-to-back against the Lakers. What it was like inside Intuit Dome, and how way too many Magic players didn't perform well enough. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Live from Phoenix, Arizona. The Magic win their first game of this three-game West road trip. Orlando's win streak extends to 6 consecutive victories. The Magic are continuing to adjusting to not having Paolo Banchero by continuing to suffocate opponents with stellar defense. Franz Wagner fresh off his first NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award once again had over 30 points. Anthony Black dropped a season-high 20 points. The Suns didn't have Durant, Beal, or Nurkic, and no one could stop Goga Bitadze in the paint. The Magic are 9-6 and still the third seed in the East. It was a great game to witness while sitting courtside. First Magic win in Phoenix since 2018. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Life goes on. Whether that's adjusting to presidential election results or trying to win without your All-Star Paolo Banchero. The Orlando Magic are 3-6 after a rough 0-5 road trip. Looking at how the roster is performing and the opportunities that exist with a five-game homestand. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Paolo Banchero just dropped the first Orlando Magic 50-point game since Tracy McGrady did it in 2004. Two decades. P5 added 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 made triples to a historic stat line that saw the Magic beat the Indiana Pacers to improve to 3-1 on the young 2024-2025 season. It was an honor to see this game in person. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We made it through preseason 1-2. The real deal starts Wednesday in Miami. Which means, this is our 2024-2025 Orlando Magic season predictions episode. We also finally got the news about Jalen Suggs' contract extension. Happy New Year, Magic fans. Orlando will have more than 1.5 All-Stars? Orlando will have more than 1.5 All-Defense guys? Paolo makes an All-NBA Team? Magic will win more than 47.5 games? Orlando will have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs? Orlando will win its first playoff series since 2010? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We got through Hurricane Milton. Some more unscathed than others. Wendell Carter Jr. got his contract extension. Still waiting to see if Jalen Suggs gets his. And considering the Magic have had one preseason game canceled, and this final prep game against the Sixers coming up on Friday won't have Joel Embiid or Paul George, it really feels like we haven't had a true exhibition season. That's where that ‘iron sharpen iron' phrase gets thrown around. Because we're hoping these internal Magic practices will be enough to have us ready opening night in Miami. Vince Carter got inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We've got Hurricane Milton approaching to heavily impact central Florida. For Orlando, this might be worse than Charley in 2004. This coming shortly after Helene wrecked the west coast of Florida, the Big Bend, Georgia and the western Carolinas. Orlando Magic Media Day was last Monday, got through a week of training camp healthy, and this afternoon the Magic were in New Orleans for the first of their 4 preseason games. Wendell Carter Jr. sprained his ankle. Jalen Suggs struggled at point guard. Anthony Black, Cole Anthony and the rest of the bench were very uplifting. Paolo Banchero is still looking like our star. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Been away for over a month and a half. In that time: Germany lost the Olympic semifinal and bronze medal games, the NBA schedule dropped, there's a new ‘Make It Magic' team slogan, our new and bad city jersey was leaked, and we've signed some guys to Exhibit 10 training camp deals. The offseason is over. Media day is Monday September 30th, training camp is Tuesday October 1st. With expectations come some concerns entering this 2024-2025 Orlando Magic campaign. What does Franz Wagner's 3-pointer look like with 6 weeks off? Can he continue to be better even if his 3 is still not falling? Can Moritz Wagner still be a consistent double digit scorer without Joe Ingles? Is Jalen Suggs going to get his contract extension? How will he play without it? Can he play PG? Will KCP's shooting carry over to Orlando? Who are the 9th and 10th guys on the team? Will there be that moment in preseason, where we watch this team and go: ‘We're going to be better than expected'? Who gets the two remaining 2-way spots? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Germany got off to a rough start in their 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinal matchup with Greece. They don't win that game without Moritz Wagner's bench energy and Franz Wagner's great second half. Germany are on their way to Thursday's semifinals to face FIBA Evan Fournier, Victor Wembanyama and a rejuvenated France team. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We're into the month of August. Magic training camp is September 30th, so we're not too far away from that. Hopefully you're watching and enjoying these Paris Olympics to help make the time pass. A lot of electric events already. We are of course on Wagner Watch. Germany went 3-0 in Group B play, taking down Japan, Brazil, and the hyped up hosts France. Franz Wagner is the second highest scorer behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo in this tournament so far. Germany are into the knockout stage now with a Tuesday quarterfinal meeting with Greece. A EuroBasket 2022 rematch. Tyus Jones, Anfernee Simons trade rumors, Chuma Okeke finds a new team, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, how Franz and Mo Wagner have performed so far. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Wagner Watch 2024. Franz and Mo are again with the German men's basketball national team. This time at the Paris Olympics. They're our only current 2 Magic players participating in this two-week tourney. Two years ago Germany won bronze at EuroBasket in Germany. Last year they upset the U.S. on their way to winning gold in the Philippines at the World Cup. Now, they're looking for more hardware at these summer Olympic games in France. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
A lot has happened over the past month. The Magic drafted Tristan da Silva who looked great at Vegas Summer League. Orlando signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Nuggets. We re-signed a lot of our own guys, but we sadly let Joe Ingles and Markelle Fultz go. Franz Wagner rightfully got a max rookie contract extension. With that said, Jeff Weltman has been very conservative this summer. We didn't address two of our 3 needs (we've got more shooting, but we don't have a point guard, and we don't have a rim running shot blocking center or a better rebounder). There is valid concern that there's a possibility the Magic take a step back. Other teams in the East got better, while it's not certain that Orlando did as well. It's likely, but it's not certain that the Magic are better. Once Boston kept everyone to try and repeat as champs, it became evident that Jeff Weltman was probably going to slow-play this coming 2024-2025 season and depend on internal growth again. But we have flaws, and after winning 47 games, opponents are going to be even more focused against the Magic moving forward. The patriarch of the Magic, Pat Williams passed. Words do not do justice what he meant to Orlando. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
It's Draft week. June 26th and 27th. Then on June 30th free agency begins. As expected, there's a lot of chatter but no certainty about what's going to happen from an Orlando Magic perspective. Could Goga Bitadze be returning? Could the Magic actually use both of their draft picks? Klay Thompson, Paul George, Malik Monk, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brook Lopez get discussed. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
This episode is dedicated to looking at the 29 other NBA teams' rosters. Who the Magic have been linked to via rumors (newsflash: it's already a lot, agents are using the Magic as negotiation leverage). Which players should be talked about more as a potential Orlando summer trade or free agency targets, and putting together realistic acquisition possibilities and how we want to fill up this 2024-2025 Magic roster. It's time to go shopping. Klay Thompson, Paul George, Anfernee Simons, Malcolm Brogdon, Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Nic Claxton, Mikal Bridges, Isaiah Hartenstein, Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr., Tyus Jones, are among the many players discussed. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We hope Magic fans have been able to decompress since the Magic's 2023-2024 campaign concluded. This episode is about discussing all the players on the roster. How they did. Which players will be back next season? Who do we and don't want back? Because to bring in players via trade and free agency, we're going to have to say goodbye to some. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
It was a very fun ride. But the ride ended Sunday as the Orlando Magic lost Game 7 in Cleveland. Yes the Magic were up 18 in the second period and it went bad from there with the Cavs making a historic comeback. But our young core got some massive experience moving forward. This 35th Magic season all-time is going to rank highly. Could easily argue it's top-5, and that's without winning a playoff series. Cleveland wanted us. They purposely tanked to get the Magic as their playoff matchup. They ended up getting a whole lot of us. They ended barely survived a 7-game series through hell. Paolo Banchero is a star. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs struggled shooting in Game 7 but that doesn't define their seasons and impact in the years ahead. Donovan Mitchell showed again why he is one of the NBA's best players. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
Powered by 20+ points each from Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, Orlando's young core held off a 50-point deluge from Donovan Mitchell and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers inside Kia Center 103-96 in Game 6. Mitchell apparently scored the Cavs' final 22 points in the contest. It doesn't matter because the Magic have forced a Game 7 up in Cleveland on Sunday at 1 pm on ABC. It'll be the first ABC televised game for the franchise since 2012. Speaking of 2012, Dwight Howard made his first return to a Magic game as a spectator since he left the team in 2012. Time can heal a lot of wounds over the course of a dozen years. Game 7 preview. Rashard Lewis and Mike Miller were also there. Despite it being scary in the third and early fourth periods, the Magic found a way and continue its rapid growth of development with every playoff game that passes. The Magic had previously not experienced a Game 6 since 2011. Next the Magic will play in its fourth Game 7 in franchise history. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
We finally got a close game in this series. Unfortunately, the Magic lost Game 5 in Cleveland 104-103 on Tuesday night. Paolo Banchero had another absurd superstar performance. Orlando is learning some great lessons from this Cavaliers series. Now it's win or go home on Friday. The Magic are down 3-2 in the series. Bring it, Orlando. Why Jarrett Allen sitting out injured ended up helping Cleveland. Guard shooting struggles. Gary Harris' injury. Game 6 preview. What adjustments Jamahl Mosley should make? Who starts in place of Gary Harris if he's out? Cole Anthony's effectiveness. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
There is a spirit in Orlando, and Magic in our town. It's a 2-2 series, as the Magic win these past two home games by 60+ points combined. And now the pressure is back on Cleveland to hold serve for Game 5. But this young Magic team is doing things it hasn't done in over a dozen years. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are breaking NBA records one game at a time. And it's been a very fun past few days. Now we'll see if the Magic get greedy and take Game 5 from the Cavs. We can break Cleveland's spirit if we push them past their mental limit. Jamahl Mosley finished second in NBA Coach of the Year voting. The Magic are the first team to hold their opponent to less than 100 PTS in 4 consecutive playoff games since the Raptors in 2019. It marks the first time in franchise history that Orlando has won consecutive playoff games by 20+ points. Also, the Magic became the first team in NBA History to trail a series 0-2 and then win Games 3 and 4 by a combined 60+ points. Previewing Game 5. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic lost Game 2 in Cleveland 96-86. Cavs hold a 2-0 series lead. Both losses had similar problems: bad first quarter starts, bad 3-point shooting, not enough guard scoring contributions, some shaky coaching player rotation choices, our guards leaving our bigs hanging out to dry defending the paint, and not being able to score enough in the paint or rebound. And yet both games Orlando still could've won. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen have been outstanding. On top of all of this, there are Cavs fans on social media and also inside RocketMortgage Fieldhouse calling the Wagner brothers Nazis. In no world is that OK or acceptable. One Cleveland fan got kicked out for spewing insults in Franz Wagner's face, but it's more than just one person doing the same. Basketball karma is going to come for Cleveland, it may or may not be the Magic that delivers it, but it's going to hit something fierce. We're back home in Orlando with 2 full days off to prepare for a massive Game 3 Thursday night. The series starts now with taking care of our home floor. Our team is going to need loud and energetic support. Discussing what happened in Game 2, and what adjustments should and need to be made moving forward. Jamahl Mosley is officially a finalist for NBA 2023-2024 Coach of the Year. The entertainment complex might finally be happening. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic dropped Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series in Cleveland against the Cavaliers. There were some first game postseason jitters, but the Magic had chances to win the game. Just need to hit shots. Other than Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner, the rest of Jamahl Mosley's 10-man rotation didn't do nearly enough offensively. The guards in particular. A lot of mistakes are very fixable. Also discussing the Wall Street fan watch party experience. There are some potential decisions the coaching staff have to make going into Game 2. Does someone else start in place of Gary Harris? Should Anthony Black play? Should Mosley shorten his rotation by excluding players like Markelle Fultz? Either way, with nerves out of the way, the Magic should be better offensively in Game 2. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
It's here. Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic. Playoff series preview. We're looking for our first series win since 2010. Cavs are looking to get to the second round for the first time since 2018. It's the second time they're facing each other ever in the postseason (2009 Eastern Conference Finals being the other). Reviewing the 2-2 regular season meetings between the two squads. Discussing various series questions: How healthy is Donovan Mitchell? Does Jonathan Isaac start? Can Franz Wagner hit 3s? Can Orlando score in the paint? What are the player rotations: Who is in/out? Is this Paolo Banchero's coming out party? Can Jamahl Mosley bury his friend JB Bickerstaff? Final predictions. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
As the Orlando Magic prepare for their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, we look back on the October predictions we made for the 2023-2024 NBA regular season. Awards, playoffs or not, team MVP, trades, over/under guesses, and beyond. Orlando's team slogan for the postseason is #EverybodyIn. The NBA finally released the Magic-Cavs playoff schedule. Despite the play-in performance, why Klay Thompson would be a better Magic addition than Malik Monk. Why it's ridiculous that Team USA already finalized its 12-man roster for the Summer Olympics before the playoffs conclude. And how Paolo Banchero could still end up on that roster. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are playoffs bound for the first time since 2020! The Magic concluded the 2023-2024 regular season 47-35. They will face the 4th seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the postseason. As the 5th seed, this is the highest playoff seed the Magic have been since 2011. Orlando now seeks to win its first playoff series since 2010, which is the franchise's longest drought. It took game #82 to lock up a playoff spot, but it was well worth it considering how much the team struggled on their 3-game road trip in Houston, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Never underestimate the power of a Fan Appreciate Day. It's the seventh time in team history the Magic have won the division title. Paolo Banchero concluded a historic sophomore NBA season becoming the youngest player in league history to lead a team in points, rebounds, and assists in a single season. Franz Wagner's value continues to remain sky high considering how much the team struggled with him out. Head Coach Jamahl Mosley is relying on Jonathan Isaac more than ever. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are 46-32. Currently the 3rd seed in the East as the scoreboard and schedule watching has been insane. There 4 games left in the regular season. Injuries to Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac have potentially complicated matters, as the Magic are just one game back of the 2nd seed, yet could realistically still fall into the play-in. Looking at everyone's schedules, tiebreakers could play a factor. No matter what happens, the Magic will see postseason basketball, and that's exciting. The Magic have the most wins in a season since 2011. Orlando is very close to becoming Southeast division champions (divisions matter). It's rare and insane to see the 2-through-8 seeding race so tight coming down to the final week. That the Magic are this good with their three highest scorers being 22 years old or younger is new NBA history territory. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are 42-29. Currently the 5th seed in the East, with a top-6 playoff spot still very attainable with eleven games remaining in the regular season. Head Coach Jamahl Mosley received a very well earned four-year coaching extension. Why the newer style of NBA officiating should help the Magic long-term. The Anthony Black-Gradey Dick jersey swap. Paolo Banchero outduels Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Another heartbreaking loss to the Sacramento Kings. Markelle Fultz v. Anthony Black point guard minutes. Eastern Conference playoff seeding jostling. The 21-year-old 22/5/5 club. The Magic being in contention for awards. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language
The Orlando Magic are 37-26, currently the 4th seed in the East, winners of 5 games in a row (longest streak in the NBA at the moment), 13 of our last 16 games. Orlando is taking advantage of a favorable portion of its schedule and are arguably the hottest team in the league. Not only are the Magic on pace to finish with a top-6 Eastern Conference seed, avoiding the play-in entirely, but we've Jamahl Mosley's squad has a legitimate chance to host a first round playoffs series. The Magic are battling with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Indiana Pacers for the 4th seed, and home court advantage in the playoffs. It's genuinely in play. Who of these teams would you rather face in the playoffs (Heat and Knicks especially)? The Magic may even be able to hunt down the 3rd seed which is currently occupied by the Cleveland Cavaliers. *Correction: The Magic have not faced the Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets in the playoffs ever (as well as the Wizards and Knicks). Figured it out immediately after recording. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language