Orlando Magic

Scott Skiles

Published

11 years ago

May 26, 2015

Based on reports by Adrian Wojnarowski and Peter Vecsey, it seems the Magic are going to announce Scott Skiles as the Magic’s head coach sometime this week. While Skiles has exceptionally turned struggling teams into playoff contenders, he is rather unfairly criticized for burning his rosters out after a couple years. What kind of repercussions would such a hire have on Tobias Harris, a player who was buried on the bench during his Skiles’ tenures in Milwaukee?

Numerous people, including the Magic’s former players Beno Udrih and JJ Redick, have noted a lack of an identified role while playing for Skiles. Could the hiring of Skiles, infamous for having a number of fallouts with many of his former players, drive a wedge between himself and the Magic’s players? Hopefully, no. Albeit Redick, the other players who have struggled under Skiles have been underachieving players who never reached their full potential, like Eddy Curry and Tyrus Thomas. Skiles values players who have both a strong work ethic and a drive to succeed. Since most of the players on our roster embody these traits, there should not be a problem with Skiles’ hard-nosed approach. Even Harris, who did not get any playing time under Skiles, has proven he has a strong drive to succeed during his time with the Magic. On the flip side, however, Skiles’ refusal to play Harris while on the Bucks could potentially increase the chance of the organization letting Harris go in restricted free agency.

One player who has praised Skiles is the Magic’s very own Ben Gordon. Gordon, who won Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie coached by Skiles on the Bulls, said his head coach’s ability to hold his players accountable for their mistakes allowed him to really flourish in his first years as a player. Another person who has raved about Skiles is Jeff Van Gundy. When interviewed by Mike Bianchi, Van Gundy said:

“Scott Skiles to me is one of the most underrated coaches in the NBA. People always talk about how he wears his teams out, but I’ve never believed that. Great players embrace coaching. When Scott was in Phoenix, he turned them around quickly. When he was in Chicago, he took over a team that had been down for a long, long period of time and he turned it and he turned it quickly…I think he’s a terrific teacher and I think his teams play, the way he played — tough and smart and with a sense of tenacity that really embodies who he is. If Scott wants to get back into coaching, he should be a guy that every team considers.”

Perhaps the player who could benefit most from the hire is point guard Elfrid Payton. Skiles holds the record for most assists ever dished out in a game with 30. Skiles can hopefully turn Elfrid, an already promising young floor general who led the LEAGUE in assists in the season’s final month, into a star.

In hindsight, overlooking his flaws, Skiles does indeed fit in all the criteria Rob Hennigan set forth when he set out a search for a new coach: someone who has a lot of head coaching experience in the NBA (13 years), instills a defensive identity with his teams, and holds his players accountable. If all goes well, he could be the coach of our team for years to come and perhaps tread waters he has never gone to before as a head coach, taking a team all the way to the NBA Finals. He has a 51% win-loss record as well as an 18-24 playoff record. If the hire does not work out, he will only be on the team for a maximum of two or three years. It would not be for nothing, however, as we would almost certainly make the playoffs during that timespan. Skiles will be warmly welcomed by longtime Magic fans, as he is one of the original players on the Magic’s first roster.

NBA

Magic Beat Raptors for Second Win in a Row

Published

3 years ago

December 9, 2022

Mike Brodsky

ORLANDO, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Orlando Magic (7-20) continued their winning ways against the Toronto Raptors (13-13), defeating them 113-109 , just two days after a come-from-behind overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. This two game winning streak puts an end to the Magic’s previous nine game losing streak.

The Magic started strong, taking a 37-25 lead into the second quarter, led by 10 first quarter points from Franz Wagner. But the Raptors caught up to the Magic midway through the second quarter led by Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. But at halftime, the Magic held a slight lead, 67-63.

The Magic extended their lead to 94-87 with remarkably impressive scoring from Franz Wagner who added 14 points in the third quarter alone. In the fourth quarter, the Raptors tied it up 108-108 with about two minutes remaining after two free throws by OG Anunoby. Paolo Banchero made one of two subsequent free throws, and Moe Wagner drew the charge from Gary Trent Jr. to negate his two point basket. Fred Van Vleet later added a free throw to tie the game at 109-109. A Franz Wagner tip layup put the Magic up 111-109. A missed shot by Fred Van Vleet sealed the Raptors loss. Banchero’s two free throws put the Magic ahead 113-109 at the end of the game.

Franz Wagner led the scoring for the Magic with 34 points, while Paolo Banchero scored 23. Mo Bamba finished with 13 rebounds. Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz ended with 5 assists.

Several Magic players remain injured and were unable to play, including Wendell Carter Jr. (plantar fascia strain), Gary Harris (strained right hamstring), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness), Jalen Suggs (right ankle soreness) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee recovery). Isaac has started his rehab program, playing in full contact 5 on 5 practice games with the Lakeland G League affiliate, and hopes to return to the court soon for Orlando.

The Magic face the Raptors at Amway once again on Sunday, 12/11 at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

NBA

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic Beat Memphis Grizzlies 109-105 in Preseason Home Opener

Published

4 years ago

October 11, 2022

Mellissa Thomas

Orlando Magic #1 draft pick Paolo Banchero (in white) blocks a shot during the Orlando Magic's preseason home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies at Amway Center Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Photo: J. Willie David III/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Magic returned home to Amway Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night; the teams’ second match with each other this preseason. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley made a point to rotate many his key players through in just the first quarter. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins also mentioned he would take a similar route in a pregame interview, saying he planned to run 11 players in Tuesday night’s game.

First Half

As anticipated, Orlando Magic first round draft pick Paolo Banchero got busy putting up points, leading in the first quarter with nine. Banchero continued to lead the Magic in scoring in the first half with 13 points while Franz Wagner led in rebounds with eight and Wendell Carter Jr. carried the weight in assists with six. Banchero also led in free throws at 100 percent, nailing all five.

Though the Magic led in the points, the truth is the Grizzlies actually made great shot opportunities for themselves, but many of the shots just didn’t land. Not for lack of trying: Ja Morant was 2 for 11 on field goals and clocked seven points, Dillon Brooks went 2 for 6 and clocked six points, and Desmond Bane, who led the Grizzlies with 17 points in the first half, went 6 for 9 on field goals.

The Magic led in points in the paint with 20 compared to the Grizzlies’ 18 and in second chance points with five to the Grizzlies’ two. Memphis did lead in fast break points, though, with 13 to Orlando’s eight.

For the Magic, Terrence Ross was second in scoring with eight points in the first half. Orlando’s other draft pick rookie, Caleb Houstan, contributed five points in the first half. Bol Bol humbly contributed two. Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner each contributed seven points.

By halftime, the Magic had a seven-point lead, 54-47.

Second Half

Either the Grizzlies came alive in the second half or the Magic slowed down, but the Grizzlies were much more successful in scoring. Desmond Bane put up six more points in the third quarter as did Santi Aldama. Banchero and (Franz) Wagner maxed out at three additional points in the third. The Grizzlies closed the scoring gap and went into the fourth with only a six-point deficit, 77-71.

The Grizzlies clawed through the fourth quarter, narrowing Orlando’s lead to just one point with only four minutes left in the game. However, the Magic managed get more points on the board and widen the gap again by five points in the final two minutes. The rest of the game was a bit of a nail biter for Magic fans, seeing the lead shrink and grow between two and five points with fouls and free throws for Terrence Ross for the Magic and Ja Morant for the Grizzlies.

For the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. topped in scoring with 18 points and 8 assists, with Paolo Banchero and Terrence Ross backing him up each with 17 points.

All in all, the Magic won 109-105. They have one more home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, October 14 at 7pm ET, before getting back on the road.

____________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News.

Orlando

Orlando Magic Sign Kevon Harris to Two-Way Contract

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2022

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Kevon Harris (KEE-von) to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Harris (6’6”, 216, 6/24/97) played in 24 games (23 starts) last season with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League, averaging 15.1 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 3.6 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 30.2 minpg. Most recently, he played and started in all five games with Minnesota during the NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022, averaging 15.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 27.1 minpg.

Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Harris has played in 31 career NBA G League regular season games (23 starts), all with Raptors 905, averaging 12.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 25.5 minpg.

Harris played in 127 career games (104 starts) during four seasons at Stephen F. Austin (2016-20), averaging 14.4 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.05 stlpg. in 28.0 minpg., while shooting .397 (188-474) from three-point range. As a senior (2019-20), he played and started in 31 games, averaging 17.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 2.1 apg. and 1.52 stlpg. in 29.3 minpg., while shooting .413 (59-143) from three-point range. Harris was named First Team All-Southland Conference and the 2019-20 Southland Conference Player of the Year. He also earned Second Team All-Southland Conference twice (2017-18, 2018-19).

Harris will wear #7 with the Orlando Magic.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player is also eligible to provide services to Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.