Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic: Key Individual Offseason Improvements
Published
10 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO (FNN SPORTS) – Despite making a 10 game improvement, the Orlando Magic, who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, left much to be desired. Each member of the current starting five, as well as Mario Hezonja, has an aspect of their game they must improve upon in the offseason, and each facet is attainable with their strong work ethics. If they address these issues, they will be primed to make a playoff run next season.
Elfrid Payton: Shooting
The game is changing. The NBA is witnessing a historic Warriors team make an unprecedented run with an offense surrounded by prolific 3 point shooters in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. On the bright side, the Magic’s backcourt excels on the defensive end and is capable of shutting down prolific scorers. Unfortunately, however, our starting 1 and 2 are below average perimeter shooters. While Oladipo has a somewhat respectable jumper, Payton does not, but if he can develop one in the offseason, it will make it easier for his teammates and even himself to operate in the paint.
Victor Oladipo: Final Possessions
While Oladipo has improved multiple facets of his game, the one alarming aspect that he fails to correct is his play at the end of quarters that end up costing the team valuable points. He rarely passes the ball with the shot clock winding down, even if there is an open man within proximity. When he does shoot, he leaves just enough time on the clock for the opposition to score a ball with a scattered Magic defense trying to recover. It could be seen on the court, when Nikola Vucevic, after one of these incidents, seemed to give a stern lecture to Oladipo about failing to make the right play and instead opting to play hero ball. If Oladipo goes over the tape of these plays with Coach Skiles and is open to his teammates about the issue, he is too talented not to learn from his mistakes, and I have no doubt the team will be all the better for it.
Evan Fournier: Making the Extra Pass
Evan Fournier has been one of my favorite players on the roster since we traded for him. The issue with Fournier is that he seemed like he was too caught up in this year being a contract year for him. He often halted ball movement within the Magic’s offense, and the team stagnated multiple times on that end as a result. I believe he will buy into the system more if the team secures a long-term contract for him, as he will be under less pressure to put up stellar statistics.
Aaron Gordon: Control
Magic fans have been in for a treat with the breakout season of Aaron Gordon. From his gritty defense to his jaw dropping dunks, Gordon has given the Magic something to consistently cheer for night in and night out. He has strong character and has a strong work ethic, so any Magic fan knows he will continue to improve as a player. With that being said, and head coach Scott Skiles picked up on this as well, Gordon’s tendency to showboat mid game has not gone unnoticed by the teams the Magic play against. Sure, it is good to have fun when playing, but you have to be able to defend that outward display of confidence. The Warriors showboat all the time; in the NFL, the Panthers showboat all the time, the difference is they are able to back it up. Time and time again, after every huge run the Magic create, the showboating makes them complacent and they end up giving up an even bigger run. This issue will be a key topic of discussion within the team, and there is no doubt in my mind that Gordon’s high character will overpower his showboating on the court.
Nikola Vucevic: Rim Presence
As the season went by, it was a great sight to see Nik Vucevic improve on the defensive end. He has become more active one on one but still struggles with help defense, a weakness that can be potentially addressed in free agency. If Skiles can develop Vooch’s defensive instincts, similar to how he did Bogut’s, the Magic big man will be an All Star next season.
Mario Hezonja: Being More Assertive
Super Mario learned a lot under the coaching staff and his fellow teammates, despite playing in limited minutes for much of the season. Towards the end of the season, Skiles gave him more on-the-job development, and he was able to showcase all of the things he learned, from increased defensive focus to fighting for every rebound. Mario’s strength is his shooting capability, but he was almost too passive at times, giving up the ball when he had good looks. It’s almost the opposite of players like Oladipo and Fournier, who take bad shot after bad shot. The three guards can benefit if they rub off on each other a bit, with Fournier and Oladipo passing more and Hezonja shooting more.
The Orlando Magic roster is a very young group in which all members have a lot left to be learned, and this offseason will be pivotal to their improvement as they prepare themselves for the next phase of their journey.
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NBA
Magic Beat Raptors for Second Win in a Row
Published
3 years agoon
December 9, 2022By
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 agoon
October 11, 2022
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 agoon
July 25, 2022By
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.
