2025-2026 Preseason Game 3: Miami Heat (0-3) at Orlando Magic (2-0) - 6pm ET

[RookieStar]

I know its pre-season but im glad we are putting points on the board. Last years anemic scoring was something else

[T-Cat]

JI is playing really soft

The Minister of Defense is gone...

it's preseason but if he starts the season with these weak contests at the rim, we're going to have a problem.

I'm fine with Penda taking Jonathan Isaac minutes! I'm going to unfollow him again on Instagram lol

[Howard Mass]

Another nice win for The Magic.

This in some ways like a whole new team. I like it!

[RookieStar]

So who we gonna sign our 2ways?

[SOUL]

The weirdest thing is having a good scrub 4th team, we always had awful ones

[ReadyOrlando]

So who we gonna sign our 2ways?

Was wondering the same. I feel like this should be it's own thread.

[shadrock]

Anthony Black always looks great against scrubs. Need way more data.

Hes Elfrid Payton 2.0. A wasted pick.

[RookieStar]

The weirdest thing is having a good scrub 4th team, we always had awful ones

Having that injury plagued season does that to you...

Wait we have a 4th team???

[Knightro]

So who we gonna sign our 2ways?

Only one final two-way slot open.

[KillMonger]

i like cain.....is he a 2-way?

[SOUL]

i like cain.....is he a 2-way?

Cain, Robinson and room for one more.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I wasnt a fan of Tyus signing, and hes done literally nothing. He barely played and its preseason but still. Jase looks so much better.

Im giving JI maybe a month into the season, if he still looking like a shell of himself, it's going to be time to cut ties. Thats really hard for me, since Im a big fan, but man he used to be special, but now it looks like the Monstars took his talent.

Jett actually looks like an NBA player now. He was really impressive today.

Wendell, TDS impressive.

[CarraT]

So, last time we had 3 games in a row with 120+ points was in 2023. Is this something?

[jezzerinho]

So, last time we had 3 games in row with 120+ points was in 2023. Is this something?

Its not nothing, David.

[RookieStar]

So who we gonna sign our 2ways?

Only one final two-way slot open.

Ah... who do you think it will be?

[Ducklett]

Maybe I am on crack but TDS, AB, Jett, and hell the whole bench look like they are 5 steps better without Cole. Probably just sample size and preseason.

I am going to say it early and look like a fool later but this Jase kid might be something special.

[pepe1991]

Maybe I am on crack but TDS, AB, Jett, and hell the whole bench look like they are 5 steps better without Cole. Probably just sample size and preseason.

I am going to say it early and look like a fool later but this Jase kid might be something special.

Jett Howard was second leading preseason scorer last year on 50% FG, 41% for 3 and Black led whole team in assists

It's preseason, glorified training of backups & fringe nba bodies with cameras on.

Now when i think about it, after Spurs preseason game last year, there was massive overreaction about Jett and how he was held hostage as a rookie for no reason

Last year Cavs went 0-4 in preseason, Nuggets 1-4.

Wanna hear something hilarious: Cavs lost 13 of last 15 preseason games. In last 3 years they are 1-11 in preseason.


It's good to see that some players play good. But within 12 days new season starts, winning or losing in preseason will equal to same 0-0 record, and team will still play Franz & Banchero for 35 min, they will still combine for 35-40 shots a game and bench will still just play 8-18 mpg on very limited shot attempts, and most of the time bench won't play as unit, but with one of Franz, Banchero, Bane. Matter of fact, there is serious possibility that combination of 2/3 of them will always be on court.

Andre Drummond is now 3/4 for 3 in preseason. That fact alone is enough to never take anything you watch too serious.

[drsd]

My pre-game warm up for "box-score thoughts":

i) Orlando dog-tackled the Heat on the boards. 60 rebounds by Orlando.

ii) The Magic continues to be stellar at getting to the line AND making the free-bees. 33-38 (86.8%)

The Magic is playing 90s style baseball to a level of excellence. I don't think this is what we will see in the season. But watching PFs and Cs post up is really quite retro. And it's working.

[Skybox]

I haven't watched any game play...is the offense looking like something other than "you go, I go", but with more players taking turns? My biggest concern and the team's ceiling, imo, is the development of a functional offense that doesn't rely on overpowering double teams as the clock runs out on every posession. Would love to hear how the rotation players are running and cutting a little (or a lot) more this time around. It really doesn't matter that the Jamal Cain/Castleton lineups are dominating the other G League lineups.

You got nothing without talent but even a stacked lineup can bog down (or be bogged down when the league figures you out by mid season) without good ball movement. I'd like to hear if the "Prunty Effect" and the "Shamgod Influence" is anything that shows.

[drsd]

i like cain.....is he a 2-way?

Cain, Robinson and room for one more.

Given that two-way players can suit up for 50 of the 82 games, I expect Orlando Robinson on the opinion night roster and all games for the first ~20; until M-Wagner is 100% healthy.

If the Magic use their third two-way contract by pre-season, I would guess it would go to Reece Beekman. He is a pure PG with good shooting numbers. He serves a nice role as a practice-squad guy.

But as has been said by many, I expect the Magic will leave the third two-way slot open in case there is an injury need to fill a position. Orlando cannot afford its 15th roster slot until about the ASW. So this two-way slot is actually useful to ensure resilience to the roster.