GelbeWand09 wrote:Not sure about that. I think the definition of a up and coming squad is having a young star & a predictable future of getting better and better. Like our 36 win squad with Dwight.
We don't have that shiny young cornerstone & we are probably gonna end the season with a worse record than last year. But i think that Detroit, San Antonio & co are in the same category (But some with higher probability of going into the lottery / rebuild mode soon).
Eh, if the young core of Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz and Mo Bamba were based in any of the bigger (aka more media friendly) markets they would be hyped as a hot young team. But instead they are in a small market, one whose already small fan base was decimated to even smaller numbers by a failed "youth movement" rebuild strategy.
Taking jabs (regardless of accuracy) at markets like Orlando is the best way to bait clicks...especially for low end aggregator sites or most national reporters who have very shallow knowledge of a team like the Magic.
Plus, having a "young star" isn't really a reliable predictor of a team getting better and better...its more related to improved virality and increased revenue streams than it is to actual team improvement.
Btw, that Dwight Howard squad actually had 3 sub .500 years...36, 36 and 40...that was with a generational future HOF talent, not a fluffed stat "young star." It wasn't until the 4th year that the Magic took a big jump with the arrival of Stan Van Gundy and the acquisition of peak prime 28 year old All-Star Rashard Lewis + Hedo entered his peak prime and Nelson entered his prime ascent.
