Are the Magic legit? Very spooky team

[JT3000]

Orlando is a really fun up and coming team but jeez, how many times are we going to overreact to small sample sizes? First how is coming back to force a game 7 down 3-0 melting? Second how many times have we seen teams brining in stars need time to get its bearings? The playoffs are a whole different story than a early regular season game, I really doubt you see Mo Wagner putting up 27 and Boston shooting 20% from three in the same game again.

Overreact to small sample sizes? So exactly how big of a sample size is big enough? I'm just curious, because I want to know how many times we need to beat the Celtics consecutively, since four apparently still wasn't enough to humble some of you. If we meet in the playoffs, do you know what happens when we beat you four times? Just asking.

75% of our forum predicted under 40 wins so yeah, talking like our team has done anything yet is very premature.

However.. people acting like they're some scrub bottom feeder team are obviously very wrong too. They're in the mix with everybody else in that tier outside of the Philly/Bucks/Celts.

Our team hasn't done anything to most of the league yet. I'm just taking the piss out of an overly talkative fanbase. Although at this point I genuinely do think they should start cheering for our success instead of hoping we settle for a 7th or 8th seed.

[meatwad4343]

Boston is mentally weak, meltdown 3-0 against a vastly less talented team. Then add in porzingis, who I like, but is injury prone so who knows how much he will even play over a full year. The Celtics can be had. They aren't head and shoulders over everyone in the east like lots of people make them out to be. They are about on the same level as Milwaukee and Philly, but all of those top tier east teams are flawed and I think it's possible although unlikely one of the second tier teams can make a run thru the east. However I think Orlando is still a year away and a final piece away from being that team this year, but they'll comfortably fit into the playoffs this year and maybe even get to round 2 if things go their way.

[Statlanta]

I’ll believe it when they play more games away from Amway Center. We’ve seen different iterations of this team have hot starts then go under .500

[ReadyOrlando]

Yes but we ass today

These are the same exact words every single opposing team fan says when they’re beaten by the Magic.

This.

[SOUL]

I’ll believe it when they play more games away from Amway Center. We’ve seen different iterations of this team have hot starts then go under .500

They have had 9 away games (one in Mexico City), which is tied for the 2nd most in the conference. This core has never had a start this well and that's like saying "the Magic started well in 1993, let's pump the brakes" lol. Doesn't matter how Vuc and Fournier started really. People are using data from basically the last 50 games of last season + these first 15.

And look, I don't care if you think the team is good or not, like I said, it has to be earned and while they are trending in the right direction, there will still be lessons to be learned from a young squad.. but you consistently confuse me as a poster.

I'm looking through your posts and you used to be an Orlando fan, or at least actively post in game threads, but now only post in GB and post as if you're not a fan? And in the last 2 months you've said Paolo Banchero is Aaron Gordon at best, said Orlando should be in the poll for worst future a few days ago (??), liked a post saying "weaker conference" in reply to why our defense was good when more than half of our games were against the west (tied for most in the east with Cavs).

Just a bit confused is all...

[Skybox]

These are the same exact words every single opposing team fan says when they’re beaten by the Magic.

Seen the exact same comment on our last 2 wins lol.
YES we fr fr.

Pacers fans said the same thing after superstar Haliburton looked like a g league player against this defense lol

Davion Mitchell has the best nickname in the league…I think it applies to ORL team defense here, “OFF NIGHT”…as in, these good teams just seem to have had an off night, one after another

The defense is real…but the shooting will catch up to them when playoff pace and preparation kicks in…I think their needs have changed a bit, but still one good move away from being a dangerous playoff team.

[Skybox]

They are their record says they are P & the Wagners! Yeah they decent -

Suggs the weak link

The reason Orlando has the #1 defense is the weak link?

Suggs isn’t the best player on the team, but he MIGHT be the leading reason for their recent success and identity…like when Dillon Brooks was young and sane.

[jeeph]

Perhaps a bit like the Cavs team a couple years ago. Young defensive minded team that's playing like they have nothing to lose. The kind of team the good teams don't like playing because they will out hustle you if you don't bring it.
But ORL still has holes in the roster, need internal development, and experience. There's no quick fix to get experience, it's earned. A couple of years, a couple/three key additions, then you reevaluate the team. ORL seems to be coming to the end of the beginning finally. Fun times for the fans.

[CelticSooner]

Young teams don’t go from fringe playoff teams to contenders in one year. Keep that in mind when you watch these young teams play well right now. There is a process and winning a playoff series is the first step.

[J-Mezzy]

We need a shooter and consistent scorer

But we are a pest defensively so I’ll say we should be in contention for that 4th seed

[Homer38]

Not surprised...I mean, the magic were my pick to win the in season tournament!

[tooler]

I'm looking through your posts and you used to be an Orlando fan, or at least actively post in game threads, but now only post in GB and post as if you're not a fan? And in the last 2 months you've said Paolo Banchero is Aaron Gordon at best, said Orlando should be in the poll for worst future a few days ago (??), liked a post saying "weaker conference" in reply to why our defense was good when more than half of our games were against the west (tied for most in the east with Cavs).

Just a bit confused is all...

I’ve challenged him on this before with no response. Probably best to avoid, but it’s difficult when the posts are always there!

[I Rasharted]

oOOOOOOooooOooooo

[Godymas]

yes, they are very legit, they have so many top tier prospects that there isn’t too much pressure on any one young guy, but having a tandem scoring duo with size like Paolo and Franz let’s them have their way and they also have a very legit rotation of guards in Cole, Fultz, Suggs and insanely unique players like WCJ, John Isaac, Anthony Black. Jingles just ties the whole thing together as a nice veteran with a skill that will always help them. This team is legit and ready to make some noise in an eastern conference that’s incredibly open

[j_n]

They were over .500 last year when not crippled by injuries and without JI whose their best defender.
With an extra year of development, relatively more health and the addition of JI, Black and Ingles this is a 46-52 win team, not the same tier as Celts , Bucks or Philly but probably good enough to make the playoffs as 4-8 seed and lose in the first round.

[hauntedcomputer]

Need a closer. Franz has bad handles in traffic and Banchero doesn't shoot FTs well enough. Fun team to watch, though, especially when Fultz is sitting. They play with passion.

[eyriq]

Stay tuned. If the Magic win in the 50's they should be in the discussion as the best young core of all time.

[DC_Melo]

They are a really solid team with underrated depth. Obviously Banchero is great and Wagner is balling, but their backcourt depth doesn’t get enough credit.

Looking at their team stats, they’re not outshooting opponents (.002 FG% differential) and opponents are even shooting a bit better from 3 (.355 vs .338)… but the Magic have a positive scoring differential of +78 over 16 games. How?

They generate a ton of extra possessions with rebounds (192 o-boards vs only 144 for opponents!!) and turnovers.

Their guard rotation might not have any star-caliber players, but it has 4 guys that would be solid rotation players on most playoffs teams. 48 minutes of solid backcourt play a night improves any team’s chances of keeping games close enough to win.

They’ve forced the most turnovers (17.1/game) and have the second highest amount of steals (9.4/game) in the league, while also limiting opponents to the second lowest amount of assisted FGs per game (22.4). While their backcourt leaves a bit to be desired offensively, it has been very disruptive to opposing teams running their offenses.

So they’re an offensively average team that plays solid D, controls the glass, and has depth plus plenty of room to grow through internal player development.

Yea, I think they’re legit

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/2024.html

[GameOver25]

I’ll believe it when they play more games away from Amway Center. We’ve seen different iterations of this team have hot starts then go under .500

They have had 9 away games (one in Mexico City), which is tied for the 2nd most in the conference. This core has never had a start this well and that's like saying "the Magic started well in 1993, let's pump the brakes" lol. Doesn't matter how Vuc and Fournier started really. People are using data from basically the last 50 games of last season + these first 15.

And look, I don't care if you think the team is good or not, like I said, it has to be earned and while they are trending in the right direction, there will still be lessons to be learned from a young squad.. but you consistently confuse me as a poster.

I'm looking through your posts and you used to be an Orlando fan, or at least actively post in game threads, but now only post in GB and post as if you're not a fan? And in the last 2 months you've said Paolo Banchero is Aaron Gordon at best, said Orlando should be in the poll for worst future a few days ago (??), liked a post saying "weaker conference" in reply to why our defense was good when more than half of our games were against the west (tied for most in the east with Cavs).

Just a bit confused is all...

Glad I'm not the only one who's noticed their weird posting style.

[jkvonny]

The are legit.
One things for sure, they have owned the Celtics since last season.