Heart & Hustle on steroids

[Dome]

Hey everyone! This is actually my first post here in over 18 years.. I became a Magic fan in the 1999-2000 season, which was the 'heart & hustle' team coached by Doc Rivers that reached a .500 record despite their underdog status. I later had a T-Mac website (T-Mac Dome, where my forum name comes from, which later became T-Mac.nl, and then became a webmaster at his official site), but stuck around here at the Orlando Magic forum after he left. At some point life caught up with me a bit and I gradually stopped following the NBA after I got out of college and stopped playing basketball myself.

This summer, I think the Dutch 3x3 basketball gold medal at the olympics (Worthy de Jong's game winning shot in the finals was like a scene from a movie) sparked my interest, and somehow this fall I became curious to check out what's currently going on in the NBA. I started reading up with the Orlando Magic, became excited about the new young core, started reading up even more, following the pre-season games and gradually got sucked back in, to a point where I'm now fully captured again.

I think what really caught me, is that this team reminds me so much of that heart & hustle team from back in the day that made me a Magic fan in the first place. Except it's like Heart & Hustle on steroids, with two young, actual All-Star level players and a flood of young guys at a core. I think Mosley seems to be becoming a truly great NBA coach (if he is not already), and the way this group of players committed to the defense-first, next-man-up mentality is great. The number of recent comebacks is absolutely nuts for such a young team. Don't disregard what is happening right now; this is some truly unique stuff.

On a small side note; I have the impression that Cole Anthony's role for the chemistry of this team may be underrated. I am not necessarily a huge fan of his game itself, but after watching many games and video's lately, I can't help but notice how positive and constructive he always seems to be (even when he wasn't playing much), how he's often the first one to hype everyone up before games, and especially how his chemistry with pretty much everyone else on the team appears to be great. Although clearly there are many other important factors at play for the great chemistry, I thought he deserves a little shout out for this topic for the role he played recently both on and off the court when so many other guys were out.

What do you guys see as the primary drivers behind the current team chemistry and mindset?

[Knightro]

I love everything about this.

[eyriq]

Paolo, Franz, and Suggs

[Dome]

Paolo, Franz, and Suggs

They’re definitely doing a great job leading the team. During the last game halfway through the 4th quarter, I was thinking that the team could really need Suggs’ intensity to get some stops and perhaps fast breaks. Right after that JI stepped up big though. Didn’t see that one coming (which is even more great).

[three3d]

Hey everyone! This is actually my first post here in over 18 years.. I became a Magic fan in the 1999-2000 season, which was the 'heart & hustle' team coached by Doc Rivers that reached a .500 record despite their underdog status. I later had a T-Mac website (T-Mac Dome, where my forum name comes from, which later became T-Mac.nl, and then became a webmaster at his official site), but stuck around here at the Orlando Magic forum after he left. At some point life caught up with me a bit and I gradually stopped following the NBA after I got out of college and stopped playing basketball myself.

This summer, I think the Dutch 3x3 basketball gold medal at the olympics (Worthy de Jong's game winning shot in the finals was like a scene from a movie) sparked my interest, and somehow this fall I became curious to check out what's currently going on in the NBA. I started reading up with the Orlando Magic, became excited about the new young core, started reading up even more, following the pre-season games and gradually got sucked back in, to a point where I'm now fully captured again.

I think what really caught me, is that this team reminds me so much of that heart & hustle team from back in the day that made me a Magic fan in the first place. Except it's like Heart & Hustle on steroids, with two young, actual All-Star level players and a flood of young guys at a core. I think Mosley seems to be becoming a truly great NBA coach (if he is not already), and the way this group of players committed to the defense-first, next-man-up mentality is great. The number of recent comebacks is absolutely nuts for such a young team. Don't disregard what is happening right now; this is some truly unique stuff.

On a small side note; I have the impression that Cole Anthony's role for the chemistry of this team may be underrated. I am not necessarily a huge fan of his game itself, but after watching many games and video's lately, I can't help but notice how positive and constructive he always seems to be (even when he wasn't playing much), how he's often the first one to hype everyone up before games, and especially how his chemistry with pretty much everyone else on the team appears to be great. Although clearly there are many other important factors at play for the great chemistry, I thought he deserves a little shout out for this topic for the role he played recently both on and off the court when so many other guys were out.

What do you guys see as the primary drivers behind the current team chemistry and mindset?

Darell Armstrong was one of my favorite players all time, I think Darell always gave it 110% on the court and his heart was bigger than his stature. Suggs reminds me a lot of Darell that way and if Darell gave it 110% Suggs is giving it 150% lol. The crowd feeds off him and he feeds off the crowd, it’s beautiful to see him high-fiving and interacting with the fans.

[Skybox]

I had season tickets back then...It was an amazing time and for Darrell to win "Most Improved" and "6MOY" and rookie coach Rivers to win Coach of the Year has got to be unprecedented. Fun times.


I agree with you about Cole...He does stand out, even on a team of guys that really seem to love each other.

My issue with him is that he's not really a good basketball player and he (INCREASINGLY important) makes too much to be a full-time towel waver.

I'll check that last comment because he obviously has a ton of skill and athletic ability (not to mention some big moment cojones - but he just can't deliver with any consistency. If I was FO of a rebuilding team (like we were just a couple of years ago), I'd strongly consider giving him a long look.

[jezzerinho]

Hey everyone! This is actually my first post here in over 18 years.. I became a Magic fan in the 1999-2000 season, which was the 'heart & hustle' team coached by Doc Rivers that reached a .500 record despite their underdog status. I later had a T-Mac website (T-Mac Dome, where my forum name comes from, which later became T-Mac.nl, and then became a webmaster at his official site), but stuck around here at the Orlando Magic forum after he left. At some point life caught up with me a bit and I gradually stopped following the NBA after I got out of college and stopped playing basketball myself.

This summer, I think the Dutch 3x3 basketball gold medal at the olympics (Worthy de Jong's game winning shot in the finals was like a scene from a movie) sparked my interest, and somehow this fall I became curious to check out what's currently going on in the NBA. I started reading up with the Orlando Magic, became excited about the new young core, started reading up even more, following the pre-season games and gradually got sucked back in, to a point where I'm now fully captured again.

I think what really caught me, is that this team reminds me so much of that heart & hustle team from back in the day that made me a Magic fan in the first place. Except it's like Heart & Hustle on steroids, with two young, actual All-Star level players and a flood of young guys at a core. I think Mosley seems to be becoming a truly great NBA coach (if he is not already), and the way this group of players committed to the defense-first, next-man-up mentality is great. The number of recent comebacks is absolutely nuts for such a young team. Don't disregard what is happening right now; this is some truly unique stuff.

On a small side note; I have the impression that Cole Anthony's role for the chemistry of this team may be underrated. I am not necessarily a huge fan of his game itself, but after watching many games and video's lately, I can't help but notice how positive and constructive he always seems to be (even when he wasn't playing much), how he's often the first one to hype everyone up before games, and especially how his chemistry with pretty much everyone else on the team appears to be great. Although clearly there are many other important factors at play for the great chemistry, I thought he deserves a little shout out for this topic for the role he played recently both on and off the court when so many other guys were out.

What do you guys see as the primary drivers behind the current team chemistry and mindset?

Great post.
The heart and hustle period has no direct meaning for me, as - a bit like yourself - life was giving me other priorities during that phase of the Magic's existence.

But I agree with you that the current era (and especially this season) is going to be appreciated a lot more in hindsight for how they are incredibly still winning games.

I've been a guy giving Cole more slack than many. But he's been poor a lot of the time until very lately and even now is wildly inconsistent. I'm sure he's a great lockerroom character but I bet his teammates would swap that for a guy who gives you 7/10 guard play most nights.

That said, the vibe in the Magic is something really special and the list of teams who'd love to have it is long. It feels a bit like a privilege to be witnessing it as a fan.

[tooler]

On a small side note; I have the impression that Cole Anthony's role for the chemistry of this team may be underrated. I am not necessarily a huge fan of his game itself, but after watching many games and video's lately, I can't help but notice how positive and constructive he always seems to be (even when he wasn't playing much), how he's often the first one to hype everyone up before games, and especially how his chemistry with pretty much everyone else on the team appears to be great. Although clearly there are many other important factors at play for the great chemistry, I thought he deserves a little shout out for this topic for the role he played recently both on and off the court when so many other guys were out.

What do you guys see as the primary drivers behind the current team chemistry and mindset?

I used to say Jalen Suggs is the heart of the team and Cole Anthony is the soul. However, it also feels like the team has matured a little beyond what Cole provided back during the dregs of tanking. I’m sure he still provides attitude, energy, hype, and comic relief that are important, but he no longer feels 110% essential to the culture like Suggs does. That’s not a knock on him, just a change in the team.

I thought I’d mention it since you missed those years. But see what other people think too.

[RookieStar]

Wow.. so welcome back?

Dome is kinda a familiar username... hmmmm..

[cedric76]

The original "Heart and hustle" team was something

[MasterGMer]

Cole is under appreciated. I think he can at least become a valuable rotational player even with the likes of AB, KCP and Jalen Suggs. His shot making and on ball offense is what this team needs. I hope he keeps improving and becomes more consistent. That is his biggest knock, lack of consistency. If he can improve on that, we gonna need it in April

[three3d]

I remember during those Heart and Hustle days after games it was always easy to catch the players leaving the game at the old O- Rena . Darell would always stop to sign autographs, same for Bo Outlaw and Pat Garrity. Great memories, even the Hotel right by it you could catch the opposing team load up on the bus.

[Last Guardian]

Welcome back. Where the heck is Hilltop and mhectorgato