The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good: Early Highlights and Bright Spots ✨

The Orlando Magic tipped off the 2024 preseason against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road, and while it wasn’t the prettiest performance, there were some positives we could take away. Preseason is all about shaking off the rust, and a few Magic players managed to put up solid numbers that provided a glimpse into the potential we’re hoping to see when the regular season starts.

Paolo Banchero was the clear standout for the Magic. He played 15 minutes and put up 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including a perfect 1-for-1 from three. The efficiency was impressive, and Paolo showed flashes of dominance, especially in the first quarter when the Magic starters faced off against the Pelican starters. Banchero’s ability to attack the basket and confidently take mid-range jumpers is crucial for the Magic’s offense. His 80% field goal percentage was a bright spot in a game where offense wasn’t easy to come by.

Cole Anthony also provided a spark off the bench, scoring 11 points and showing his ability to get to the free-throw line. He went 3-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. That aggressiveness, especially when driving into the lane, gave the Pelicans trouble, and we’re going to need that same intensity throughout the season.

The big men also had their moments. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed with 6 rebounds, showing his hustle on the glass, and went a perfect 2-for-2 from the field before an unfortunate ankle injury forced him out. We all hope it’s nothing serious because Wendell is such a key part of what we do defensively and on the boards.

Speaking of defense, Jonathan Isaac gave us a reminder of what we’ve missed. His defense was evident, with a big block and a steal in his limited minutes. The guy’s got a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Isaac may still be working his way back to full form, but seeing him contribute and move well is a good sign.

The Starters vs. The Pelican Starters 🔥

The Magic starters started strong, but it was clear that chemistry and cohesion are still in progress. The first quarter ended with the Pelicans slightly ahead, 31-28, as the Magic struggled to contain Zion Williamson. Zion was a handful, scoring 10 points early and causing turnovers, putting the Magic defense on its heels. Still, Paolo and Franz were able to keep pace offensively, giving us a 1-2 punch that we’re going to lean on heavily this year.

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Short break to pay the bills

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The Bad: Turnovers and Shot Struggles 😬

Now let’s get into what didn’t go so well. We’ve got to talk about the turnovers. The Magic were extremely careless with the ball, ending the game with a whopping 22 turnovers. This was a huge issue throughout the game, and it wasn’t just one or two players making mistakes—turnovers were spread out across the roster. Jalen Suggs in particular struggled in this regard, committing 5 turnovers. The Pelicans took full advantage, converting those turnovers into easy transition buckets.

Turnovers aren’t uncommon early in preseason games as teams work on their rhythm and conditioning, but this was excessive. The sloppiness killed our momentum multiple times, especially in the second half when we had opportunities to close the gap. Taking care of the basketball is going to be a major point of emphasis in practices moving forward.

And then there was the three-point shooting. It wasn’t great, folks. As a team, we shot 6-for-29 from beyond the arc, which comes out to just over 20%. The lack of reliable outside shooting made it tough for our guys to space the floor, allowing the Pelicans to pack the paint and make drives to the basket more difficult. Even Franz Wagner, one of our most consistent shooters, went 0-for-2 from deep, and Moritz Wagner was also cold, missing both of his attempts.

The Ugly: Injury Concerns and Defensive Lapses 🚑

The ugly part of the game had to be Wendell Carter Jr.’s ankle injury. Wendell went down midway through the second quarter after an awkward landing while contesting a shot. He didn’t return, and while it’s too early to tell how serious it is, any time one of your key players goes down, it’s a concern. Here’s hoping for a quick recovery—Wendell’s presence in the paint is crucial for the Magic, both defensively and on the boards.

Defensively, there were stretches where the Magic just looked out of sorts. Zion was getting whatever he wanted, finishing the night with 16 points, and the Pelicans as a team were able to get into the paint far too easily. The lack of communication led to multiple breakdowns, and we allowed 13 offensive rebounds, which gave the Pelicans extra possessions. Those second-chance points really added up and hurt us in key moments.

There was also a significant struggle in containing CJ McCollum, who showed why he’s such a savvy veteran. His ability to find open looks and knock down mid-range jumpers kept the Pelicans ahead whenever the Magic seemed to be making a push.

Interesting Stats & Missed Details 📊

Despite the loss, there were a few interesting details worth noting that might have flown under the radar:

1. Anthony Black, who is in his second year, showed some encouraging signs, particularly in his playmaking. He finished with 4 assists, including a few slick passes that set up easy buckets. Black’s court vision is something that could become a real asset as he gets more comfortable with the pace of NBA play.
2. Jonathan Isaac was +2 in his limited minutes, and while plus-minus can sometimes be misleading, it was clear that his presence on the floor made a difference defensively. He blocked a shot and was active in the passing lanes, disrupting the Pelicans’ offense.
3. The bench unit actually outscored the Pelicans’ bench 38-30, thanks in part to contributions from Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner, who had a put-back dunk that got the Magic bench fired up. The energy from the second unit is something we’ll need consistently to compete this year.

Summary & Final Thoughts 🏀

To wrap it up, the first preseason game for our Orlando Magic wasn’t the debut we hoped for, but it’s important to keep things in perspective—this is just preseason. It’s about working out the kinks, finding chemistry, and getting back into game shape. There were definitely some promising moments: Paolo Banchero looked every bit the star we need him to be, Cole Anthony provided that scoring punch off the bench, and Jonathan Isaac