The Magic have had a disappointing year relative to their preseason expectations. They have played at around a .500 level since a 10-4 run in November and find themselves just a half-game ahead of the 10th-seed Heat coming into Sunday’s game against the Pelicans.
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the team is likely to make head coach Jamahl Mosley the scapegoat for the team’s struggles, a move Bianchi considers to be typical of how NBA teams operate but still misguided.
Bianchi notes the injuries to players like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black that derailed Orlando’s attempts at building momentum throughout the season, but also focuses on the team’s lack of effort and toughness in moments when it matters most, such as losing big games to the Raptors and Hawks while trying to make up ground for the postseason. He suggests that if the Magic fire Mosley, it will not be because he’s a bad coach, but to provide an excuse for a team that has disappointed and shown a lack of heart.
We have more from around the Southeast Division:
- Following up on the recent news that Kyshawn George will miss the rest of the Wizards‘ season, head coach Brian Keefe spoke on what he saw from the second-year forward’s season. “He had a terrific year,” Keefe said, per Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link). “This guy made a huge jump, and that’s a credit to him and the amount of work he put in this summer. We’re really excited for a bright future for him.” Keefe added that George planned to work on his body this offseason and called him “a great example for our organization and the kind of guys we want.”
- Nikola Jovic was expected to step into a larger role for the Heat this season after signing a four-year rookie scale extension, but he struggled to adjust to the team’s increased pace and new style, Barry Jackson writes for the Miami Herald. Jovic only appeared in two of Miami’s last 10 games, the most recent one ending with him limping off with a sprained ankle. “Last year was easy because of the offense we ran and the way we played, I kind of knew what my role was,” he said. “This year, with an offense where you don’t have calls and don’t really know where to be at what time, it’s hard for me because sometimes I play five [center], sometimes I play [four], sometimes I have the ball in my hands, sometimes I don’t… It’s hard because you never get similar looks.”
- The Hawks have won four straight games and six of their last seven. With a week to go, they will now face one of their toughest tests of the season as they look to secure a top-six seed, Lauren Williams writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Hawks will play the Knicks, the Cavaliers twice, and finally the Heat over the next week, which Williams notes is the second-hardest remaining schedule in the league. With a record of 45-33, they sit two games ahead of the Raptors and Sixers, who are tied for sixth in the East following Toronto’s loss on Sunday.
Magic have no veterans at all. Kids teaching kids
The coach is fine. Add some men to the team
As a wizards fan (woe is me lol) I really just hope that ucl injury Kyshawn has fully recovers before next season. He wont realistically be able to put in the amount of effort improving his game like he did last year because of it. But the dude has the talent and drive. Hopefully training camp is enough to get him to keep improving. Finding a guy like that at the 24th pick of a “weak” draft is actually gold.
Despite the injuries that have plagued the Magic, Mosley is a pretty bad coach. His mistakes have cost them more than a few games.
I disagree completely. I think he is a good coach. He led them last year. It’s not his fault the team is injured and poorly constructed. Not one veteran on the team, not even ONE. It’s kids teaching kids. The coach cannot do everything. Don’t use him as a scapegoat. Carter Jr should be playing PF somewhere too. Get three veterans on the bench to teach the clueless 20 year olds something.
One trade can fix the team. Not firing the coach just because the players are not good enough
Get some veterans on the team.
A veteran is not some 27 year old too people
Poorly constructed team. Bad GM
To name just 1 example, Magic led the Lakers by 2 with a couple of seconds remaining and Lakers ball, and the 1 player the Magic left WIDE OPEN was the league’s best 3 pt FG% shooter, Kennard.
Ball game.
It’s also obvious that Mosley and Paolo Banchero don’t see eye to eye which is bad for the locker room
It wouldn’t be the GM that traded four pics for Desmond Bane
Mosley was Luka’s favored guy in Dallas, so maybe if the lakers fire reddick he would be the frontrunner in LA
I doubt reddick is gone though even though he sometimes played Luka and Austin in garbage time doesn’t mean he should be blamed 100% for the injuries
Jovic really trying too hard to distinct himself from Jokic. How is a European player not thrilled to be playing in a system that allows them to play creative and equal opportunity basketball? Like wtf