Penny & Pops Podcast - Magicbasketballonline.com

The Orlando Magic dropped Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series in Cleveland against the Cavaliers. There were some first game postseason jitters, but the Magic had chances to win the game. Just need to hit shots. Other than Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner, the rest of Jamahl Mosley’s 10-man rotation didn’t do nearly enough offensively. The guards in particular. A lot of mistakes are very fixable. Also discussing the Wall Street fan watch party experience. There are some potential decisions the coaching staff have to make going into Game 2. Does someone else start in place of Gary Harris? Should Anthony Black play? Should Mosley shorten his rotation by excluding players like Markelle Fultz? Either way, with nerves out of the way, the Magic should be better offensively in Game 2. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

It’s here. Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic. Playoff series preview. We’re looking for our first series win since 2010. Cavs are looking to get to the second round for the first time since 2018. It’s the second time they’re facing each other ever in the postseason (2009 Eastern Conference Finals being the other). Reviewing the 2-2 regular season meetings between the two squads. Discussing various series questions: How healthy is Donovan Mitchell? Does Jonathan Isaac start? Can Franz Wagner hit 3s? Can Orlando score in the paint? What are the player rotations: Who is in/out? Is this Paolo Banchero’s coming out party? Can Jamahl Mosley bury his friend JB Bickerstaff? Final predictions. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

As the Orlando Magic prepare for their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, we look back on the October predictions we made for the 2023-2024 NBA regular season. Awards, playoffs or not, team MVP, trades, over/under guesses, and beyond. Orlando’s team slogan for the postseason is #EverybodyIn. The NBA finally released the Magic-Cavs playoff schedule. Despite the play-in performance, why Klay Thompson would be a better Magic addition than Malik Monk. Why it’s ridiculous that Team USA already finalized its 12-man roster for the Summer Olympics before the playoffs conclude. And how Paolo Banchero could still end up on that roster. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are playoffs bound for the first time since 2020! The Magic concluded the 2023-2024 regular season 47-35. They will face the 4th seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the postseason. As the 5th seed, this is the highest playoff seed the Magic have been since 2011. Orlando now seeks to win its first playoff series since 2010, which is the franchise’s longest drought. It took game #82 to lock up a playoff spot, but it was well worth it considering how much the team struggled on their 3-game road trip in Houston, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Never underestimate the power of a Fan Appreciate Day. It’s the seventh time in team history the Magic have won the division title. Paolo Banchero concluded a historic sophomore NBA season becoming the youngest player in league history to lead a team in points, rebounds, and assists in a single season. Franz Wagner’s value continues to remain sky high considering how much the team struggled with him out. Head Coach Jamahl Mosley is relying on J

The Orlando Magic are 46-32. Currently the 3rd seed in the East as the scoreboard and schedule watching has been insane. There 4 games left in the regular season. Injuries to Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac have potentially complicated matters, as the Magic are just one game back of the 2nd seed, yet could realistically still fall into the play-in. Looking at everyone’s schedules, tiebreakers could play a factor. No matter what happens, the Magic will see postseason basketball, and that’s exciting. The Magic have the most wins in a season since 2011. Orlando is very close to becoming Southeast division champions (divisions matter). It’s rare and insane to see the 2-through-8 seeding race so tight coming down to the final week. That the Magic are this good with their three highest scorers being 22 years old or younger is new NBA history territory. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are 42-29. Currently the 5th seed in the East, with a top-6 playoff spot still very attainable with eleven games remaining in the regular season. Head Coach Jamahl Mosley received a very well earned four-year coaching extension. Why the newer style of NBA officiating should help the Magic long-term. The Anthony Black-Gradey Dick jersey swap. Paolo Banchero outduels Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Another heartbreaking loss to the Sacramento Kings. Markelle Fultz v. Anthony Black point guard minutes. Eastern Conference playoff seeding jostling. The 21-year-old 22/5/5 club. The Magic being in contention for awards. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are 37-26, currently the 4th seed in the East, winners of 5 games in a row (longest streak in the NBA at the moment), 13 of our last 16 games. Orlando is taking advantage of a favorable portion of its schedule and are arguably the hottest team in the league. Not only are the Magic on pace to finish with a top-6 Eastern Conference seed, avoiding the play-in entirely, but we’ve Jamahl Mosley’s squad has a legitimate chance to host a first round playoffs series. The Magic are battling with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Indiana Pacers for the 4th seed, and home court advantage in the playoffs. It’s genuinely in play. Who of these teams would you rather face in the playoffs (Heat and Knicks especially)? The Magic may even be able to hunt down the 3rd seed which is currently occupied by the Cleveland Cavaliers. *Correction: The Magic have not faced the Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets in the playoffs ever (as well as the Wizards and Knicks). Figured it out immediately after r

The Orlando Magic went from a tumbleweed trade deadline. To a Shaq jersey retirement that was almost perfect. To the All-Star Break where Paolo Banchero pulled off a tripleheader of Indianapolis participation. To Mac McClung and Trevelin Queen bringing back hardware for the Osceola Magic. To now, here we go, the Orlando Magic are 30-25 entering this sprint of a 27-game regular season finish where the Magic are 8th in the East, but are only 3 games back of the 4th seed. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are 27-24 after a disappointingly bad defeat in Miami to conclude a 3-2 road trip. That was the last game going into the Thursday February 8th NBA trade deadline. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner had amazing moments on this 5-game road trip, but there are pain points with this roster. Although the team appears to have a ‘death lineup’ it can rely on late in games. Are the Magic good enough to be top 8 in the East – which would guarantee two play-in games - without making a trade? What about top 6 and bypassing the play-in entirely for the playoffs? Do the playoffs matter to Jeff Weltman? What are the trade expectations of the Magic front office? And how it’s possible they differ plenty from what the fans want. The Magic got Gary Harris back during the trip and finally have all of their bodies back for now. Or do external moves need to be made to help with Paolo and Franz’s growth trajectory? Making a trade now instead of relying on free agency may be more prudent. Trade discussions, trade

The Orlando Magic are 25-23 after enduring the challenging month of January. Orlando is still over .500 as a new month and hopefully less difficult schedule enters the picture. The Magic are the 8th seed in the East, but can easily still surpass Miami and win the Southeast division title. 21-year-old Paolo Banchero, in his 2nd NBA season, just got selected by the coaches to his 1st All-Star Game! P5 is the ninth Magic player in franchise history to make an All-Star Game. The Magic are the only franchise in NBA history to have 4 All-Stars aged 21 or younger (Shaq, Tracy, Dwight, and now Paolo). No debate, this is fully deserved from the former #1 Draft pick and Rookie of the Year. 23 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg is impressive for a sophomore in the Association. And he didn’t need a single nationally televised game to receive respect. The trade deadline is next week, what needs do the Magic have? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are 22-18 after a thrilling comeback win in New York City inside Madison Square Garden on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Pops was there in person. The Mecca really is a phenomenal place to watch NBA basketball games. Describing the MSG experience. Paolo Banchero is still phenomenal. The Magic are getting some healthy bodies back finally, and it’s showing with the bench play. Also, trade rumors are stirring with the trade deadline around the corner. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are 20-15 and in the middle of a brutal portion of its schedule while being decimated by injuries and illness, but that’s OK because Paolo Banchero is a star. The 21-year-old is almost a lock to be an All-Star in February, and he just had back-to-back insane performances: A career-high 43-point game in a double overtime loss in Sacramento, and a 30-point triple-double (first of his career) in an insane victory in Denver against the defending NBA champion Nuggets. Paolo is a stud, and the rest of the world is finding out. Amway Center is now the Kia Center (‘Kill Center’). Injuries, particularly the loss of Franz Wagner for a few weeks will be painful, but which other Magic player injuries hurt more. Why Wendell Carter Jr. is currently not the best Magic center on the roster. The Magic have decided to retire player jerseys now. In its 35th season of existence, the franchise will raise the #32 of Shaquille O’Neal to the arena rafters. Should this be happening? What other Magic players will

This is arguably the best Magic fans have felt about their team since 2010-2011 before the Hawks upset Orlando in the first round of that playoffs. Magic are 15-7, protecting home court so far, and still are the 2nd seed in the East as of this recording. Orlando has two studs in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each averaging 20.7 ppg. In our franchise’s history, we’ve only had multiple teammates averaging over 20 ppg in a single season twice: Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway in 1995, and Shaq and Penny again in 1996. Franz and Paolo are 22 and 21 years old. Penny and Shaq in 1994, their first season together, were basically 22 and 21 years old. That was the first Magic team in franchise history to make the playoffs. We were the 4th seed and lost in a brutally tight sweep to the 5th seed more experienced Indiana Pacers. This current Magic team can be viewed a bit like they’re the 2006-2007 team, but they may be closer to the 1993-1994 squad that went 50-32. Two beastly young talents potentially ready to t

The Orlando Magic are currently 11-5 with the second best record in the Eastern Conference after beating the defending champion Denver Nuggets and then the Boston Celtics in consecutive home games. Thank you, Celtics fans, for your revenue. This is the franchise’s best start to a season since the Dwight Howard era. This might be the best defensive team in Magic history. The Magic are on a 6-game wins streak. Much of this is being done without Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz. The Magic have the best defense in the NBA, and likely also the best bench. Orlando concluded their first in-season tournament group stage 3-1 and await whether they have won East Group C, or if they sneak into the knockout quarterfinals as a wild card or not. The Magic didn’t make a lot of offseason acquisitions, but signing Joe Ingles and re-signing Moritz Wagner have been immense so far this season and played a role in this this Friday night victory over the Celtics. Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs when healthy are All-Defensiv

In a pleasantly surprising announcement, Cole Anthony signed a 3-year, $39 million contract extension to remain in Orlando. No one thought the Magic would retain Cole for only $13 million per season. This episode is dedicated to 2023-2024 season predictions. Over/under 37.5 victories? How many wins? Will the Magic make the playoffs? Will Orlando have a player make the All-Star team? How many games will Jonathan Isaac play? Will the rookies spend time in Osceola? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The 2023 preseason concluded with the Orlando Magic going 3-1. The win-loss record doesn’t matter. It’s all about how players looked and any lingering problems with guys on the roster. Is there concern for the rookies? Is everything OK with Paolo Banchero? Should Jalen Suggs be starting over Gary Harris? Head Coach Jamahl Mosley begins an important 3rd season at the helm, and he’ll enter the 2023-2024 regular season without his lead assistant Nate Tibbetts. Tibbetts recently accepted the head coaching position of the Phoenix Mercury, in the process becoming the WNBA’s highest paid coach. Should the Magic promote from within the coaching staff, or will they need outside help? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

In a current media atmosphere culture that wants to rank everything, it’s quite difficult to accomplish that in an NBA era where position-less basketball is becoming the norm. However, it is still possible to look at positions such as center. Is Wendell Carter Jr. a top 10 NBA center? Ignore the contract. Because if the contract was factored in, WCJ could be top 5. The Orlando Magic’s 24-year-old big man does not get enough praise as he should. Durability is the only thing that can hamper his ascension. Team USA would’ve benefited greatly had they had Wendell at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Media day and training camp are behind us. There are now 4 Orlando Magic preseason games to play before the 2023–2024 regular season begins. Talking about the main 15-man roster. Expectations. What we want to see? Lingering questions. Who starts at SG between Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs? How will Anthony Black and Jett Howard find minutes on the floor? Jonathan Isaac is actually healthy but are there any restrictions on him? Should the Magic trade for Buddy Hield? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Orlando Magic Media Day and training camp begin in two weeks. The team finally revealed their throwback blue stars jerseys. Great to see guys like Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson back in town for that event. Franz and Moritz Wagner are World Champions! They helped lead Germany to winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Why winning gold is the biggest basketball moment of their lives. It’s something Dirk Nowitzki never did. Paolo Banchero’s Team USA experience fizzled out in comparison to how it started at the World Cup. Why that’s OK both as a learning experience and because of all of the skills and info picked up from fellow coaches and players within the Team USA program. Does it matter if Paolo or Franz is designated as the #1 or #2 Magic star? Dwight Howard. Stan Van Gundy. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Team USA took care of Italy in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals. Paolo Banchero got to squash some Italian beef in victory. The reigning Rookie of the Year award winner on Friday next gets to face Franz and Moritz Wagner in the semifinals as Germany remain the only undefeated team in the tournament by surviving and defeating Latvia on Wednesday. It’s what Magic fans were hoping the basketball globe would get to see, a showdown of its two best rising stars. Will Germany pull off the huge upset of Team USA? Is the US still favorites for gold? Predictions. Germany also earned their automatic Olympic qualification for Paris 2024. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language