The Orlando Magic face a must-win game Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
Limping into the game with a 1-4 record, no one expected this team to be in this position. The Magic were the darling of the East all preseason, with many predicting they would easily win 50 games and be a top contender in the Eastern Conference. However, it’s been the exact opposite of that.
Paolo Banchero has been dragged through the mud not just by the media and analysts but by comparisons to Josh Smith as a shot-chucker and inefficient scorer. It doesn’t help that Banchero’s play on the court hasn’t silenced those critics either. This team was once built on passion and a commitment to digging in on defense. Now the offense is the worst in the league, and the defense has fallen to below average. Something has to change, and it has to change against the Hornets.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has made things harder by overextending his starters. The amount of distrust he has in his young players is getting out of hand. The Magic need to let these young guys stretch their legs and develop. If anything, Mosley is holding them back.
Let’s compare the Magic to their South Florida rival, the Miami Heat, who are 3-1. To put it in perspective, the Heat played seven players over 25 minutes in their win over Charlotte, while the Magic played only five for that long against the 76ers. Miami also had nine players log at least 15 minutes, showcasing their depth and balance.
The contrast between the two Florida teams is clear. The Heat, off to a 3-1 start, play fast, share the ball, and stay disciplined defensively. Meanwhile, the Magic’s system looks stagnant, their rotations are inconsistent, and their energy fades late in games. The difference ultimately comes down to coaching Erik Spoelstra’s structure versus Mosley’s indecision.
Now we look at this game against the Hornets, the second of a back-to-back after Wednesday night’s game against the Pistons. It has become a must-win situation. It doesn’t help that Jalen Suggs won’t play due to load management, meaning Mosley will have to play Anthony Black 30-plus minutes, and rookie Jase Richardson will finally have to get real minutes. The problems don’t end there, as Franz Wagner is questionable, so the Magic could be down two of their three best players. If Wagner plays, it shows the importance of getting the ship right. If not, it could seem like they are rolling over and accepting the mediocrity Magic fans have seen for far too long.
If Orlando wins Thursday, they match up with the Wizards over the weekend, which could turn into two straight wins and put them right back on track. However, if they lose, the spiral will continue, and if they somehow lose to the Wizards, the Magic’s season will officially be dead.
Magic fans need to see heart, they need to see fight, and they need to see the team come together and battle for a win. It’s put up or shut up time in Orlando.