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Uh oh. I am not feeling well mr stark.

I've been a plugged in Magic fan for the entirety of the Weltman era and I've never heard of this dude the Bulls are hiring.

one of my biggest issues with this roster is the immaturity. A bunch of dudes that think they are All Star type players but they are not. WCJ can’t even make it as a center in team USA. They had to beg Embiid to play for them and also had rookie Kessler before him. He could be one of the better centers out there if he had the mentality. Suggs, another player who thinks he’s all that. But basically he’s an Keon Ellis with an elite contract (for him) After years of basketball, he still can’t control the pace in the game, nor his own pace. Still inconsistent shooter. Franz, unfortunately national team duties have hindered his development. Elite tools coming in the NBA and developed an elite way to attack the paint. Hasn’t developed anything else. Like anything. I’d even argue that he had an elite floater game as a rookie and now he doesn’t. Paolo, seems like he was influenced to much to be laid back. Watched a video online where a trainer told him he’s better than most players when he’s at 80%. His 80 is better then most players 100%. Yeah he sure played like it and that trainer was proven wrong. So i’d suggest him to not train with people pleasers. No shade on AB. He improved a lot. Bitadze, seems awfully satisfied with his contract and that he saved his NBA career. He feels so comfy, his constant hustle is gone..

Good for you, JJZFL. I tell you, that's why I went on that 7-day cruise to the Bahamas back in March. It wasn't about the Magic. The home in Maryland belonged to my deceased sister. I bought it in 2015 and use it as a vacation home--for a change of scenery. I go up there every 4 months. When I went on that 7-day cruise to the Bahamas, I missed 2 weeks, 7 Magic games that I was not able to watch--the week I was in Maryland before cruising out and the 7 days I was out in the middle of the ocean. I was fine with that. I check in on the message board to see if there is any breaking news. Every once in a while I might comment about our own players (and post my opinion about what a player does not bring to the team) and that's it. Like me, I'm happy you know how to manage what life throws at you.

Zach Lowe Latest Magic Segment: Orlando Least surprising news of the week has fired Jamahl Mosley after 5 seasons as head coach. The Magic have not won a playoff series since 2010. Their offense completely fell apart against the Pistons. They may, and I would say probably would, have won that series had Franz Wagner not gotten injured. And so, you know, I don't know how you look at that if you're Jamahl Mosley or the Magic. Like are we pessimistic? Obviously, I think this was the kind of decision that hd been pre-made before the playoffs barring a run, and a run that almost happened. And I think game 6 tells you why the team just does not have a coherent offensive identity now. They were missing Franz Wagner, their best or second best player, and they don't have the type of personnel that lends itself well to constructing a coherent offensive identity. They don't have a lot of shooting outside Desmond Bane, and their two best players are cut from the same cloth. Banchero in particular, and I said this with Bill on Sunday, he has the game of like a number one option, like a big ball handler who can run a bunch of inverted pick and rolls, who can ISO, who can post up, but he's just not as good as you need your number one option. He's not as good at that stuff as you need your number one option to be if you're going to be a real contender. He's not a good enough shooter, he's not quite a good enough passer and he's not built to be a number two option because no one is going to guard him on the perimeter. Now, he was on fire in game 7 early on and all of that. And Franz is sort of broadly similar. I think Franz is better at the second option stuff than Banchero. He's sort of more creative, faster cutter, screener, all of that stuff that, you know, you wish Banchero would be a little bit better at, and he's okay at it. So like it's a tough puzzle piece and it's going to be a tough puzzle for whoever the next head coach is, whether it's Billy Donovan, or Tom Thibodeau, or Dusty May, or whatever hot rumored coach is going to try to rework this offense because that game 6, I mean, you watch them just miss 1,000 shots in a row. . . . And they just had no plan, like it was everything from station to station. Paolo runs one pick and roll, it's not aimed at the right match-up, it's not aimed at Duncan Robinson. It's a pick and roll that's just going to be switched and then everyone stands around for six seconds like, so what are we doing with the rest of the shot clock? Anyone have plans? Are you going to set a screen? No, you are. No , nobody is. And the Paolo just has to jack up a shot. And it's like this has plagued them the whole season. You can't get to game six of a playoff with the 20 whatever point lead and just have that kind of meltdown. You've got to have more answers than that and the Magic never did. And again, the personnel is tricky. You know, this is a team that has $210 million of salary already on the books next season. Like, that's first apron level salaries. Anthony Black is eligible for and extension after the season and Jalen Suggs has four years, but it declines, but 32 million, 29, 26 and 26ish. And Bane is their best pick and roll handling guard at this point and that's really not his main job and never has been, plus or minus some times when Ja was hurt in Memphis. Suggs just falling apart in this series is maybe the biggest single take away for the Magic. He could not make a shot. I liked the glimpses of the Suggs-Banchero pick and roll with Suggs as the ball handler because it just unlocks a different kind of Banchero options as a roller, as a screener, and as a mismatch hunter in like a big guy sense. And we just didn't see it much because Suggs is not a good enough shooter to do that very often. He's just an okay passer and driver. It's just not his game. I think the Magic hoped it would be more of Anthony Black's game, and before he got injured midway through the season he was certainly making a leap. He was in the most improved player conversation. He ended up shooting 33% from 3, better from the corners. Like people are just going to go under (screens). He's a tremendous athlete, but does he have the vision for that kind of job? Does he have the passing chops for that kind of job? I think he's an interesting player and I expect them to come up with some sort of long term deal with him. Now I'm not sure that it'll be an extension. And if fact if I were the Magic, I expect this to be a tough negotiation because If I'm Black's agent, I'm not taking a penny less than Jalen Suggs. And If I'm the Magic, I'm like, what? The Suggs contract doesn't look great and if that's what you want we'll take it to restricted free agency. I expect them to come to an agreement somewhere but I'm just not sure what the guard future of this team is other than Bane who cost you 4 first round picks. Underrated story from the fall is that they declined their fourth year option on Jett Howard, who was a lottery pick. That's a disaster. Jase Richardson gave you nothing, Da Silva is hit or miss, and Wendell Carter Jr. is fine as a center. Jack of all trades master of none. Not really a threatening roller on offense. Not a threatening shooter. Not a great sort of power post player and I always find it to be an indictment of Orlando's team structure. Not necessarily coaching, but its team structure and coaching both.\ How often is Wendell Carter in the corner on offense because they just don't know what else to do with him, where else to put him? They can't use him as a screener because Franz and Paolo are doing that and they're like alright, I guess our center who's a whatever 3 point shooter that no one is going to guard is in the corner. All this to say, they would have won their first round series had Franz been healthy. That's fine. The future of this team around Paolo and Franz, I just wish I would have known a little more about it, particularly at the guard spot other than Bane after this series. And financially they just can't pay Black, Suggs, Paolo, Bane, and Franz what they're going to have to pay them. I just don't know how they build a functional like top ten offense out of this team. I don't expect them to do anything crazy, but it will be interesting and they need an offensive genius coach.

I’ve read a lot of good points recently in this topic, would have liked to upvote all of them. From my point of view, the day after the elimination was even worst than the game 6 collapse. Discovering that FO had a hidden renew process, without even knowing for how many years, is the killer kiss for our franchise future (who read my posts already know my opinion on it). First interview and reports confirm it. It was only bad luck, injuries, and maybe bad coaching… need to be patient… usual BS. Reality tell us that we had Cory Joseph in our starting 5 for the playoffs last season (now playing in Europe...) and a random guy that was initially a two way contract this season (not saying Cain didn’t earned it, only pointing out how bad we’re managed). We’ve seen multiple teams making smart moves at the deadline, that were really cheap/easy and helped them in the second part of the season (CJ, White, Ayo, etc). We’ve also seen that injuries can be overcome, just ask Minnesota that was able to beat a pretty talented Denver team (surely better than Detroit) with three bad injuries in a row. Yes, Mose needed to go (and the decision was soooo incredible fast for a FO always evaluating big time, and that sound like washing their hands and find a scapegoat ASAP) but I’m still convinced he wasn’t the biggest problem. I would have loved to have a new FO in place taking this key decision, but even without the hidden deal, I knew all along that only a play-in elimination would have made it possible. Fighting until game 7 of first round, with the Franz excuse added, meant no hope for changes except the coach. Finally, I don’t usually like to point out single players, my reasoning is more team wise, but the Paolo situation need to be addressed. I agree with a lot of us that it’s too soon to give up on a 23yo talent. At the same time, I read his words... … and are really good words. Too bad he’s been the one not backing up them, not in shape at the start and sabotaging most of the season. Proof: how he can have multiple 30+ games in playoffs, and how we can win key games against a N1 seed after losing the last regular season game against the Maine’s. Or been so bad in multiple phases of the long season? Where was the required accountability there? Here comes the part of the right veterans and right staff/mentors. Paolo talent is clear, his head is not. Does he have the desire to be a real All-Star player, leading a team to title, or for him it’s enough to play well and gain checks? Nobody has been able to teach the right mentality/habits to him and most of the team. We need someone able to do that if we hope for a better future. Sorry for the long, long post, but I needed to share those thoughts!

I'm hoping it's our "medical" team and whoever our "shooting" coach is. Bring in actual professionals in each area.

I also wish we had Jeff Turner back on the team, because that would mean he wasn’t announcing.

Magic doing everything wrong as usual. Weltman has to go for this to work. He hired the guy. He can’t get a point guard. He drafted Bamba and a litany of Shiity players. The fans just got a bone and we should be happy? F THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish Mose the best. Great man and a great basketball mind on the defensive side of the ball, but he had to go. Game 6 was the final nail. Top of my list is Bud and Thibs, I have no interest in Donovan if I’m being honest.

Mosley just fired! Unfortunately we’re stuck with Weltman who is also part of the problem. I hope we don’t hire Billy Donovan or Darvin Ham because that would also be very underwhelming.

Ditto. At least he’s not as dumb as a rock.

Y'all have hopes and dreams still?

MO!!!! Mosely should been playing him all series. Now he’s desperate and he plays. SMDH

Mose put the nail in his coffin tonight

Break their spirit!

No Franz no problem. Glad to see multiple guys stepping up. Let’s keep this up boys and finish this series tonight, Go Magic!

Hope the boys watched Minnesota last night. Missing 3 of their top rotation guys including their best player and would not be denied the close out against a near full strength Denver team. We got this!

It just doesn’t make sense for Franz to push it and risk making the injury worse just to finish off a first round series in a year where nobody thinks we’re making a title run anyway. If he goes out there and blows out his Achilles, everyone begging for him to play will be the same people complaining that he’s out all next season. If we win tonight without him, awesome. But then we’re facing Toronto or Cleveland two teams we don’t match up well with and would probably lose to in the second round. No reason to gamble the long term health of one of our best players for the most likely scenario of a second round exit.

Yikes. Atlanta going out with a whimper to end their Cinderella story. 60-19?!!

That cheap shot Cade delivered to Cain near the end of the first half has been upgraded to a flagrant foul. Would’ve been really nice if the crew calling the game would’ve called it as such in the moment as we were down 6 and would’ve gotten 2 free throws and kept possession with 24 seconds left. The league upgrading stuff after the game feels like even more of a middle finger

Remember Isaiah Thomas who played for Detroit back in the 80's? He had a similar injury and stayed in the game, hobbling and limping during the finals of a playoffs. Quote: "Isiah Thomas famously played through a severe ankle sprain in Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals, scoring 25 points in the third quarter—an NBA Finals record—despite visibly limping. He injured his right ankle after stepping on Michael Cooper's foot, yet finished with 43 points."

Haha that’s really funny and somewhat true. I’ve been so nervous just as a fan for tomorrow night. It’s been so long as a Magic fan to really feel like we can advance. I just bit the bullet and got my wife and I tickets for game 6. She is a good luck charm so I think we got this and will close it out!

I’m so anxious about tomorrow night. I don’t know how these players to it, man. I’d need to wear a full on adult diaper to even attend this game. Tomorrow is the series imo. I want no part of a game 7 in Detroit in Adam Silver’s WWE style NBA.

Cunningham and Banchero became just the second set of players with dueling 45-point performances in NBA playoff history, joining Donovan Mitchell (51 points) and Jamal Murray (50 points), who dueled in Game 4 of the 2020 first round between the Jazz and Nuggets in the NBA COVID-19 bubble. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48634484/pistons-top-magic-cunningham-banchero-drop-45

Yeah it’s a head scratcher how many FT’s we missed in this game. We hit our season average and we would have won.

We need to consider playing Moe Wagner in the next one on Friday. Goga has been awful for multiple games straight now

If that’s a foul for Cade it should’ve been a foul for Paolo. Refs are *****ing shameless

This is a really frustrating game to watch. We are so ugly offensively. And the missed free throws are killing me!

We weathered their best punch and shot ourselves in the foot repeatedly and were only down 6 at the break. -9 on the glass, missed 9 free throws. Clean stuff up and we could steal this. Felt for a long time it could get out of hand in the bad way

Why are you not closing out the half with Bane, especially in a close out game

Welcome back, Mauro!

By leading 3 games to 1, I hope the Magic has the Pistons rattled, questioning whether they can make a comeback against the Magic to win this round.

Don’t do it take one for the team. We need to win this game.

They need to get Bane going.

I agree with your point about the Magic shooting so many outside shots and being terrible at it. I was thinking the same thing.

Round 1 - Game 4 Monday, April 27, 2026 @ 8:00 P.M. EST KIA Center, Orlando, Florida TV: NBC and Peacock LET'S GO MAGIC!!!

MESSAGE FROM: TMF I Have An Idea ATTENTION MODS Round 1, Game #4 is tomorrow, April 27. I suggest the following: "Unpin" Game Thread for Game #3 Continue using the General Game Thread that All Eyes On Me posted at the start of the 2026 playoffs titled: (2026 Playoffs Round 1 - # 1 Detroit Pistons vs # 8 Orlando Magic), and participants can post in it before, during or after each game for the duration of Round #1. Of course, if the Magic makes it to Round #2, the Mods will start a new "General" thread for that round. ***Note: I will no longer post standalone "Official Game Thread starters". H-o-w-e-v-er, before a specific game, TMF will add a post inside the General Playoffs Thread (The same as I did during the regular season). My one post will have the following elements: Game Night or Day (title), When, Where, Time, and TV; also one medium-size graphic. That's it. GO MAGIC!

GAME 3: Saturday, April 25. 2026 @ 1:00 P.M. EST KIA Center, Orlando, FL TV: NBC or NBCsn GO MAGIC!

MP! Hope you are good and well brother

I believe the next 3 games are the most important in 15 years. We absolutely need to win 2 of the next 3. They need to really focus and play their hearts out. Dont let it be just a two game mirage.