Albert Lergier

MAGIC CURRENT POWER RANKING: #26↓ Record: 13-24 OffRtg: 110.2 (27) DefRtg: 114.3 (25) NetRtg: -4.1 (26) Pace: 99.1 (20) A week ago, the Magic looked like they were on their way to competing for a Play-In spot in the East, having won eight of their last nine games and set to play four more in a stretch of seven straight against teams with losing records. Now … not so much. The Magic had three of their five worst losses of the season last week, losing to the Lakers, Pistons and Wizards by an average of 19.3 points. They were outscored by at least nine points in five of the six halves, and the worst stretch of the week (a 31-10 run from the Pistons on Wednesday) was made worse by Moe Wagner’s bush-league foul on Killian Hayes and eight Magic players leaving the bench in the ensuing altercation. The Magic rank 28th in turnover rate, but turnovers (other than the one that led to the Wagner ejection) haven’t been a big issue over these three games. Instead, the last two losses have been two of their three least effective shooting games of the season. They’ve shot 26% from 3-point range and Paolo Banchero has shot just 4-for-30 (13%) from outside the restricted area over the losing streak. The Magic still rank as the third most improved offensive team from last season (+6.3 points scored per 100 possessions), but they’re now back in the bottom five on that end of the floor. They have one more game on this stretch of seven straight against below-.500 opponents, but Franz Wagner will be among the four guys suspended against Oklahoma City on Wednesday. And that’s the start of Orlando’s second stretch of five games in seven nights, with the other four opponents all currently holding winning records. JANUARY SCHEDULE: Jan 4 vs OKC, Jan 5 vs MEM Jan 7 @ GS, Jan 9 @ SAC, Jan 10 @ POR, Jan 13 @ UTAH, Jan 15 @ DEN Jan 20 vs NO Jan 21 @ WAS Jan 23 vs BOS ------> REVENGE GAME, MUST SEE TV !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Jan 25 vs IND Jan 27 @ MIA Jan 28 vs CHI Jan 30 @ PHI HOME GAMES - 6 AWAY GAMES - 8 THIS IS A MAKE OR BREAK MONTH FOR THE TEAM......VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY RESPOND.

Magic No. 1 Pick Paolo Banchero Wins December Rookie of the Month Paolo Banchero helped lead the Orlando Magic to a winning record in December. Last month, the Magic went 8-7, much in part due to Banchero's heroics. He averaged 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists - no other rookie was even close. Mathurin's stats came up second, with averages of 14.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Even though Banchero struggled during the final week of the month with some of his worst performances of his young NBA career, the top pick from Duke is establishing himself as one of the young phenoms in the league.

The fun thing when you watch Luka is that he plays is slow motion and scores 30 every night....40's, 50's and 60's sometimes too. Tremendous basketball IQ.

Donovan Mitchell EXPLODES for 71, Cavs Beat Bulls Again

THE ARTICLE DOESN'T TELL WHAT THE MAGIC WOULD BE GETTING IN RETURN, IF THE MAGIC TRADE T. ROSS. ARTICLE IS ABOUT 3 TEAMS WHERE HE FITS: 1) LAKERS Ross would be a low-risk addition for the Lakers, who are desperately seeking a spark. He would represent a scoring boost off the bench at minimum, and there's a legitimate chance he could provide even more value if his defense returns to its usual level. 2) HAWKS The Hawks' trade of Kevin Huerter, who's enjoying a breakout season with the Sacramento Kings, got lost amid the team's busy offseason, but it's left the team a little short on three-point shooting behind Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. 3) RAPTORS Ross could provide a nice boost to the Raptors' backcourt reserve group, and it would also be a chance for him to write a second chapter with the organization following an initial up-and-down five-year run in Toronto.

PER CBS INJURY REPORT, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR INJURED PLAYERS: JI's Knee - Expected to be out until at least Jan 7 Jalen's Ankle - Game Time Decision Chuma's Knee - Expected to be out until at least Jan 23

If he can leap....a Junior Ja?

NEW RIVARLY VS PISTONS FOR SURE....AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT GAME, IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO ON SUNDAY APRIL 2 @ 6 PM MUST SEE TV !!!!

HERE ARE THE SUSPENSIONS: Wagner’s two-game suspension will begin Friday when the Magic plays host to the Washington Wizards at Amway Center. The one-game suspensions issued to the eight Magic players for leaving the bench area during an altercation will be served on a staggered basis to ensure, per league rule, that Orlando has eight healthy players available to play in its next two games. Anthony, Bamba, Carter, Jr., Hampton and Gary Harris will serve their suspensions Friday vs. the Wizards. Kevon Harris, Schofield and Franz Wagner will be suspended for Orlando’s following game Jan. 4 vs. the Thunder.

This JI contract is a mess or is it, or not? Due to his injury and the doctors and front office holding him out forever.... Or is it going to be a blessing for the Magic because they will be saving salary cap (JI's SALARY)? CBS Injury Report has him listed as: Expected to be out until at least Jan 13 Wonder if the suspensions that will be coming down soon will accelerate THE RETURN OF JI. PER NBC SPORT'S KURT HELLIN, DATED TODAY, HE WROTE AMONG OTHER THINGS: "At that point a number of Magic players left their bench area to go down to the Pistons bench and get in the scuffle — Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Harris, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross and Admiral Schofield all did so.

OBJECTIVE QUESTION? Is Jabari a better DEFENSIVE player than Paolo right now and in the foreseeable future?

UNWATCHABLE........UNFORTUNATELY

GOSH, LEBRON RUNS THE FAST BREAK AS GOOD AS ANYONE IN THE NBA....STILL AT 38 (December 30, DOB) !!! I CAN'T SEE HIM RETIRING ANYTIME SOON. I CAN SEE HIM PLAYING WITH SON BRONNY IN 2024. HE IS ONLY ABOUT 500 POINTS SHY OF REACHING KAREEM TO BECOME THE ALL-TIME LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA. ON HIS WAY TO BE HEAVILY CONSIDERED THE GOAT !!!! THIS IS ONLY A SHORT LIST OF HIS ACCOMPLISMENTS: 4× NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) 4× NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) 4× NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 18× NBA All-Star (2005–2022) 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018) 13× All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008–2018, 2020) 3× All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007, 2021)

WENDELL RE-JOINS THE STARTERS TOMORROW ????

A LITTLE BIT OF 8 VERSUS 5 TONIGHT? YEAP, A LITTLE BIT.....

LBJ GTD DUE TO AN ANKLE INJURY...... IF I WERE A GAMBLER, I'D BET HE PLAYS....HE HATES OUR GUTS SINCE WE SPANKED HIM IN GAME 6 OF THE 2009 EASTERN CONFERENCE ON MAY 29, 2009. MAGIC ADVANCED TO THE NBA FINALS TO FACE THE GREAT KOBE !!! On this day in Orlando Magic history, Dwight Howard knocks out LeBron James in a close-out Game 6 while dropping this stat-line: 40 PTS 14 REB 4 AST 1 BLK 71% TS%

If we do anything....wish one of the moves we do is get a 1st RP from the Lakers. Team that after this season should be a lotto team, BUT THEY ARE IN TROUBLE WITH THEIR PICKS: 2023 first round draft pick to New Orleans (swap, New Orleans incoming) New Orleans has the right to swap its 2023 1st round pick for the L.A. Lakers' 2023 1st round pick [L.A. Lakers-New Orleans-Washington, 7/6/2019] 2024 first round draft pick to New Orleans L.A. Lakers' 2024 1st round pick to New Orleans or New Orleans has the right to instead receive the L.A. Lakers' 2025 1st round pick [L.A. Lakers-New Orleans-Washington, 7/6/2019] ALL OF THIS, COURTESY OF ANTHONY DAVIS !!!!!

Paolo Banchero reflects on facing LeBron James for the first time Cody Taylor December 27, 2022 12:52 pm ET "It is going to be a special moment for me. Anybody that knows me knows that has been my favorite player since I was a young kid. (He is) a guy who I’ve watched countless hours of. It is going to be special for me being my first time playing against him in an NBA game." "That commander-type of presence where you’re the best player (and) the most talented guy but at the same time, you’re even more of a threat because you can get your teammates involved and always find the open man. I think that is what I’ve always respected about LeBron and that’s what I always try to do with my game." Reporter final thoughts..... Much like facing the other greats in the game, the contest on Tuesday against James will certainly be one that Banchero remembers for a long time to come. It will be his first chance to go against one of his role models, and it should be a fun moment to watch unfold.

WHAT A GAME TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE GREAT LEBRON VERSUS THE ALREADY GREAT PAOLO, MANO A MANO !!!!!!!!!!!!

You're good buddy !!! Just pick an All-Star or a Superstar player and we all can try to device a trade that makes sense for both teams.

Yeap !!! He is our 3rd most important player.

In any big / blockbuster trade that the Magic engage in, Wendell or Markelle have to be our central piece.....and then other players and picks.

WHAT A GAME TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE GREAT LEBRON VERSUS THE ALREADY GREAT PAOLO, MANO A MANO !!!!!!!!!!!!

REBOUNDING STAT - Team ranks 12th best Wendell 8.8, Bol 7.1, Paolo 6.9, Mo Wagner 6.9, Bamba 5.1, are the top 5. TURNOVERS STAT - Team ranks 26 worst Suggs 3.4, Paolo 3.0, Wendell 2.6, Markelle 2.5, Franz 2.3 = Way too many from these 5. Mo Wagner 1.7 in 26.3 MPG. To me, this Mo settled the team down once he was inserted as the starter in the C position.