This Has Magic Fans VERY Concerned...

This has Magic fans very concerned. Just one game into the Sean Sweeney era and some familiar problems are already raising questions. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner gave us plenty to be excited about, but Orlando's defense told a completely different story. And with Minnesota coming to town Friday, things aren't getting any easier. So is this just an opening night setback or is there something bigger going on? We'll break all that down and more on today's episode of Magic Digest. What's good, my kinfolk? it's your big uncle Eric back in the building with Magic Digest is here we got official Orlando magic basketball and i thought they was gonna hit the song but nah it wasn't to be as they take the loss to Atlanta and we're gonna break all that down man but i'm already going to prepare for this next game because i don't know if you guys saw that Minnesota game against Miami Them guys are looking good. So I'm definitely anticipating what's going to happen. And when I looked at the market, I was like, okay, let's see. Right now, the market is showing Minnesota to win. And that market is brought to you by our good friends over on Calshi. On Calshi, you're trading directly against other users, not the house like traditional sportsbooks. You're buying yes or no contracts on the outcome of events across sports, politics, or even the weather. for example if you still believe that the magic can pull this off and you put your 25 on the Orlando Magic to win you could double your money and get 52 34 that's thanks to the good folks over at Calshi on Calshi if you're interested use the link in the description and pin comment and code digest nba to get 55 added to your account instantly when you trade your first 25 and that's a big thanks to our good friends over on Calshi and we just gonna jump right into it, man. Paolo Banchero led Orlando against Atlanta. And we're just going to talk about somebody coming out to play. We got to give Paolo his props. We were very interested. I personally was very interested on how he was going to come out and look in this new Sean Sweeney offense. We wanted to see less hesitation, less stagnant ball play, more movement, better shots, especially Paolo really putting the pressure on teams, not settling for, you know, as my brother would say, he likes to go in there and hoping to get fouled, not hoping to actually score the basket, but just hoping to get fouled. But it looked like last night he came in full head of 16 ready to go we're talking 35 points seven rebounds 10 assists he went three or four from three 12 of 16 from the free throw line like these are impressive numbers in 41 minutes there is one number that sticks out that's six turnovers the magic was just giving the ball up and we're going to address that side of the ball a little bit later but the magic were all over the place, just giving the ball up. Really, that is what kind of took them out of this. And when you actually look at the comparison between him and fellow Dookie, Josh Johnson, it's interesting to see how they approach tonight. I know that in past years, people have looked at Josh Johnson as the better player just because of his overall versatility and efficiency. But I think Paolo had something on his mind, something to prove. He comes out with the 35 versus 21. Josh did out-rebound him, but Paolo did play more minutes at 41 minutes. And we'll talk about that. We'll talk about the rotations here as well, because it felt like if it wasn't the starters, we were in trouble. Now, it's not going to get easy. It's not getting any easier because we do have some tough games coming up. If you look at the East standings after one game, the magic are at the bottom or low because of the loss and standings don't really matter right now, but we do want to give props to the positive. Paolo scored efficiently. That is what a lot of people have been talking about with Paolo. It's not that he can't score, but it's scoring efficiently. He is not going up shooting 40 times to score 22 points. It's going out there, hitting your shots, and hitting your free throws. And a big thing for me was the three or four from the three-point line. I don't want to see him fall in love with the shot. But if you can develop a consistency of a NBA average, and I'm talking about higher, maybe 35% to 36% from the three-point line, now that makes them have to guard you out there. And that just provides better spacing for you and for us to work. And again, offense was not the problem last night. Orlando produced 125 points. And it seems like what we saw from the preseason with the consistent movement and the focus on getting better shots and attacking carried on into this game. So I definitely want to see more of that. I want to keep that going. I want to see this team keep on attacking. And speaking of attacking, we got to talk about Franz. He kept the duo dangerous. He really put his stamp on this game very early. In fact, the time that he was out because of foul trouble really spelled a difference in the game for me. Yes, he was a part of that. He did play a little bit in that second quarter. But that first quarter and that comeback, that's when Franz was really in and able to attack. and the two-man game with him, Paolo, really was working. We're talking 22 points, six rebounds, five assists. Definitely want to see him be better from the three-point line with two from eight from the three-point line and, you know, hit those free throws. Got to. We got to get that shooting percentage up, but I want to see him keep attacking. I definitely want to see that, you know, because truthfully, it looks like he's going to be the straw that stirs this drink. another person I do want to give some love to for their performance which wasn't all the most amazing but Wendell Carter Jr. did come through with 22 points and seven rebounds five of five from the free throw line he did hit one three that was timely it definitely came in the clutch when he not the clutch but it definitely came in point when he hit that but I just want to see more I want to see more rebounds more on the defensive end because Atlanta really faced no defensive pressure especially at the rim especially at the rim there was a few times in there um Goga had a few moments you know that high energy but Atlanta was getting anything they wanted and again we'll get to we'll get to this defense in a minute but it was just like it was just like a turnstile open walk through now the offensive formula so far again like we said has been attack the early advantage. And a lot of that starts with Franz just attacking, driving and the kickout. I'm happy to see that. If Point Franz is what keeps this team's offensive moving the way it is, then sign me up for it every night. Sharing the playmaking between Franz, Paolo, just get the ball moving. Again, the Magic had 30 assists. Again, they weren't doing this last season. There was games where they would be in the teens in assists. Them getting 30 plus assists a game would definitely just show that the ball is moving and it keeps more people involved. It keeps the shooters happy. That means they're getting the touches and that when they're getting these touches, they're able to contribute and knock down open shots. And then they have to move when the stars have the ball. And that all just comes from when Paolo's on the move or he has it in his attack zones. Franz is getting it on the move that just opens it up for your other guys your Desmond Baines your Tristan Da Silva shout out to him he had four threes in the first half like really these guys the offense was not the problem but we'll get into what the problem was truth be told Sean Sweeney got to repair the Magic's defense. I know a lot of people were concerned about the fact that we were getting rid of a defensive-minded coach to bring in someone who is touted as a defensive-minded coach, especially when it felt like the offense was where this team was lacking. So far in the preseason and one game, it doesn't seem like offense is going to be a problem under this new regime but what is happening to the defense what is going on with the staunch physical tough Orlando Magic defense that has led them you gotta think what led them in those seasons when they were you know looking to be uh when people believed in them being able to be a contender on the rise is they were number two or top five in defense top 10 in defense last season they were just mid across the board defensive and offensively and while i think this team has talent coming out and leading the league or trying to be a top five offense with a very mid defense is not going to be what takes this team to the next level when Sean Sweeney was asked about it after the game he said there's plenty of work there's plenty to work on certainly a lot of correctable things. Defensively, I think we could do a much better job than we did, and we will have to do a much better job than we did tonight. It's coach speak, but when we look at their baseline, I mean, again, it's only one game. They had good three-point percentage, good assists, just in this one game, but blocks. We're not getting any rim pressure. And again, Wendell can provide a little bit of defensive rim pressure, but that's not really his thing. that's not really he's never going to be leading the lead in blocks and Golga and if you're looking at if you're looking for that from Goga and Vooch amen I don't know what to tell you they'll definitely be able to help out on the offensive end but we just need some better rim protection honestly I think this is a game that would have been perfect for the four players that the Magic were missing tonight we're talking about Anthony Black there was times when it felt like when their If starters weren't in, there was no offensive creation. No one who could create and move well. I'm trying to believe in Jace. I'm trying to. I love his energy. He does look like he's trying very hard out there. I just need to see a little bit more from him. I'm just going to keep saying that. If he's going to be the first guard off the bench, I just need to see a little bit more. This would have been a perfect game for Noah Penda. It seemed like the Magic just needed more length to combat Atlanta's size, especially Dyson Daniels was everywhere, just making life hard for the Magic. You know, Okongwu, like these guys were flying all over the place. this would have been a great game for the idea of Jonathan Isaac or the rookie Isaiah Nelson who you know was looked at as being a rim protector a long defensive minded body like this game would have been perfect for all the guys we missed but you have to play with who you have on the field in the court and the Magic had a chance to win this game when Franz was asked about the defensive intensity especially in the second quarter he said not just that second quarter i think in general i don't think we were great with sticking to our principles you know doing what we've been doing in the preseason i think it's just about honing in on that and making those things a habit and one person that we really got to talk about man because he's been getting killed if you've been online at all today Jalen Suggs is not getting a lot of love he has six points three rebounds five assists and two turnovers and it's like it felt like just a continuation of last year stupid mistakes not hitting your shots not really contributing in a very you know in a way you're 30 million dollar a year man the fact that we have to that's primarily the reason that Anthony Black doesn't have a contract and we might lose Anthony Black to a trade or free agency because they don't have the money. And a lot of that is tied up in Jalen Suggs. It's tied up in other guys as well. But Jalen Suggs has to come out and show that he is worth the money. I know a lot of people, doom and gloom, ready to get rid of him after one game. I'm not there yet, but he has to show his value. He has to. Now, what can be done? We got to limit the live ball turnovers. That was just too much, they were just giving it up all over the place, 30 assists to 20 turnovers you're going to lose if you, if you're going out there 20 turnovers is not very many games you're going to win, they got to contain drives again there were too many times where it was just a straight cakewalk to the hole depending on the player, Malik Alexander Walker, CJ McCollum Jalen Johnson just easily getting to the lane, communicate on the switches, there was not that defensive energy that we saw, that we've come accustomed to, and they got to finish with rebounds, it's just, again, I think that will come with getting guys in here, like, again, a Noah Pinder, guys in here who are attacking the boards, we just need that, because if you don't know, Minnesota is coming into town, like I said, and those guys went out and put it up on Miami, 131 to 106 Anthony Edwards With 45 points This is the type of thing That we got to prepare for I'm not Again I am not Calling it yet I'm just saying The Magic need to come out there And be Prepared They really do So I'm going to get up out of here But I need you to drop A comment for me Down below If you listened to this far I appreciate you You the kinfolk My nieces and nephews I love all of y'all Let me know what do the Magic need to fix most urgently is it a the turnovers is it b the defense or is it c for all of the above honestly if you say anything other than c then what are you talking about i'm gonna get up out of here though man it is the Magic digest yo it's one game stop the doom and gloom it's okay to look at the issues both sides but stop the doom and gloom it's only one game we're coming back bigger and better next episode with your uncle holla at your boy