Photo credit: Bleacher Report
The Orlando Magic have clinched a winning season for the second time in 12 years
Thanks to their 121-106 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, the Magic now boast a 42-28 record. With only 12 games remaining, they've secured a winning season, marking just the second time in 12 years they've achieved this feat. What's more significant for this season's team is their momentum as they head into the final weeks of the regular season. Additionally, they've clinched a spot in the play-in tournament.
Certainly, All-Star center/forward Paolo Banchero played a pivotal role in the victory. He concluded the game against New Orleans with an impressive stat line of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.''Just trying to let the game come to me,'' Banchero told reporters. ''I tried to communicate with my passing. I just wanted to keep finding guys.''
It's worth noting that Banchero encountered a challenging start, missing his initial 10 shots, which even included two missed free throws, before finding his rhythm and concluding with a 9-of-18 shooting performance.
DEFENSE IS THE KEY
The Orlando Magic have emerged as one of the premier defensive units in the NBA, boasting several standout players renowned for their defensive prowess.
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"(Coach Jamahl) Mose has been saying it from the start that we're going to be an elite defensive team and I think we keep improving on the defensive end. I mean, I just said it before, we've got the head of the snake in Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac," Anthony said. "I think, honestly, Jalen started it up. He got a few steals. I thought he was going to get like 10 steals. How many steals did he have? I thought he was going to get like 10, but you know we've just got some really, really good defenders on this team and we just have that willingness as a team to want to guard. That goes a long way."
Suggs' defensive versatility poses a daunting challenge for rival guards on the court. Sustaining this level of performance throughout the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs could position the Magic to exceed expectations and catch many off guard with their performance.
In essence, this reflects the resilience consistently shown by the Magic all season, characterized by their ability to swiftly recover from setbacks and bounce back. The likelihood of any major basketball setbacks aside, the Magic seem destined for a playoff spot, a rarity in recent seasons. Clearly, this version of the Orlando Magic stands apart from its predecessors.
Source Hoopwire : Magic Secure Second Winning Season In 12 Years
Source Sports Illustrated : Magic SG Jalen Suggs 'Head of the Snake' on Defense, Says Cole Anthony
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March 22 | 1 answers The Orlando Magic have clinched a winning season for the second time in 12 years Do you think the Orlando Magic can reach the conference finals this year? | ||
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