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Surprisingly, the Cavaliers have won a whopping 17 games in a row against the Magic. Even before James rejoined the Cavs, the Magic have had a hard time against them, including a statistically improbable collapse. The Hornets are still a pretty talented team despite their recent struggles and will be a tough matchup for the Magic. Hopefully, the Magic can grab a win or two and save face against a strong playoff candidate. The Magic have a relatively young roster that still has room to grow.
It was an odd series last year due to how strong the Wizards looked last season. Orlando caught Washington early while Washington was struggling and picked up a few wins before mid-December. There is a chance the Magic have their number now and can hopefully take two games again from a sure-fire playoff team.
Jan. 31: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Ibaka and Vogel will be making homecomings of sorts in November. Ibaka, who spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career in Oklahoma City, will face the Thunder in OKC on Nov. 13. The next night, Vogel returns to Indiana, the city where he guided the Pacers to the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. Vogel, who coached 5 ½ seasons previously with the Indiana Pacers, was hired in late May.
With the Eastern Conference looking weak on paper, there is a chance for the Magic to make a playoff push if the right things fall into place. On the other hand, the improved depth may not prove to be enough and leave Orlando with another 30-win season. Even with the early loss to the Heat, the Magic went on to win the season series.
Team
Fultz showed off the Magic’s jersey which will once again feature a Disney patch this season. Fultz has been in the NBA since 2017, the same year Walt Disney World Resort became the jersey sponsor for the Magic. In a league full of established powers, the Magic were one of the true feel-good stories at that time, even making it to the Finals in 1995 where they lost to Houston. Hopefully, the Magic can close out January on a high note and win this ball game.
The sting has eroded from the “Dwightmare” about half a decade ago, but Dwight Howard games always mean something. Howard is now with the divisional foe Charlotte Hornets and will be coming back to Orlando twice this season. As the countdown to the NBA season begins, schedule release day is an obvious landmark. With only a few months left until tip-off, fans will now get a sense of what is in store for the 2018 season. Both Miami and Orlando made a handful of quiet moves that should improve both teams.
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Located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort opened Oct. 1, 1971. For information on attractions and vacations at Walt Disney World Resort, visit disneyworld.com, call W-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Disney’s magic on the court will continue, as the company and the NBA’s Orlando Magic have agreed to an extension on their jersey sponsorship. The Magic do not have a coveted Christmas Day game, so this will be as close the Magic get to being a part of the holiday festivities. Hopefully, the Magic can get their fans in good spirits when this game rolls around.
As good as Nikola Vucevic was on the offensive end, even putting in some big games against Howard, the Magic never had anyone who could impact the game defensively like him. Howard has moved on to his third team in five seasons since leaving Orlando as he will play for the Atlanta Hawks this year. His struggles to find his rhythm and regain his stellar play from his Orlando days in Houston flamed out almost completely as the Rockets nearly missed the Playoffs last year.
March 11 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Still, Los Angeles seems to be positioning to make a splash in free agency. It may be silly, but the Lakers are going to garner tremendous attention next year. When they come to Orlando for the first time, NBA fans will be itching to see him play.
The Magic traded for Ibaka on draft night and remained aggressive throughout the rest of the offseason in upgrading the roster. On paper, both the Magic and Pacers will appear to be lottery teams. Still, both feature young talent that may develop into stars in a few seasons. Players like Myles Turner and Aaron Gordon should get their time to shine in this contest.
Disney became a Champion of the Community sponsor with the Magic in 2010 and the official Magic jersey sponsor in 2017. Fans will also continue to see the relationship represented by the Disney logo on the players’ jerseys. Orlando Magic jerseys with the Disney logo will be available for purchase at the Amway Center. The Disney name will continue to appear on the front left of the jersey and measure about 2½ by 2½ inches.
But this will be the game where the debate gets settled. A good time to take stock of whether the Magic made the right decision. The Cavaliers are the measuring stick for the entire Eastern Conference. They are a show when they roll into town, as any NBA champion would be, and will get everyone’s best shot every time.
As the Orlando Magic wrap up their season, they will be going north of the border to take on Serge Ibaka and the Toronto Raptors. This game will also be on NBATV and be the last chance for the national audience to see Orlando in action. It may not garner the casual audience, but diehard fans will get a nice look at a pair of teams whose futures appear bright. Plus, seeing Oladipo is always a fun storyline to get behind. James will come to town to open up a three-game homestand for Orlando in early February . Although the Magic will be heavy underdogs when this game comes around, playing the defending Eastern Conference champions will make headlines around the city.
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