This is the third game I have watched and analyzed this season. This “weekly series” seems to have gone the way of the “Weekly” Grid series, in that I can’t keep a consistent weekly series. Anyway, Sixers, Magic, started watching slightly after midway through the first, and again if you want to know the story of the game go somewhere else, this is just my takes after watching.

I Haven’t Watched NBA Basketball in a Couple of Years and it Shows

This is the first time I have really noticed my ball knowledge decreasing in recent years. I had to look up Noah Penda (who put up a decent 10 and 9), and last I knew, Justin Edwards was a 15th man level bum. This is to be expected considering these three games make this season my most-watched NBA season out of the past three-plus, but I didn’t notice it in previous games I’ve watched this year. It’s cool to see younger guys getting opportunities.

And the Old Guys are Really Aging

Back when I was consistently watching NBA basketball, Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, and Eric Gordon were very solid NBA players. Drummond sucks now in Philly and seems to be playing the James Johnson role, Lowry is a bench ornament, and Eric Gordon was playing in just his fourth game of the season (although he was doing well). I became an NBA fan for the first time during the Harden MVP season so this is the first generation of guys I really grew up with, and it’s crazy to see them as shells of their former selves. I was glad to see Eric Gordon still playing well, but it’s still a unique feeling seeing these guys age (and on a sidenote, I just clicked on a REAL PLAYER in my BBGM league who I regularly use in every league – Gabe Nesmith – and he’s A YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME which is a wild feeling).

The Underrated Magic

Apart from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero (who are about properly rated), it feels like a lot of Magic players are underrated. I’ve been a believer in Anthony Black since he was in college, and although I haven’t gotten much of a look at him since he entered the league, my assessment felt correct tonight. Feel free to take a look at some of my mock draft stuff from his year, I remember being super high on him. The man dropped 27 in the first half, a number I didn’t realize was that high at the time, but it doesn’t surprise me either. Bitadze is also better than I thought he would be (I’d start him in Philly in Embiid’s absence), and for as much hate as Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones have gotten in Orlando, they played well.

The Sixers Guard Jam

Even with SG Edgecombe out tonight, it still felt like the Sixers had too many guards in the rotation. Jared McCain played like a starting level guy but he simply didn’t have the opportunity, and Eric Gordon could probably get a few more minutes a night on a less jammed team. If I were the Sixers I would explore trading one of the guards (probably Grimes, but maybe McCain) along with Paul George for a reliable F/C (one name that comes to mind is Siakam should Haliburton suffer a major setback).

Ticky Tacky Technicals

I am entirely confused as to why Goga Bitadze and Trendon Watford got that double-tech. They tossed the ball at each other very lightly after the play. There was no risk of injury at any point and it did not seem like there was much verbal fighting either. The announcers said “let ‘em play” and I have to agree. Despite the name, techs are supposed to be for when things are getting out of hand, not for technicalities, and should be used as such. Apparently, there was a third tech in the first quarter that I missed; three techs in a quarter is insane for what seemed like a relatively chill game up to that point. I did write this portion before the end-of-the-second-quarter scuffle, which was, of course, deserving of consequence and of the ejection for Suggs, but my point about the first-quarter stuff stands.

Question of the Game

Can Orlando replicate nights like this against better teams? The game was flowing for Orlando in every way with great ball movement and confidence out of the young guys. I am curious to see if players like Bitadze, Penda, and Howard can perform as well against better interior defenders than the likes of Drummond, and if Suggs can continue the level of playmaking we saw in the first half tonight. If those few things go Orlando’s way, we might be looking at a contender to come out of the East.

Unrelated Comment of the Game

I know way too many people in high school who are one or two season athletes. Unless you are employed, there is no reason not to participate in some sort of track and field if you are involved in a different sport. Football, basketball, and soccer players alike should spend their offseasons doing some sort of track and field. I know football players who had little to no film and got offers because they were so athletic and proved it in the high jump or sprint events. I know others who proved their athleticism on the football field but gained it on the track. it also serves as a backup sport so if your main sport doesn’t pan out you still have something to do and keep you in shape in college.

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What did you think of the game, if you got the chance to watch? Do you agree with my takes, disagree, and why? Did you see anything I missed? Let me know in the comments section and I look forward to the discussion. Thanks