Tag: NBA

Opinion: Orlando’s unusually active offseason positions young Magic core for continued contention

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KCP is a two-time NBA champion who is an asset at Orlando’s areas of weakness, shooting and experience, so his signing could both stabilize the Magic’s lineup and accelerate its contention timeline. Combine the Caldwell-Pope signing with the extensions of two of Orlando’s most important figures, forward Franz Wagner and head coach Jamahl Mosley, and a couple of promising draft selections, and the Magic have good reason to believe they can continue its ascent to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Opinion: Dan Hurley’s flirtation with the NBA made sense, but passing on the Lakers’ head coaching position was a brilliant move

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One of the fascinating developments in the sports world over the past 12 months has been changing of the guard for some of sports’ most iconic franchises and programs.  Nick Saban’s retirement at Alabama football coming off a College Football Playoff appearance was a shock, while Pete Carroll’s dismissal with the Seattle Seahawks and Bill … Continue reading Opinion: Dan Hurley’s flirtation with the NBA made sense, but passing on the Lakers’ head coaching position was a brilliant move

Opinion: In star-studded NBA Finals, the spotlight will shine the harshest on top-seeded Celtics

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The Boston Celtics will take the floor at TD Garden on Thursday with an NBA-record 18th NBA Finals championship in their sights, a resounding 64 regular season wins (seven more than the next closest team) and a dominant 12-2 record in this year’s postseason bracket. That momentum ensures the Celtics will have an abundance of … Continue reading Opinion: In star-studded NBA Finals, the spotlight will shine the harshest on top-seeded Celtics

NBA Playoff Preview: Five storylines I’m watching in the first round and beyond

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An NBA graphic from (of course) Sports Illustrated Kids that has stuck with me over the years depicted each of the NBA Finals contenders as pieces on a Risk board, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. That twist on the popular board game represents my favorite type of playoffs — fields with all sorts … Continue reading NBA Playoff Preview: Five storylines I’m watching in the first round and beyond

Yankee shortstops, Alabama running backs among most high-profile positions in sports

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I’ve been watching ESPN’s eight-part documentary on famed Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. It’s an interesting watch for me, because I certainly remember Jeter’s Yankees in the back-half of his career and, as a fan of the Red Sox, how much I detested those teams.  So far, the documentary is well-paced, has interviews with just about … Continue reading Yankee shortstops, Alabama running backs among most high-profile positions in sports

Welcome to Atlanta: How my journalism residency at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports desk compared to expectations

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ATLANTA — This spring, school looked a lot different.  I can’t remember any other year when my day started at 2 p.m., when my homework was circulated to thousands of people I had never met or when watching sports was a welcome obligation, rather than a midday distraction. So I don’t think it’s hyperbole to … Continue reading Welcome to Atlanta: How my journalism residency at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports desk compared to expectations

State of the Orlando Magic: Why Jalen Suggs could be Orlando’s next superstar

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I first conceptualized this post in early June, back when the Orlando Magic were coming off an absolutely abysmal 2020-21 season. Back then, the tenor was unabating gloom, and for good reason: a midseason trade deadline that saw the playoff core jettisoned across the NBA, injuries to the top two long-term prospects and a lowly … Continue reading State of the Orlando Magic: Why Jalen Suggs could be Orlando’s next superstar

Rooting Guide for the 2020-21 NBA Playoffs

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The Orlando Magic’s 2020-21 season could not have gone much worse. The two franchise building blocks, Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac, missed pretty much all of the season, while starting lineup linchpins Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon were dealt to Chicago and Denver, respectively. The Magic sank to the bottom of the NBA and sent … Continue reading Rooting Guide for the 2020-21 NBA Playoffs