What’s next, Orlando?

The NBA playoffs continue to roll along but my interest level has declined significantly. I often think to myself, “What if the Magic were still in it?” Alas, we are not, after being eliminated by Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors 4-1 in the first round. Am I sad? Of course! I am not disappointed, though. This Orlando team, which won 42 games this season after only winning 25 last season, is a team on the rise.

What is next? Between expiring contracts, a top-heavy draft, and having an excited fan base, the Magic have a lot on their plate. Unfortunately for them, this isn’t Thanksgiving. Some tough decisions will need to be made.

Mike and I at the Charlotte game in February.

Free Agent Nikola Vucevic

The first task is deciding what to do with first-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. Putting up career-high numbers (20.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG), Nikola was a threat on offense all season. I was thinking about saving my Keith’s Take for a podcast episode, but I don’t want to hold back. Here goes! I think the Magic should let Vucevic walk, or at least let him explore free agency. Now, before you throw the book at me, hear me out! Vucevic has been excellent for us. His offensive game has expanded each year, his defense has shown glimmers of improvement, and he has become a leader on this young roster. That being said, I don’t think he fits in with the direction the team is going. The team we are building is athletic. A team that can blitz you. A team that can switch and recover. A team where the player playing the 4 can cover point and vice versa. Nik doesn’t fit that mold. He’s an excellent half-court player, and fits perfectly with DJ Augustin’s role with the team. DJ won’t put up the same numbers he did this season and I don’t think Nik will either. I love the guy, I really do. I would love to see him stay in the pinstripes forever. I think in order to take that next step, we need to give the reigns to Mo Bamba.

Free Agent Khem Birch

Re-sign him. If Nikola departs, Khem brought energy and hustle every night when Bamba was sidelined with injuries. He will get you a few buckets, grab a half dozen boards, and block a pair of shots. But it’s what does not show up on the stat sheet that defines Khem’s game.

Free Agent Terrence Ross

Bring back the Human Torch. The leader of our second unit was lights out this season, shooting .383 from deep. He put up career highs in almost every main statistical category COMING OFF THE BENCH. He fits the system. He has a great nickname. His shot is pure (Magic). Why not?

So pure. (Getty)

NBA Draft

This draft will be highlighted by Zion Williamson, we all know that. What should the Magic do? My wish is to get another G/F, or just a straight up point guard. The problem is, this draft is not super deep. The first pick is back in the 19th spot, a different spot for this team in recent history. I will write another article highlighting the potential suitors for the team.

This off-season will be crazy. There could potentially be a ton of moves and there could possibly be close to zero moves. The goal is to set up the remaining pieces to continue the success we had this season, but we all know this team can collapse on command if they want to. No matter what comes of the team, I’ll still stay Magic strong. I still get chills watching DJ drain the three over Marc Gasol to take game one of the series. I want more of that, and I think we will get it. Stay patient, my Magic comrades.

 

The Drought is Over

2012. The last year the Orlando Magic qualified for the NBA Playoffs. The Indiana Pacers completed the “gentleman’s sweep” of the Magic behind Darren Collison’s 19 points off the bench in Game 5. That playoff series loss was the start of the “rebuild” in the post-Dwight era. Five head coaches (yes, James Borrego counts in my book!), a plethora of talent being drafted and shipped away, and many losses later, the Magic are finally heading back to the postseason.

I am always overly confident in the Magic. You call it a fault, I call it believing in something.

“This is the year. On paper, we have the tools to make a run!” – something I would say after winning the first game of the season, then not even eclipsing 30 wins by the end of the year.

Going into this season I was more cautious. I kept a lot of my opinions to myself. I was very critical of Jonathan Simmons, who was traded in February for Markelle Fultz. I was not impressed with Jonathan Isaac’s start to the season. Coming off an injury-plagued rookie season, I expected a monster start. Instead, his explosion didn’t come until after the All-Star break, and his timing could not have been better. Speaking of All-Stars, Nikola Vucevic earned his first trip to the game this season, deservedly so. And how could I forget the Human Torch, a.k.a. Terrance Ross, who should definitely be in the talks for sixth man of the year! All of this plus strong contributions from role players such as Wes Iwundu, Khem Birch, and new-addition Michael Carter-Williams sparked this incredible run.

Steve Clifford, who was fired from Charlotte last season after he struggled with health issues, should be commended for his smart coaching. Instead of forcing lineups that didn’t work, he used trial-and-error to determine what moves to make. “Experts” before the season said our front-court was going to be dominated by Aaron Gordon and rookie Mo Bamba. How about Vucevic and Isaac running the show instead? Gordon slid in the 3, and DJ ran the point with Fournier playing the 2. Bringing Iwundu off the bench to relieve Gordon proved to be a winning move, as Gordon flourished with the second unit as the first starter to come back in. Frank Vogel, the previous coach of the Magic, seemed fixated on forcing people to stay in roles that weren’t fitting, with most notably having Terrance Ross start. Even though he played in just 24 games due to injury, it was evident he could not find his footing as a starter. This season, Ross has started exactly zero games and has been the leader of the second unit. Takes me back to the old days of Pietrus…

Thanks for the W, Charlotte!

This season has been vastly better than the past seven seasons, we know that. Many achievements from this year will be overshadowed in the future due to their actual insignificance in the big picture, but they certainly mean a lot now. Orlando scored the third most points in franchise history against Atlanta two nights ago (149). They also scored the most points in a half (82) in that game as well. A nine-game home win streak to end the season is the first win streak of that length since the 2008-09 season, where they won eleven in a row. Nikola Vucevic passed Shaquille O’Neal for third on the all-time scoring list. A perfect 5-0 record in March marked the first time Orlando swept a homestand of five-or-more games. The other night we did two things that will be overlooked: swept the season series (3-0) against the Celtics for the first time since the 90’s and also won the Southeast division for the first time since the 2008-09 season. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Whether it was just superior coaching and good health or the “magic” of the gorgeous throwback uniforms (which should be made the permanent uniforms), Orlando surprised many people this season. Finishing the season with a win in Charlotte gave the Magic their first winning record in seven years. I am proud of this team, but it is not over yet! Tune into ESPN this Saturday, April 13th at 5:00 PM EST to catch game one of the first-round match-up against the heavily favored Toronto Raptors. Let’s hope we witness some #PureMagic.

Drinking In Duval

Duval boasts many different bars and breweries. The downtown bars start at Intuition and end with Bold City and others completing The Elbow. San Marco features Side Car, Grape & Grain, and Aardwolf Brewing Company. Five Points has Hoptinger, River & Post, Rain Dogs, and more. Head down a little further to the King Street District and you can find Keg and Coin, The Garage, and Dahlia’s among others. On the other end of the city the Jacksonville Beach bars are widely known by all. More chain-based districts include Tinseltown and the Atlantic Beach Town Center.

With all of those places around, what is missing? Are you more interested in a new concept? Or is it more about location for you? We have seen places come and go that were thought to be successful. We have seen random spots like Wicked Barley in Baymeadows flourish and attract all kinds of attention. But is the recipe for success to brew your own beer? Wicked Barely, Bold City, Engine 15, Intuition, Bottlenose, Atlantic Beach, Veterans United, and many more already brew their own beer. If you’re big in the craft beer scene (like many young folks are) this might be what you’re looking for.

Wicked Barley has been a huge addition to the Baymeadows area.

On the other end, you could be living in an area where easily accessible bars aren’t available. The Mandarin Station/Losco area come to mind for this issue. Sure, you can go to *insert chain restaurant here* and get a beer, but you and I both know that is not the same.

For me, I want to be able to have a cold brew (craft or domestic, it does not matter to me), maybe a light snack/appetizer, and a big screen to watch the game. Living in the LaVilla neighborhood, I have several choices within a couple miles. Unfortunately, I am forced to use my car unless I walk to the Landing *shudder*. LaVilla is growing fast with the additions of the Lofts at LaVilla, Monroe, and next Jefferson Station. With a growing population, grocers and restaurants should be looking into moving in. A bar within walking distance would be a hot spot for sure, as the lack of watering holes in the immediate area would certainly attract folks of all kind. Also, if the Jaguars continue this downward spiral, it may become a permanent spot for me to catch the game (Was that too far?).

I would like to turn the keyboard over to you. Where do you want to see a new bar arise? What kind of bar? This article only works if I get your feedback. If I get enough responses, I will write a follow up with all of the best suggestions. Don’t be shy!

Trust The Process: Episode 5

 

A-Rob is the hot Jags topic of discussion right now. Mike and Skyler give you their thoughts on what we should do with him as well as dive into some free agents they would like us to sign.

TRUST THE PROCESS: EPISODE 4

 

We’re back in the studio! The boys get into what’s new with each other, Jag’s uniform thoughts, Jumbo Shrimp hats, Icemen, current events and college basketball.

Giving Up on the Magic

2018 is here. The Magic are not. Tied for the worst record in the league, the former playoff-aspiration tweets of mine have faded to dust.

The trade deadline is nearing, so it appears the Magic will be looking to deal. Listen to hear who the three main targets are as well as the top Draft prospects as of now.

What Happened to the Magic?

The Orlando Magic looked like a force to be reckoned with at the beginning of the season. Winning big games, closing out against mediocre opponents, and doing everything right to get to victory. Now, it appears that wagon has lost those wheels, axles, tongue, and everything else. What happened? My first edition of Manze’s Magic explains what I think happened.

I may start recording these regularly or adding them as a segment to Trust The Process episodes. Thanks for tuning in!

Are The Jaguars & Magic The Same?

Are the Orlando Magic and the Jacksonville Jaguars the same team? Besides the fact that they play different professional sports, the similarities this season thus-far have been quite interesting to me. Never would I have expected some of the things that have unfolded for each team. What makes them similar though?

Newly acquired free agents making impacts

Both the Jaguars and the Magic are having success from their latest free agent acquisitions. The Jaguars have had tremendous success from Calais Campbell and AJ Bouye. Campbell has a career-high eleven sacks through 8 games and is one sack shy of tying Tony Brackens single-season franchise record set in ’99. Bouye hasn’t been slacking either, sitting in the top 6 in passer rating allowed in coverage. Along with Jalen, they have been dominate in shutting down top receivers so far this season. How dominate? The Jags as a team have only allowed three completions of 20+ air yards this season. THREE. Houston, does it still hurt letting him walk?

Looking for the next victim like:

Orlando has had similar results so far from their free agent signings.  Marreese Speights hasn’t had the impact that Campbell brings the Jags, but it’s the small things that have made him stand out so far this season. For example, when the Magic defeated the Grizzlies earlier this month, Speights played only 4 minutes but had an immediate impact. He hit two crucial threes and played tight defense. He ended up being the only bench player that night with a positive plus-minute figure. Where he does compare to Calais is in the veteran status. A seasoned vet like Mo has brought this team together more than I have ever seen in the past. Players are communicating more and everything seems more cohesive. The second, more visually-impactful Magic signee is Jonathon Simmons. Coming off the bench, Simmons has been the engine that runs the second unit. In the few minutes I watched in the contest against the Knicks last week, JSimms drove to the rim and finished three times. He got fouled each time and got pumped up instead of dejected, which is such a sight for sore eyes.

Young player impact

This one is short and sweet: Jonathan Isaac, who actually forgot to put his jersey on because he was so nervous for his first NBA game, has been showing flashes of what he can do. On the defensive end he has been dominate, averaging one block a game in just 20 minutes of action and has been a force on the glass. On the offensive side his shot hasn’t quite hit its stride, but his ability to clean up around the hoop has been outstanding.

As for the Jags, Leonard Fournette is the obvious player to fill this spot. Carving up yards that Toby Gerhart used to dream about, Fournette should hopefully learn from his silly mistake last week off the field and continue his dominance on the field. Tearing off runs that Jags fans haven’t seen since the MJD days certainly makes fans (as well as Blake) feel confident that we won’t be stuck in 3^rd and long like we used to.

Unexpected Success 

If you had told me in August that the Jags would be 6-3 and the Magic would be 8-5 and any point this year, I would have called you crazy. For the Jags, they have the easiest remaining schedule on paper in the league. For the Magic, they have a long road ahead. Luckily for them, they play in the Eastern Conference, so wins should be easier to come by with familiar opponents such as struggling Atlanta and Brooklyn. Both teams have shown flashes of dominance we didn’t expect, bringing us to….

Beating Team They Typically Would Lose To

The Jaguars torched the Steelers. Forcing 5 turnovers from Big Ben is incredible. Fournette almost rushed for 200 yards. This was the contest where people finally started figuring out who we are. Coming off a crummy loss to the Jets, people still thought Jacksonville was a pretender. The sheer domination in that game made people begin to believe.

The Jump. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Orlando traveled to Cleveland to get their annual butt-smacking. I was actually working the Jacksonville Icemen game that night and told my friend, “Oh god, I won’t even bother keeping up with this game. Aaron Gordon AND Elfrid Payton are hurt and we’re in Cleveland? I’m scared to see the final score.” Well, I wasn’t scared when I got the update of the final score that night. Shellacking the Cavs on their home court by 21 and being up by 37 at one point in the game is a wonderful thing to read in the recap.

Playoffs?

This one applies to both but has a focus on the local football team. According to numberFire, The Jags have a 69% (nice) chance of winning the AFC South. With the easiest remaining schedule in the league, Jacksonville needs to step up to the occasion and prove to everyone that they aren’t pretenders.

As for the Magic, there is a lot of basketball left. If the team remains healthy, the three-point shooting remains consistent, and Aaron/Evan continue playing at a high level, the Magic should have a legitimate shot at making the postseason. The East is predictably weak and they need to take advantage of that. They must beat teams they are supposed to beat and also win more often than not against the teams that could go either way.

2011-2012. The last year we made the playoffs and had these two a part of the organization.

This could be the year these two franchises turn the tides of the losing ways we’ve all suffered through long enough. Incessant heckling from fans, lack of national TV exposure, being the butt of too many jokes…it gets old! Let’s keep our fingers crossed, breath held, and whatever other superstition you use to keep the streak of positivity rolling. We have been deprived of winning ways for too long. It’s time to take it back.

The Rest of Florida Season Preview

“Hey River City Rogue, there are other teams in Florida besides Florida and Florida State!” Hey, you’re absolutely right, stranger!  Don’t know anything about the other FBS schools in the Sunshine State? Here’s some background information so you can impress your friends.

University of Central Florida Knights:

UCF had a rough year last year, going 6-7 and finishing 3^rd in the weak AAC East Division. Led by first year head coach Scott Frost, the Knights struggled to find an offensive identity and lost a couple of close ones they probably should have won (Maryland in 2OT, Temple). Regardless, they went winless the year before so this is a step up for sure.

HC Scott Frost…kicking a field goal?

This season should be a success. They should win four out of their first five games – FIU, Memphis, Georgia Tech, at Maryland, and Maine – so I don’t see why they couldn’t win a couple more to become bowl eligible. The biggest game of the season for them will be the season finale against South Florida. Bowl eligibility should be already secured at this point, but they should at least compete with their rivals on I-4.

Key Player: WR Tre’Quan Smith. A literal ball magnet, look for Smith to put up big numbers this season as a true #1 target.

 

Florida International University Panthers:

The Panthers went 4-8 last season and finished 4^th in the Conference USA East Division. A team that struggled to really command a ball game (except for maybe against Marshall) looks to change their ways as veteran coach Butch Davis comes to town to try and shake things up. On paper, FIU looks to have a solid season ahead of them. A new but experienced coach, a veteran roster (15 returning starters), and a very good recruiting class makes everything seem like it is moving in an upward direction. However, if their offensive line does not improve, it will be tough to see them flourish. Look for them to try and sneak into a lower-tier bowl if they can get a big win against Florida Atlantic on the road or WKU at home.

Key Player: RB Alex Gardner. A dual-threat out of the backfield that rushed for almost 1,000 yards last year and caught 30 passes out of the backfield.

Gardner is from Jacksonville and graduated from Raines.

Florida Atlantic University Owls:

Finishing last in the Conference USA standings, the Owls were looking to make some changes. Boy, did they ever! Lane Kiffin and friends come rolling into town bringing a new atmosphere to the senior-citizen filled Boca Raton.

If you know what video this screenshot is from, go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

FAU is determined to not go 3-9 four seasons in a row. Kiffin should be able to do this easily with 14 starters returning and a talented QB that is ready to make news on the field instead of off the field. That’s right, Last Chance U and former Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson is ready to show the nation that he is being overlooked. As long as the new coaches, transfers, and returning players are able to mesh together, this team could find themselves not only better than 3-9 but marching their way to a bowl game.

Key Player: QB De’Andre Johnson. Watch Last Chance U Season 2 for my reasoning for this.

 

University of Miami Hurricanes:

A disappointing 3^rd place in the ACC Coastal division left a sour taste in UM’s mouth last season. Four consecutive losses in October last year forced Miami into the Russel Athletic Bowl where they showed their disapproval with their commanding 31-14 win over West Virginia.

That raises the new question – is this the year that Miami wins the Coastal? If Brad Kaaya had stayed, it would be an easy yes for me. Along with RB Mark Walton and one of the best defenses in the conference, it would be no question. But that is not the case. Malik Rosier is a good dual-threat QB and N’Kosi Perry is considered an elite talent, but neither of these guys have the experience that Kaaya would have brought back. Regardless, Miami should be a force to be reckoned with. Their toughest game will be traveling to Tallahassee to face the Noles the third week of the season. If they happen to lose that game, they will have plenty of time to make up ground to establish a good ranking and get to a solid bowl game.

Named the starter last week, Rosier has some big shoes to fill.

Key Player: WR Ahmmon Richards. Only a sophomore, Richards will be the star of the offense with the loss of David Njoku and Stacey Coley.

 

University of South Florida Bulls:

The Bulls had their best season ever last year, finishing 11-2, second in the AAC East behind 10-4 Temple, a team they lost to on the road. Their only other loss was against Florida State. With that kind of season, you had to believe Willie Taggart might be nabbed by a bigger program. Sure enough, Oregon hired him right before USF’s bowl game against South Carolina, where they neat the Gamecocks 46-39 in overtime. In comes Charlie Strong. Strong was fired from Texas after three seasons but is looking to keep the winning tradition in Tampa intact.

Looking for an escape to Tampa like:

Led by senior QB Quinton Flowers, USF should be favored to win every game this season (They’re 1-0, they’re on their way!). The biggest area of improvement needed is the defense, which gave up an average of 31.6 points per game last year. Insane question of the day: if USF finished unbeaten, could they challenge for a playoff berth?

Key Player: P Jonathan Hernandez. Call me crazy for picking a punter. However, Hernandez established himself as a threat last season with 13 punts over 50 yards and leading the league with just an 11.8 yard average on returns. If the defense struggles, the strong leg of Hernandez will be crucial to pin opponents deep in their own territory.

 

I wanted to end on a fun fact: Each of these teams have a coach that has not been with their respective programs over 2 seasons; UCF’s Scott Frost (2nd year), FIU’s Butch Davis (1st year), FAU’s Lane Kiffin (1st year), UM’s Mark Richt (2nd year), and USF’s Charlie Strong (1st year).

 

Trust The Process (the podcast!) Episode 1

We have successfully transferred over to podcast form! Episode 1 reintroduces Skyler, Keith, and Mike to you, intense Jaguar talk follows that, and then finishes with a segment called “Um, What?”