Heat and Magic CLASH in Season Opener | Can Bam CARRY Miami Post-Jimmy Butler?

Heat and Magic CLASH in Season Opener | Can Bam CARRY Miami Post-Jimmy Butler?

The season is finally here. Heat magic. Tonight, we’re talking about the biggest storylines, key matchups, and what every team has at stake in this season opener. You are Locked on Heat, your daily Miami Heat podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. All right, welcome to a crossover episode between Locked on Heat and Locked on Magic. I’m Wes Goldberg, host of Locked on NBA Daily. I’m here with my Locked on Heat co-host, David Rmill, and the host of Locked On Magic, Philip Rossman Reich. Uh, however you’re tuning in on YouTube, on your favorite podcast app. Thanks so much for making Locked on Heat and Lockdown Magic your first listen every day. We are here to preview tonight’s season opener, Heat at Magic, Southeast Division matchup. To kick things off this season, we’re going to talk about the key matchups in this game. We’re going to talk about what both teams have at stake early in the season. But before we do all of that guys, probably should just quickly set the stage for what both of these teams did in the offseason and what we got heading into this thing. So for the Magic really quick, uh they dealt with injuries last year to Palan Carol and Fran Vagner for a bulk of the season. They finished 41 and 41, lose to the Celtics in the first round in the summer. They traded for Desmond Bane. They signed Tyus Jones, all in an effort to improve this offense and make a run in the Eastern Conference. for the Heat. They didn’t deal with injuries like Orlando, but they did deal with their superstar going awall. Jimmy Butler hijacking the season with a trade demand. They finished 37 and 45. They win two straight games on the road in the playing tournament to make the playoffs where they get swept uh convincingly by the Cavs in the first round in the offseason. They trade for Norm Pal as their big acquisition. Uh and they are hoping to compete for the playoffs in their first season of the post Jimmy Butler era. So that’s the elevator pitch on what’s going on here. But Philip, I want to start with you as we dive deeper into this thing. What is the biggest story line going into the season for the Orlando Magic? I I think the biggest story line and thanks for thanks for having me and and always good to have you guys on locked on Magic. Well, uh I think the biggest story line for the Magic is whether they can take the leap into contention. Um you know, as you mentioned like last year they were just injured like they were just so hurt. uh Jaylen Suggs, Palo Bane, Carol Fran Vagner played only six games and I believe 97 minutes together total. So, you know, anytime you’re not able to have your three best players on the floor at the same time for significant time, you’re not going to reach your potential. And so, the Magic went from a team that that was 47 wins looked like a team on the rise to one that was just kind of scuttling in the middle and and injuries were a big part. And so the Magic making the move for Desmond Bane was kind of a clear statement of no, we have enough to compete for something bigger than just getting to the playoffs and getting getting to the first round. We and the Magic have been very very open about this. Like oddly so, we believe we can win a championship. We maybe not this year, but we believe we’re on a championship track and that we’re we’re working toward building to toward winning a championship. And so I think this season for the Magic is very much figuring out like do they actually have enough? is this investment that they made in France Vagner max contract that kicks in this year. Paulo Vancero rose rule max that kicks in next year. Desmond Bane with the two rotation players and four first round picks and the long-term contract he’s under. It’s whether this team can actually reach that ceiling. They need to kind of show hints that with a little bit more seasoning, a little bit more experience that they can be a factor in the Eastern Conference. What What’s the end goal there with the Magic? because uh you know you said that the team believes that they’re a championship contender, but uh rooting for incremental growth isn’t much of a slogan heading into the season. So what is it the Eastern Conference Finals? Is that what they view their final level being this season? And just is it just about making some growth whatsoever or is it ultimately a title a realistic goal for that team? Yeah. Uh for this year’s team, I I I think it’s a little fudgy like at at the bare minimum they need to accomplish what they hope to accomplish last year. Last year at media day, everybody was saying, “We need homec court advantage. We lost all our road games in that seven game series with the Cavs. Get us homecourt advantage. We’re going to be in the second round and then we’ll see kind of where we measure up against the teams that we expected to be competing for a championship.” They they got that anyway playing Boston in the first round and saying like, “Oh, no. We’re we’re actually quite a long way away.” And so, I think what the Magic want to do is obvious is get to the second round. If they could get to the conference finals, great. No one’s going to complain about that. But I think what they want to see is get to the conference finals. The Knicks and the Cavs are kind of universally the favorites to win the East. Be competitive. Not just be competitive, like push those teams around. Give yourself a chance to beat them. And maybe the only reason you lose is that you’ve never been here before is that you’ve never been in the second round. You’ve never won a playoff series. And you just need that playoff scar to teach you how to get to that next level. I I I think that’s what the Magic are looking for. And then, you know, obviously like they’ve got this core group for probably three or four years before they have to before they really start feeling the financial uh burden of it. Um I I I think they want to win a title in the next three or four years. So again, a big part of what the Magic are trying to do, and you quote this stat all the time on on locked on Magic, uh how they’ve just been in the bottom 10 in offense for like the last bajillion years basically. uh they add Bane, they add Taius Jones based on what you saw in the preseason so far. Like do you think they are where where would you expect the Magic to end up offensively, you know, providing a full bill of health here? I I think they’ll end up somewhere in the middle like in the in the middle of the pack like uh like I I did my bold predictions and I went ahead and said said, you know, I just was like, you know, screw it. I’m I’m stealing I’m I’m sick. I’m deal I’m on recording this. Let me let me let me go ahead and say it. They’ll finish in the top half. I I don’t know. I’ll wow a little bit. Spicy. Yeah, spicy. I gotta be I gotta be a little spicy sometimes. Um, but I I think they’ll finish somewhere near the middle of of the pack in offensive rating. I think that they’re they you know, you guys saw them play the Heat play them twice in the preseason. There’s this like over and the Heat were the same way. I felt like there’s this overemphasis on pace throughout these throughout the preseason games. It was just like just go out and run. Don’t worry about anything else. Just run on everything that you can. And I think that’s going to help kind of spark the magic to, you know, get a few more positions, a few more bites at the apple. Um, get, you know, kind of get them moving a little bit more. The space that Desmond Bane provides is going to help a little bit with that, too. But, but I think there’ll still be moments where those old habits offensively kind of pop out. Um, you know, if they have any kind of injury to their three main offensive players, so that’s Paulo, Fran, or Bane. If they have to miss any time, I I think that limits what they can do offensively off the bench. So, I think there’ll be some like some cold spots and some areas where the Magic are still kind of falling back into those bad habits, but generally I think the Magic’s offense will at least be competent, which we haven’t seen in Orlando in a very long time. David, I’m curious what you think about the Magic because we haven’t talked about this, but uh maybe you haven’t locked on NBA game night, but like let’s say hypothetically they do they’re 15th in offensive rating by the end of the year, top five in defensive rating, I think most people would assume for Orlando in the Eastern Conference. I mean, that that gives him a that’s a chance, right? A chance at being one of the top four seeds in the East. Sure, I could see. Sure. Maybe making a run to the conference finals. I don’t know. I I’m still not quite a believer. And maybe it’s just I’m a little bit jaded uh regarding teams that are considered to be young because you never know what they’re capable of. And and Philip, you referenced this as well. You want to be able to see what you’re capable of and you don’t believe in a team until they prove it. Maybe this is the year. But I I just to me the Magic are still missing something and I’m not quite sure what that is. Whether it’s a leadership gap or whether or not it’s a experienced veteran player who’s been there before and can take them over that hump. I think the potential is there. I love their defense. I love their identity. The team is fun to watch in its own way because obviously offense is has been historically such a struggle for this group. But you look at them and I I’m still think there’s something missing that keeps them from being able to be one of those teams that can consider themselves in the upper echelon. They’ll contend. They’ll beat you up. They’ll make you pay for whatever it is that they’re going to get done. In a lot of ways, mirroring what the Heat have done. But the difference between what we saw from the Heat over the last few seasons is they had a Stone Cold killer and Jimmy Butler who was just willing to do whatever it took. And I don’t know that that player exists on the on the Magic roster. So that’s what what I would see as being the major difference. But I like their potential as being a top four seed. I just don’t know if they can get past and achieve the goals that we talked about earlier. I think I’m a little bit more bullish than you than you, David. I kind of like this magic tame. I I’m just a believer in Paulo. That’s really I think he becomes that guy. I think he maybe makes that that type of leap this year. Um let’s let’s look at Miami. Uh David, what do you think is the biggest uh storyline for the Heat? What is this team? I think that’s the big question right there. Uh we just talked about Jimmy Butler. That was the era that defined his group. They overachieved in every way just like Jimmy himself. So they kind of mirrored his personality which has been the team ethos for as long as Pat Riley’s been at the head of it since 1995. So right now is a new era where they’re kind of redefining themselves without a superstar on the roster. You’ve got Bamea, you’ve got Tyler Herro who’s nursing an injury but will eventually be back and Norm Powell. So you have allstar level players, none of which are a real superstar who could carry this team. So, it’s about finding their own identity without Jimmy and being able to contend in an Eastern Conference that is considered to be wide open and seeing whether or not they might be able to make the playoffs. I think that’s their goal for the season. I I think they would say that they can contend for a title. I don’t think anybody actually believes that maybe they hold that internal belief and that’s something they could afford to have a high view of themselves when Jimmy was on the roster knowing again that he was capable of carrying him to greater heights. I just don’t know that this group as currently constructed is is still as good as they were in the past. So, uh just trying to find out who they really are. I mean, you and I have talked about it a lot because this group is still never really played together. Not much experience as a group in total. You know, the lineups are still kind of figuring their way out. The offense still looks like it’s going to be a little bit plotting. The defense could be inconsistent at times. So there’s questions about this group and who steps up to carry them, who who leads this team and is able to push them as they’re going through the doldrums of the mid-season, etc. That’s there’s a lot of qu questions there, and I’m just not sure what the identity of this group is just yet. Philip, I want to get your take on on your perspective on everything that’s going on with the Miami Heat post Jimmy Butler. I want to do that. I also want to look ahead to the game and talk about the key matchups that are going to decide the season opener. We’ll do all of that after this here on this Locked On Heat Lock on Magic crossover episode. Today’s episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. Every day we make decisions, but on Prize Picks, being right can actually get you paid. Don’t miss the excitement of this football season with Prize Picks, where it’s good to be right. Playing Prize Pick is such a fun, simple way to add more excitement to football. You just pick more or less on player projections like Josh Allen’s passing yards or Saquon Barkley’s rushing for a touchdown, and yeah, you’re in a game. You’ll love how quick it is. You can make your lineup in under a minute and Price Picks has just added stacks. So if you want to ride with a player, you can select their pass yards or rush yards, touchdowns, whatever, all in one lineup. There’s so many great features. You’ll love all of them and it makes everything so easy to play. So download the Price Picks app today and use the code lockown NBA. You get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code lockdown NBA for $50 in lineups after your first $5 lineup. Price picks. It’s good to be right. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Built. Nobody likes paying rent, but if you must, you might as well get something for it. That’s where Built comes in. Built is changing the game by turning your rent payment into real rewards that you can actually use. When you pay rent through Built, you earn flexible points that can be redeemed toward hundreds of hotels and airlines, a future rent payment, your next lift ride, and much more. But Built isn’t just about rent. It’s about rewarding you around your entire neighborhood. I love that with Built, your rent finally works for you. You’re earning points every month on something you already have to pay. Might as well get some reward for it, too. Turn your rent into rewards and start earning points around your neighborhood by going to joinbuilt.com/lockdonba. That’s ji nb i lt.com/lockdown NBA. And make sure to use that link so they know that we sent you. We’ll be right back. So, Philip, don’t take this the wrong way, but I think for a very long time, the Magic were sort of the younger brother to the Miami Heat. It was very Don Draper meme, like, you know, we we think about you all the time. I never think about you at all. And it doesn’t feel that way anymore, right? It it the Orlando Magic are the team is the team that’s favored to win the Southeast Division, win more games. Like, that’s the team that people are talking about, hey, they they could make a run in the Eastern Conference Finals where most people are looking at the Heat and it’s like, what even is this team? Like Dave was talking about post Jimmy Butler. But like from your perspective, like what is this Miami Heat team right now? I I think this Miami Heat team is a team that knows its identity. Like, you know, again, the Heat are still the Heat. Like, is as much as we want to joke about Heat culture and it’s probably a little overplayed and a little over overblown, but it’s it’s a Why would you say that? Because they painted it on the court and jerseys. They brought it with them to Puerto Rico and that was the worst part. Hope they left it there. I hope they left it there. Yeah. Um, no. Like it’s a real thing. Like there’s there’s a tremendous amount of respect for for how the Heat build their teams and the kind of players that they look for. And you know, Miami has become like San Antonio. When they grab a player, you immediately go like, “Oh, that makes sense.” They they you trust that you trust their decision-making process. Right now, Miami is just a team in search of like that star. Like like they have a lot of really good players. Like I love Bam Adabio. I love, you know, I like Tyler Herro a lot. You know, uh, the Norman Powell move was an amazing bargain move that that was just, you know, we’re all waiting for Miami to do something and then they do that for what they did it for. It was just like, oh, this is Miami again getting the guy that they need, but it just feels like they’re missing like, you know, there’s a lot of like rebuilding teams that have a lot of really interesting young players that just need that one star to tie them together. The Magic were that for forever. They had a lot of really nice players that just no one to tie it all together. Miami is like that with veteran quality players and it’s just like find you know Jimmy Butler helped tie that together you know in the playoffs at least maybe not during the regular season as much but during the playoffs he certainly did there’s a reason why Miami always is hunting for a star it’s because they know that the star is what propels a team forward they just have I think a lot of guys in the wrong roles and they’re still dangerous they’re still going to win their share of games because of the talent level and how good and how how good their their coaching is too I mean I don’t think Eric Bolster gets nearly enough credit for the job he’s done coaching. There’s just so few coaches that can win a championship and also can squeeze more out of out of mediocre teams than than possible. And like Eric Sper does, you know, Eric Boler is a Hall of Famer. I don’t think that’s that’s up for debate at this point with multiple championships. But even then, I don’t think people talk about him enough. Um, but Miami is just I think directionless. Like they they they don’t have the the north star to kind of get them to to to to m to fully maximize and fully realize the players they want to build around right now. Like you know, I think we talked about this last year before opening day how everyone was eager to see Bam Adobio take on a bigger offensive role. You know, be a bit more of a three-point shooter and it just never really developed. You know, Tyler Herro, everyone wants him to be this, that, and the other. He just might be a really good third option kind of sharpshooter, secondary playmaker, but you’re asking to be the primary guy on the ball. That’s probably asking a little too much. And obviously, he’s going to miss Wednesday’s game because of the injury. It just feels like they’re they’re sort of rudderless. Like they they they know the direction they’re supposed to go, but they can’t turn the ship in that direction. They need a star. They need a star. Bam would be a much more complete fan favorite type of player more consistently if they had just somebody scoring 27 points a game and he didn’t have to do that and he could just do all the other things that make Bam an actually special player and Tyler Herro I agree with David and I have talked a lot about that stuff. Philip I want to stick with you though. Let’s talk about tonight’s game. Wednesday night Heat Magic in Orlando season opener for both of these teams. When you look at uh key matchups that are going to decide this specific game, what are you looking at? Uh I think the big thing I’m looking at is how the newcomers play in their first official game with the team. So, Desmond Bane versus Norman Powell. Um, on the Magic side of things, Desmond Bane didn’t look fully unleashed and it didn’t look like the Magic quite understood how to use him yet. Um, I I think some of that was they wanted to have Dez focus on his playmaking and kind of explore that part of his canvas less than his spacing and his shooting. He was like one for I think he was one for nine or two for nine on threes and three preseason games, which he’ll he he’ll take nine three-pointers probably in Wednesday’s game. Wednesday’s game. So, I don’t think anyone’s worried about him shooting unless there truly is something in the water in Orlando that just, you know, takes away any player’s ability to make a three-point shot. Um, exist down here, too, Philip. So, don’t worry about it. Yeah, it might exist. Um, that the fountain the fountain of youth comes at a cost, I suppose. Um, but I I’m really interested to see how these two teams integrate these two players. They’re probably going to go head-to-head with each other. Yeah. Um, I’m interested to see how they use these two players and how they find comfort now that the guard rails of the preseason are off. There’s no like, oh, focus on this. There’s no, you know, you’re only playing 20 minutes tonight. I want to I want to see what these two players look like fully unleashed. Obviously, the Magic have their defensive game plan. The Heat will have their defensive game plan. It’ll be different than what we saw in those in the I guess the only game that they played each other in in Puerto Rico. But I I think that’s going to be the most intriguing thing out of this game. David, when you think about this game, what’s the matchup that you’re looking at? Well, I had a question about Bane because I mean I I wonder we’re not quite sure about what the Heat starting lineup is going to be. Obviously with Tyler Herro out there’s some questions there. So is it possible that DaVon Mitchell might get that assignment and try to pick up Bane to leave Powell kind of hiding on Tai Jones? I mean that’s an option, right? Um but there’s also the possibility that the front court is moved around too with uh Carol Wear possibly starting Nicolola Yovic. We’re not quite sure. I mean, it’s easy to point at Beno versus whomever is trying to guard him on the other side of things, but I just don’t know who that’s going to be. It was yogic. That’s what I I have palancero versus heat defense because I I think it’s going to take all of them. I it really they didn’t do a good job in the season opener last year. He had 33 points and and single-handedly beat the Heat in that season opener and it was sort of like his coming out party and be like, “Hey, I’m here. I’m kind of making the leap.” And then he got hurt shortly after that. But I mean, that was like Philip, right? He scored 33 points in the season opener and he like averaged 30 something points per game for like that first week before he got hurt there. There’s a 50-point game in there. So like like small sample size theater, but yeah, like after the Allstar game, he averaged 29 points per game. Like I I I s I sat there sat here the whole summer and people were like criticizing Palo for his efficiency and I’m like guys take out take out the month after his oblique injury. He averaged 29 points per game, like five, like six, seven rebounds per game, five six assists per game, and shot a 58.1 true shooting percentage after the All-Star break. Like, he made the leap. You just weren’t paying attention. Um, go ahead, David. No, I’ve got Wendell Carter Jr. versus Bamio, too. I think that’s a big Yeah, that’s uh I think we saw that match up in the preseason kind of shift towards Carter a little bit. I mean, I think he’s a a pretty solid player and uh if he can stay healthy, he can be an impactful guy for that Magic team that’s kind of looking for somebody to really pop in that center position. So, him versus Bam looks like it would be a fun matchup. Uh I’m curious to see what version of Bam we get because he looked like he was really passive for almost 90% of the preseason, then he had a big last game of the preseason. Is that going to carry over the regular season? And is he going to have the usual I wouldn’t go so far as to say dominance, but he’s always had the edge over a guy like Carter. So, I wonder if that’s going to carry over in the season opener as well. A big last game in the preseason, David, when he was starting next to KL Wear. Maybe sending a little bit of a message to the coaching staff if I were to if I were to that to that to that previous point, if I’m not mistaken, in previous Magic Heat matchups, it’s Bam that gets the call on Paulo. So, it wouldn’t shock me if that’s the matchup we could. And look, wear sat out practice on uh Monday, so maybe like there’s no uh concerns about him missing opening night, but you do wonder if they try to limit him in any way. But um I I agree with David. I I that’s what I had written down. I actually had Bam and Khlo Wear versus Wendell Carter Jr. and Goa Patad. I sort of expanded it to the entire center rotation there. Um because it’s just going to be 48 minutes of those guys in some sort of mixing and matching going against each other. And you look at Carter and Batadz, Batad specifically, and they’re just so physical. And like Betad, his physicality that could bother Khloe Weir, who I think is obviously more talented, but just not as seasoned. Um, and with Bam, he is he he could draw the Palo assignment on some of these possessions, right? When when he is playing with wear, you know, when when Spo does get to that rotation, starting or otherwise. And um that’s a big defensive handful. What can he do offensively if he’s doing all of that defensively or if he’s at least being asked to do that defensively? So, um, yeah, I I think that’s it. Um, anything else, uh, before we get out of this? Uh, the only the only the only thing and and recording this on Monday, so sorry if this is old news, but the other mystery is whether Jayen Suggs is going to play on on Wednesday. It’s it’s pointing in the direction that he’s not, but he’s, you know, you got a couple got a couple practices to ramp up. It’s it’s possible Jayen Suggs plays and that throws another element of randomness into into an already random game. Da’Von Mitchell and Jaylen Suggs just Spider-Man memeing at each other for Yes. for several Southeast Division games this season just seems like a fun thing. Um, what will this game reveal about the Heat and the Magic? Are we going to have huge overreactions coming out of this one? What do both teams have at stake early this season? We’ll answer all of that next. Today’s episode is brought to you by Rouette. Let’s be real, making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s just stress. I’m tired or it happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support and that’s where Rouiette comes in. Rouette.com offers fast acting doctor prescribed treatments for ED designed to help you stop making excuses and start making moves. Rouette makes it easy to get started. You just connect with a board-certified director 100% online. No awkward waiting rooms, no inerson appointments. If prescribed, your treatment ships discreetly straight to your door. The process is fast, simple, and private. And it’s all handled by real doctors. It’s about confidence, connection, and getting back to the moments that matter. So visit rug gi.com/lockdownba to get 15% off your first order. That’s rugg.com/lockdownba. And don’t forget to use our code lockdownba so they know we sent you. Rouette, stop making excuses and start making moves. We’ll be right back. Thanks again for making the Locked on Podcast Network your first listen every day. The best way to support these shows, like and subscribe on YouTube, follow us and listen on your favorite podcast app. Let’s talk big picture coming out of this game. Let’s fast forward. Wednesday night’s game is over, David. Start with you. What might this game reveal about these teams early in the season? Again, I think for for Miami, it’s just about trying to find out where this what this direction of the team is, who’s going to carry them, who’s going to be the player that is willing to take that next level, whether it’s Pal, whether it’s Bam. There’s so many questions about this roster and how it all plays together. And so, I think you’re looking for some kind of spark, something uh a team that desperately needs it. And so, that’s what I’m looking for in this matchup is what version of Miami we get. And honestly, I think you asked a question before we went to break. think it is something that’s ripe for overreaction because I think when you look at this team you’re you’re so desperate to kind of see anything some baseline for what this group is going to be like working together that if they fall flat on their face and if they have a terrible game it’s ready to put up the the end is nigh signs all over Bisgame Boulevard because right now I just don’t see what else this group is capable of. I just don’t know if I’m a believer in what the scheme can be unless they start making some kind of impact early on because we know what the schedule is like. It’s gonna be very difficult to start the season. So, they need to be able to make a statement early on. To your point, I think we almost underreacted this time last year when the Heat lost to the Magic and they were like, “Yeah, you know, it’s kind of weird. Whatever. Paulo had this crazy game. Like, how how often is that going to happen? Turns out like going to work out. Regular season doesn’t matter.” It was it was sort of the it was the uh the canary in the coal mine, right? where like, hey, this new system that SP was trying to uh install offensively with the five out offense and the whole Terry Rosier thing, like it just it wasn’t working and it looked disjointed in preseason, it looked disjointed on opening night against the Magic and then it looked disjointed for the rest of the season. Now, that doesn’t mean necessarily that it’s going to happen again this time if the M if the if the Heat lose to the Magic, but I almost think that we should overreact as opposed to underreact the way we did last year. If the Heat lose this game and they do it in a way that’s disjointed, doesn’t really look they have a plan on offense, we’re not really we’re still sort of figuring this thing out, I I think we actually have to take that very seriously because we saw that this time last year in terms of maybe being a red flag of Yeah, maybe this season is heading in a direction that uh we didn’t really expect. Philip, what about you? Yeah, that was that was kind of my take was that that last, you know, like I always say this because I’m used to 30 point losses with the Orlando Magic over the last decade. 30 point losses say a lot more about the losing team than they do about the winning team. And and I think that, you know, the first game can be random. Like one game there’s always a little bit of randomness. There’s a lot of newness. So, you know, I don’t think like I would advise Magic fans if they lose to the Heat, it’s not a reason for panic. Like if the offense looks like it’s stuck in the mud again, like maybe that’s an issue. If Desmond Bane shoots one for five from three, like don’t freak out about that. It’s one game. He’s going to have some duds over the course of an 82 game season. And it thinks that it’s the first one and there’s all these eyes on it. That’s that’s how it goes. Um I I do think though for the Magic it’s just it’s again that feeling of okay we we’ve got something you know we’ve got something here and and that was something that I stressed throughout the preseason. The Magic went undefeated in the preseason for whatever that’s worth. I know the Heat did not win in the preseason for whatever that’s worth. Um and and I would say like after all those games like okay there there were there were a there was a moment in these games that felt like there’s something there and now it’s just about can you make that last for a 48 minute regular season game instead of like oh I’m going to try for these five minutes because it’s my five minutes to try in in this game. Um which is what happens in the preseason. Um, I just think that what the Magic need to see is they need to see they’re, you know, they need to see that that they’ve got that base established. Like maybe you maybe you lose the game, it’s a close game. That’s not the end of the world. Not great, but not the end of the world. But you just want to feel like, okay, this base is established. We we did the work in the preseason to begin accomplishing our goals and now we have something to keep building and growing on and and as Jaylen Suggs likes to say, stacking days a as it were as you get to the to the rest of the season. I think that’s what both teams it feels like that’s what both teams want to see out of this game. David, what’s at stake for the Heat at this point in the season? First game. For the Heat or for the Magic? Yeah, for the Heat. For the Heat. Well, I just again I I think showing something. Again, you want to be able to create an identity early on because this group seems so difficult to determine exactly what it’s like. So, for them, it’s it’s about establishing a pattern that they can continue to build off. they need to be able to show that they’re not going to get punked. Because I think given this group and the the composition of it, if they get into their heads a little bit and that they don’t have that one player on this roster who’s going to be able to push them and say, you know what, the heck with all this, we’re going to keep going. We’re going to keep doing something. And again, it’s not about the playoffs anymore. It’s about just making the playoffs. It’s about really having this. I’m sorry. This is so much loser talk on this podcast right now. It’s just like, yeah, it doesn’t really matter. Just if you’re going to lose, don’t lose by a lot. Can I Can I Can I change that narative one of these proud franchises? Let me Let me change that narrative for the Magic this game and Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. It’s about establishing dominance in the Southeast Division. It’s about telling the two be the two the second and third best team in the Southeast Division, you are the second and third best team in the Southeast Division. The Magic The Magic getting out to a three and 0 start. They played their first three games at the Kia Center for the I think for the first time in franchise history. getting out to a three and0 start, beating the Heat, beating the Hawks, beating the Bulls, all three teams you’re expected to beat. Doing that, that sends a clear statement not just to the rest of the division, but to the rest of the league because now you go on your longest road trip of the year. You get at Philadelphia and we’re getting a fully operational battle station apparently in Philadelphia. You’re going at Detroit, another young team that you got to prove you can beat. You got very winnable games. The Magic the Magic in their first, I believe it’s their first eight games, they could very easily be six and two. Oh, it must be nice, David. Yeah, exactly. The the the Heat’s opening slate is brutal, right? It’s it’s these teams and it’s a West Coast trip. Hit those early West Coast trips. We uh we did the math on this, David. It was like of their first 20 games, like 16 or 17 of them were against playoff teams. It’s crazy. You get Cleveland twice like right in the right when you get back from that West Coast trip. It’s wild what happened here. for what is for to me what’s at stake here for the Heat is sort of similar to what you’re talking about with the Magic, but it’s a little bit different where it’s like, “Hey, Jimmy, we don’t need you.” That’s what’s at stake. And I think if you’re in that locker room, they’re not pro they’re probably not talking about that literally, but I do think that there’s that sense of, hey, this is a new era in Miami. We have to start with something real. And you know what’s defined almost every era of Miami Heat basketball? Beating the Orlando Magic. And so it what a great way every but at the same time, right? What and so what a great way to try to start this new era by beating the Orlando Magic. So I think there’s a ton at stake in this in this first game. I really do. And and to David’s point, too, and and he’s absolutely right. It’s like, okay, so what is this offense really? Do you come out of this with a proof of concept? I think that’s very much at stake or do you come out of this feeling like, yeah, not totally confident in this new system that is trying to make us play. Last thing here, we got lightning round it. Uh, the Heat and or Magic are in trouble if blank. So, we’re filling in the blank. Finish the sentence. The Heat andor Magic are in trouble if blank. Philip, start with you. The Heat the The Magic are in trouble if Jayen Suggs is out for an extended period of time. And again, he’s he may not play Wednesday. He may not play Wednesday. He probably won’t play Wednesday. Taius Jones is a major weak link on defense. And there just isn’t, you know, Anthony Black can play some guard, but he can’t play point guard. The Magic have some weak links on defense on defense at the point guard position and you know they’re all about their size and Taius and rookie Jace Richardson go against that. They both can contribute. They both can add to the team but Tus Jones can’t be the long-term starter for the whole season. You’re not going to you’re not going to achieve your goal. So for the Magic need to get Jaylen Suggs back as quickly as possible. David, the Heat are in trouble if blank damio doesn’t play at an all-star level. He needs to be able to just be the guy who carries this team. He needs to be productive and for all the little things he does. I was going to say if he’s injured, but that’s too easy to pick at. And and and it’s just this is a player who just needs to be better and this group needs some kind of leadership. And while he might do it on the emotional perspective, he needs to be the leader on the court and be more productive than what he’s been in the past. I’m going to go both here. The Heat and Magic are in trouble if both teams uh or if this game is played at a slow pace because you’ve got both teams in the preseason and training camp talking about we’ve got to play faster. The Heat have spent the entire the last two weeks installing a fast-paced system. The Magic have been talking about we got to increase the pace. We got to turn defense into offense. This whole thing both teams are trying to move up in pace. Miami was 27th last year in pace. Orlando was dead uh uh dead last 30th in pace last year. Both teams, regardless of the outcome of this game, who wins or loses, I think both teams are in trouble if this thing gets grinded to a halt and we’re right back in one of the bottom three teams in pace for both of these squads. I think both teams will be in trouble because I don’t think regard again, regardless of who wins or loses, there’s any amount of sustained success coming out of this thing if both of these teams end up at the bottom of the league in pace again this season. Although I think and and judging by the two preseason games, that’s not going to happen. They were they were both they were both running at each other. And again, preseason’s preseason. That was the Yeah. I mean, that was the case last year with the Heat in preseason. They were one of the top teams in pace in preseason. And the regular season came around and they were like, h, we had we don’t know what you’re talking about. Like just went right back to being slow again. It was like as if it never had happened. So, who knows what’ll happen here. David, anything else? No, I think that benefits that if that pace does slow down, I still think it benefits Orlando. Obviously, they they’ve got the defensive horses. Um, yeah. And I think it’ll be enough for them to be able to eek out those kind of victories. They’ll have those games if the offense isn’t running on all cylinders. They’re going to have those games periodically throughout the regular season, but they’re good enough defensively where they’ll still be able to win them. Miami is not. I just thought of this. Just give me the one-word answer here. Favorite player on the other team, Philip. Your favorite player on the Heat. Uh, I I love Bam. Like Like I I love I love watching him when when when we get to Team USA and cheering for him. like he’s he’s such he’s such a good glue guy and and obviously like I’ve dealt with so many rebuilding teams uh that I always tell people like these guys have tal like even guys on rebuilding teams have talent they’re just asked to do too much is asked to do too much and that’s his fault as much as it’s the heat’s fault like yeah I think he’s comfortable in that role but I love watching Bam he’s just he’s just so good David Fagner uh I think he’s fantastic which one which one’s always Mo is more fun to watch. Yeah. Uh, no, it’s it’s France. Watch Mo on the bench on on Wednesday. Fair enough. Fair enough. No, but uh I think Vagner, I think I was banging the drum last year for him to be an all-star. I thought he deserved it. Uh, and then the injury, of course, took some out of it, but he was playing at such a high level. He’s just he’s such a fantastic player. I think he’s one of those young stars that uh people should know about more often. Maybe that kind of niche basketball player that maybe some people know, but not enough people know about his game. um you know, strong Euro basket performance, etc. Like he’s just a really solid player, a fun player to watch and and I I really do like his style of play. So, I think it’s a I know who you’re going to pick. That’s an easy one. Jay, who’s my pick? Jayen Suggs. Thank you very much. You’ve been talking about him like you’d want him on Miami so badly it’s not even funny. Since college since his college days. Yeah, I I love Jaylen Suggs. He’s my Emmy award winner for most entertaining defender the last two years. He’s he’s got that award. I just I love watching that. I can watch that guy just fight over a screen every day of the week. Um, that’ll do it for our crossover episode of Locked on Heat and Locked on Magic. Make sure that you’re subscribed to both of these channels, Locked on Heat and Locked on Magic on YouTube. Find us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks so much for listening and tune in to Locked on Heat and Locked On Magic for postgame reactions.

The Miami Heat and Orlando Magic face off in a heated NBA season opener that could define both franchises’ futures.

Wes Goldberg, David Ramil and Philip Rossman-Reich break down the biggest storylines, key matchups, and what’s at stake for both teams in the post-Jimmy Butler era. Can Bam Adebayo and Norm Powell lead the Heat back to contention, or will Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and newcomer Desmond Bane propel the Magic toward championship contention? The hosts dive deep into identity, offense, and what this game means for the Southeast Division. Tune in for expert analysis, insight, and a few spicy predictions from your favorite Locked On voices.

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