The Magic Continues

 As I eluded to in a previous post, as a fan of the Orlando Magic we became quite accustomed to lots of mediocre to downright awful games and seasons since Dwight Howard left in 2011. 

To be exact 

- 243 wins

- 603 losses

As bad as that is, it becomes worse when you think one can assume some of those 243 wins came only because the other team looked at the Magic as their chance to exercise "load management."  

While finishing 34 - 48 last season wasn't exactly anything to boast about, their (very) young players showed moments of brilliance and gave all the fans hope for the future.  

Before this season started, most fans would probably say they would have been happy with a .500 record and a game in the play-in.  But as the season wore on they exceeded these expectations and positioned themselves squarely in the playoff race.  They ended the season with a 47 - 35 record, the best winning percentage (.573) since 2010-2011, 1st place in the Southeast Conference, and 5th place in the Eastern Conference. This was good enough for the playoffs and first round match-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

It was highly suspected that Cleveland tanked toward the end of the regular season so that they could play the Magic and avoid having to play a "better" team.  Orlando almost made them regret this decision, gave them everything they could handle, and took the series to 7 games.  

Image from Google - Fadeaway World

Image from Google - ClutchPoints

But I want to talk about game 3 ------- because --------I WAS THERE!!!!  It was on Thursday April 25.

The Amway Center is now the Kia Center
Image from Google - Spectrum 13 News

This was my first ever NBA playoff game. I was so excited when my son told me he got tickets and let's just say, the atmosphere did not disappoint. 

The team were coming home down 0-2 after struggling on offense in both games played in Cleveland and, early on, it looked as if we'd have little to cheer about as the offensive woes continued.  But then, as quick as switching on a light, the shots started falling, the Magic pulled ahead, and never looked back.  The 3rd period clearly put some distance between them as they outscored Cleveland 35 - 16. 

The final score was 121 - 83. It was the worst playoff loss in Cleveland Cavalier history and it sent a message that Orlando was not going to be as easy to overcome as they had thought.  It was the best evening I have had in a long time!!!!!!  

Image from Google - Orlando Pinstriped Post

Image from Google - Fear the Sword

Image from Google - Goal.com

The future looks bright. And just in time as it appears as if the Lightning are going downhill.  

 

 

 

 

 

This 'Magic'al Season

 We are a family of long-suffering Orlando Magic fans - well three of us are anyway.  The other two tend to sway towards the Milwaukee Bucks.  But I digress.

  Living in Orlando and being a fan of the Orlando Magic has meant we have attended a slew of average to below average games. They had some pretty good players on the teams through the years, but just could not find a combination that clicked or jelled.  

Since moving to Orlando in 2015, the Magic's record has been 241-376 (not including this current season). This includes the bleak 2020-2021 season record of 21-51 and the equally horrible 2021-2022 season record of 22-60 when they decided to overhaul the whole team and do a complete rebuild.

Emerging from these seasons at the basement of the league, meant high draft choices and in 2021, the Magic had two which they used to snag Jalen Suggs with the 5th overall pick and Franz Wagner with the 8th overall pick.  In 2022, the Magic hit a stroke of luck in the draft lottery and got the number 1 pick which they used to bring Paolo Banchero on board.  They also replaced their coach, Steve Clifford, around this time with Jamal Moseley since Clifford was not interested in a rebuild.  

Last year, Magic fans had a little to cheer about as we watched those core 3 grow and improve each game. They were surrounded by talented players like Jonathan Issac, Cole Anthony, Mo Wagner,  Markelle Fultz, and Wendell Carter, Jr.  Though their record was only 34-48 and they still came in 13th in the Eastern Conference, anyone watching couldn't help but be excited about the possibilities ahead.  

The games we have gone to this year have been SO...MUCH...FUN!  

Even the players are enjoying this ride.  It's so nice to attend a game and have something to cheer about and the attendance has been trending upwards all year. I think they won every game we went to this season. 

I don't know what the outcome of this year will be - right now they are 42-28, 4th in the Eastern Conference, and knocking on the door of the Cleveland Cavaliers for 3rd.  But whatever happens, this has been a fun season and the future is looking bright.

Names

 I always considered naming my child to be a very significant responsibility.  After all, this is not only the name your "baby" will have, but this is a name your child will hold throughout school - while being addressed by teachers and peers - and then take into adulthood where they will be addressed in the workplace by co-workers, bosses, and others.

My husband and I did not quite see eye to eye on names at the time because he wanted names that would sound good for his son when he would one day became a big star quarterback for Notre Dame.  He was also big on alliteration so the names he would throw out - like Kit or Kellen  which would fit the alliteration bill with Koeck  - were instantly vetoed by me because, you know, what if he DIDN'T grow up to be a famous sports star and just had to live in "the real world".  Right?  

With the far out-of-the-box names suggested by my husband, it is a wonder we agreed on mainstream common names like Christopher, Jonathan, and Zachary. 

So.....................names..............................

I've noticed a couple trends lately that I am NOT a fan of.  Far be it for me to suggest that my opinion is right, but this is MY blog and I am going to express My opinion on My blog (which no one really reads anyway...haha)

TREND #1

What is this movement to give what have been traditional "boy" names to girls now.  I've noticed many people have begun to give their girls names like Noah, Tyler, and James.  And just recently, I've seen baby girls named Clarke, Wesley, Beckham, and Slate. James has become wildly popular as a girl's middle name ---- and I'm just not digging it. Also, as a teacher who is handed a roster (which doesn't list gender) weeks before the kids are back to school, I would probably go about planning for male students if I saw those names. 

TREND #2

"Trendy" or "trailblazing" names that seem to be for social media attention.  The following is a list of names I have seen on social media lately and I am not impressed with ANY of them.

- Banjo (boy)

- Marna (girl)

- Maple (girl)

- Graylee (girl)

- Kilmer (boy)

- Bronx (boy)

- Collins (girl)

- Prescott  (girl)

- Boyer (boy)

- Haven (girl)

- Suede (boy)

In my opinion....social media wanna-be influencers desperate for comments on their children's "unique" names. Parents fishing for social media validation and then the poor child will have to live with that name the rest on their life!