High expectations
expectations, which are a lot higher this season than they were last year, when Steve Clifford took over as head coach and the Magic seemed to be stuck in rebuilding mode.
“I think there is a lot more excitement,” said Jonathan Suh, who attended Winter Park High and the University of Florida. “I think the Magic should win 45 to 50 games and fight for the third or the fourth seed and give them homecourt advantage in the playoffs.
“There are actually expectations now. Last season, we were all just like, they’re an NBA team, we love basketball and they’re the home team. We root for them. Now it’s like we root for them and you gotta win.”
Magic center Nikola Vucevic said he could tell during the offseason Magic fans expect more after Orlando made its playoff run last season.
“For me [there was] a lot through social media, but also when I came back [to Orlando],” said Vucevic, who spent the offseason in Europe. “Even after the season last year, people [were] approaching me, with me being a free agent, asking me to come back so we could continue to build.
“Once I got back from overseas, almost everywhere [I go] there are people approaching and telling us they are excited for the season.”
Sam Mangual, the self-proclaimed Magic Man who has been coming to games for more than 15 years, has the same sort of expectations.
“We’re going all the way,” said Mangual, 47, who was decked out in an Orlando Magic logo-adorned blue blazer. “Well, kinda. … I hope. We should at least be in the top four.”
Mangual said he’s excited about this season, especially with the Magic keeping free agents like Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Khem Birch.
“We kept it together. We didn’t go crazy with some guys we don’t know,” Mangual said. “It was very important. They are a group together. They enjoy each other. It’s not just like playing basketball as a business. They enjoy each other and you see that. You see them outside the arena. They hang together. They do things together.
“Years in the past, you’d see them all separate from each other. It’s good to see that energy like we have now.”
Of course, for some of the fans, it’s not all about the basketball when they come to the arena. Take 6-year-old Piper Howe, for instance, who was at the game with the rest of her family, including her mother, Natalie Howe, 31.
Piper was excited about seeing Magic mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon and his offcourt antics. She said she likes when the mascot pours popcorn on fans.
“Yeah … and I don’t like popcorn. It gets stuck in my teeth,” Piper said.
Her mom was also excited about the new season.
“We’ve been coming for a long time,” Natalie Howe said. “My husband and I are really excited about the players on the team. … They’re a little bit different. They’re better now.”
Of course, that didn’t matter to Piper. When asked what her favorite thing is about the Magic, she said, “I have no idea.”
Oh, to be so worry-free. Dale Pettus, 50, has been coming to five to 10 Magic games a year by himself for quite some time.
“I come to as many games as I can. Expectations are high this year,” Pettus said. “Camaraderie … that’s what they have. It’s gonna be exciting to see them put it all together. It looks like we’re on the right track.
“There might be a few growing pains, but the talent is definitely there and it’s going to be exciting to see.”