NBA Playoffs: What Can Magic Learn From Warriors?

The Golden State Warriors have been the premier franchise in the NBA as of late. What can the Orlando Magic take away from their success?

Jeremy Brener | Apr 30, 2023

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Golden State Warriors may not be where they want to be facing elimination in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but many teams envy their position, including the Orlando Magic.

The Magic missed its third straight playoffs this past season, but there is reason for optimism that the team will break that streak in 2023-24.

"Next year is playoffs or bust for me, for everyone," Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero said. "I know the way we've been talking to each other, that's all we're worried about."

Led by Banchero, the Magic has its foundational piece to build around and the rest of the team is buying into the vision that head coach Jamahl Mosley has.

Ironically enough, the Warriors, arguably the greatest sports dynasty in the past decade, play an entirely opposite style to that of the Magic. The Warriors play small and build their offense from beyond the arc, while the Magic boasts one of the biggest teams in the league. However, the Magic players can learn from the Warriors by being themselves.

Something admirable about the Warriors is their ability to stay true to their identity. In a league where size was celebrated, the Warriors went against the grain and played the game their way. This has only led them to four championships in eight seasons, but a big reason for that is they play their game regardless of who the other team is, and it works for them.

The Magic plays an unconventional way to that of the rest of the league. Instead of relying on one or two "stars," Orlando plays by-committee, usually with a handful of players equally stepping up on any given night. While that may change slightly over the years when Banchero and Franz Wagner among others improve and become stronger, it doesn't appear that this aspect of the team under Mosley will change much.

By sticking true to its identity, the Magic can hopefully find similar success that the Warriors have enjoyed for the past decade.

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Published Apr 30, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.