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<\/p>\nCountdown to Tip-off | WESH 2 Sports is live covering the Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSEASON, THE MAGIC HAVE BEEN FINDING THEIR FORM OF LATE. THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB OF BATTLING AND FIGHTING AND SHOWING EXACTLY WHAT WE KNOW WE\u2019RE CAPABLE OF DOING. I LOVED OUR TEAM\u2019S FIGHT. DESPITE A LOSS IN BOSTON SUNDAY, THEY\u2019VE WON SIX OF THEIR LAST EIGHT. WE\u2019RE GOING TO BE GREAT. I MEAN, WE KNOW IT. WE HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT STANDARD. AND I THINK THAT\u2019S THE IMPORTANT PART. IT TAKES A TRUE BELIEF. THIS TEAM, THOUGH STILL STRUGGLING TO GET HEALTHY. PAOLO BANCHERO IS OUT TONIGHT. HE\u2019LL MISS A SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAME, BUT IN HIS STEAD, SEVERAL HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD. HE\u2019LL LAY IT IN AND ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR JETT HOWARD THE MAGIC CONTINUING TO CHARGE BACK UP THE EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS. I JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF WINNING. THERE\u2019S PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND WE\u2019RE THANKFUL YOU\u2019RE WITH US AS WE COUNT YOU DOWN TO TIP OFF. WE ARE LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE MAGIC AND THE SIXERS RIGHT NOW. ON WESH TWO FROM WESH TWO SPORTS. THIS IS MAGIC COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF. FROM THE CITY BEAUTIFUL TO THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE. HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS CHEESESTEAK. YEAH, WE SAMPLED SOME. ALSO THE RESTING PLACE OF WALT WHITMAN AND OF COURSE, THE HOME OF THE PHILADELPHIA 76 ERS. WE ARE COURTSIDE LIVE AS WE COUNT YOU DOWN TO TIP OFF FOR ANOTHER NBA CUP SHOWDOWN HERE AT THE XFINITY MOBILE CENTER ALONGSIDE KRISTEN LAGO. I AM DAREN STOLZFUS THANKS FOR JOINING US AS WE GET YOU SET FOR MAGIC BASKETBALL RIGHT HERE ON WESH TWO. IT\u2019S SO FUN TO BE HERE. I\u2019M STILL VERY FULL FROM THE CHEESESTEAKS, BUT THERE\u2019S A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK. IT\u2019S SO MUCH FUN THAT WE GET TO BE WITH YOU AND COUNT YOU DOWN TO TIP OFF. IF YOU EVER COME TO PHILADELPHIA, JUST GO BUY AN INSIDE OUT. I DON\u2019T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT\u2019S FANTASTIC. SO GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SINCE THE LAST TIME THE MAGIC PLAYED IN THIS BUILDING, A LOT HAS CHANGED, NOT ONLY ON THE FLOOR FOR THIS TEAM, BUT HOW THIS TEAM IS PLAYING. THEY\u2019RE TEN AND EIGHT OVERALL, NOT GREAT, BUT THEY HAVE WON SEVEN OF THEIR LAST TEN GAMES. THEY\u2019D STILL LIKE TO BE HIGHER IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. THE DEFENSE HAS CERTAINLY PICKED UP, EVEN THOUGH LAST TIME OUT THEY DID STRUGGLE A BIT AGAINST THE CELTICS. AND THE POINT IS THAT THEY ARE MAKING STEPS FORWARD. THEY\u2019RE MAKING STRIDES FORWARD. WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT OUR LAST PREGAME SPECIAL. THEY WERE STILL JELLING. THIS WAS STILL A NEW TEAM WORKING ON A NEW SCHEME. WE\u2019RE STARTING TO SEE THE PIECES FALLING INTO PLACE. ONE THING WE CONTINUALLY HEAR FROM JAMAHL MOSLEY IS SIT DOWN AND GUARD. HE LIKES HOW HIS TEAM IS DOING THAT, AND TONIGHT HE HOPES TO SEE THAT AGAINST THE 76 ERS. WE\u2019VE SAID IT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. YOU KNOW OUR SUPERPOWER IN A LOT OF WAYS IS OUR DEPTH AND OUR DEFENSE. BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT AND SEE JASON JJ AS WELL AS NOAA, YOU KNOW, STEP UP IN THOSE MOMENTS IN THAT GAME I THOUGHT WAS VERY BIG FOR US. AS YOU KNOW, THE CONFIDENCE OF THEM, BUT ALSO THE CONFIDENCE OF THE TEAMMATES IN THEM. SO TONIGHT IS GAME FOUR ON THE NBA OR GAME THREE IN THE GROUP STAGE OF THE NBA CUP. AS YOU SEE, THIS BRIGHT BLUE FLOOR BEHIND THEM. BUT IT\u2019S THE MIDDLE OF A THREE GAME ROAD SWING. THEY\u2019RE STILL FINDING THEIR RHYTHM. THEY\u2019RE STILL GOING LIKE THEY HOPE THEY ARE TRYING TO JUST TAKE THIS THING UP ANOTHER NOTCH. YEAH, JALEN SUGGS TOLD US IN THE LOCKER ROOM THAT HE BELIEVES THIS TEAM IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. AND TRISTAN DA SILVA ECHOED THAT. THEY KNOW THEY NEEDED TO WORK ON SOME THINGS, ESPECIALLY GETTING BACK TO THEIR DEFENSIVE IDENTITY. BUT LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, THE PIECES ARE NOW STARTING TO FALL INTO PLACE. I MEAN, WE\u2019RE EVOLVING, CONSTANTLY EVOLVING EVERY DAY, EVERY GAME. SO, YOU KNOW, IT\u2019S NOT THE SAME VERSION, SAME TEAM THAT CAME IN AND AND PLAYED THEM AND TOOK A L. SO, YOU KNOW WE\u2019LL COME OUT AND JUST TRY TO BE US AGAIN. WE\u2019RE NOT THINKING TOO MUCH ON WHERE WE\u2019RE GOING AND WHAT WE\u2019RE TRYING TO DO OR WHO THEY ARE OR WHO\u2019S PLAYING WHO\u2019S NOT. WE WANT TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND GET A WIN ON TUESDAY. IT\u2019S BEEN A WHILE. I FEEL LIKE WE\u2019VE HAD A LOT OF BATTLES SINCE THEN AND, YOU KNOW, WE\u2019VE WE\u2019VE BEEN FEELING GOOD FOR FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO. HOPEFULLY KEEP THAT GOING TONIGHT. TRISTAN DA SILVA, WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM, HAS BEEN CALLED UPON IN BIG WAYS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF GAMES, STEPPED INTO THE STARTING LINEUP BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE MAGIC HAVE A RELATIVELY CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, THEY\u2019RE STILL WITHOUT PAOLO BANCHERO AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PLAYERS OUT TONIGHT. YEAH, THE SIXERS AS WELL. THEY\u2019RE GOING TO MISS TWO STARTERS JOEL EMBIID OUT TONIGHT PAUL GEORGE OUT TONIGHT. THAT DIDN\u2019T SEEM TO MATTER WHEN THEY PLAYED THE MAGIC LAST TIME. WE\u2019LL GET TO THAT. STILL COULD BE GOOD NEWS PAOLO BANCHERO OUT OF COURSE AS WE SAID MO WAGNER IS HERE ON SITE. SAW HIM IN THE LOCKER ROOM WORKING ON THAT KNEE. STILL TRYING TO GET HIS WAY BACK. MAYBE THE SURPRISE TONIGHT WAS JONATHAN ISAAC. HE WILL BE OUT AFTER SUFFERING SOME BACK SPASMS. GOGA BITADZE WAS LISTED AS QUESTIONABLE WITH AN ANKLE INJURY. HE IS A GO TONIGHT. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, PAOLO BANCHERO MISSING HIS SEVENTH GAME HERE. THE MAGIC CERTAINLY MISSING HIM OUT ON THE FLOOR. HE\u2019S STILL OFFICIALLY LISTED AS DAY TO DAY. KIND OF WORKING BACK FROM THAT STRAINED GROIN. BUT HE DID TELL THE ORLANDO SENTINEL WHEN THEY WERE IN BOSTON THAT HE FEELS REALLY CLOSE TO BEING BACK. THAT IS DEFINITELY A POSITIVE SIGN. ALTHOUGH THE MAGIC ARE STEPPING UP NEXT MAN UP MENTALITY, THEY DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THEIR STAR FORWARD BACK ON THE COURT. ABSOLUTELY GOOD PLAYING WELL WITHOUT HIM THOUGH. ALL RIGHT. HOW ABOUT THE GUY WHO\u2019S ALSO DEALING WITH HIS OWN INJURY FRANZ WAGNER BROKE HIS NOSE AGAINST THE TRAILBLAZERS NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND NOW HE GETS TO WEAR A MASK. THAT WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF IT. NOW HE LOOKS MORE LIKE THE LONE RANGER THAN ANYTHING ELSE. HE\u2019S STILL NOT A FAN OF IT, BUT HE IS PLAYING REALLY WELL AND HIS POINTS HAVE GONE UP, HIS REBOUNDS HAVE GONE UP, AND HIS ASSISTS ALL A SLIGHT UPTICK FROM HIS SEASON LONG AVERAGE. SO EVEN IF HE DOESN\u2019T ADORE BEING THE MAN IN THE MASK, HE\u2019S PLAYING REALLY WELL WHILE HE WEARS IT. YEAH I GOT HIT ON THE REBOUND AND I BROKE IT A LITTLE BIT. SO I\u2019M GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR A COUPLE GAMES PROBABLY. DO YOU LIKE THE MASK? NO, I DON\u2019T NO, I TOLD HIM HE LOOKS SAVAGE, MAN. HE LOOKS SAVAGE WITH THE MASK. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE THAT HE HAS THE NOSE INJURY, BUT YOU KNOW, HE\u2019S A WARRIOR. HE\u2019S NOT GOING TO SIT OUT FOR NOTHING. SO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN\u2019T EVEN KNOW HE BROKE THE NOSE. SO THAT\u2019S, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE. BUT YOU KNOW HE\u2019S GOING TO THROW THAT MASK ON AND BE READY TO PLAY. AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WAS FROM EARLIER IN THE SEASON WHEN PAOLO BANCHERO WAS STILL PRACTICING IN A FULL WAY. BUT ANYWAYS, FRANZ WAGNER WITH THE NEW BLACK MASK CERTAINLY MUCH MORE INTIMIDATING. CHRISTOPHER. OH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK HE LOOKS LIKE BATMAN OUT THERE. I WOULD BE SCARED OF HIM. OR MAYBE BATMAN\u2019S NEMESIS. OH, THERE WE GO. OKAY, A LITTLE BIT SCARIER. BANE. OH, I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE. HE TRIED TO LOB IT AND I DID NOT THROW IT DOWN ANYWAY. DESMOND BANE, ANOTHER PLAYER THAT HAS STEPPED UP MIGHTILY FOR THE MAGIC AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK, A REAL TURNING POINT FOR THIS TEAM WAS HIS GAME WINNER AGAINST THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS. I GOT THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH HIM EARLIER THIS WEEK ON ALL THINGS INTEGRATING INTO ORLANDO AND HOW HE FEELS HE\u2019S FITTING ONTO THIS TEAM. I\u2019M HERE WITH MAGIC GUARD DESMOND BANE. DESMOND. IT\u2019S ALREADY BEEN A FEW MONTHS FOR YOU IN ORLANDO, BUT A FEW WEEKS NOW PLAYING WITH THIS TEAM. WHAT PART OF YOUR GAME DO YOU FEEL LIKE HAS MESHED THE BEST WITH THE MAGIC SO FAR? I THINK JUST PERSONALITY. YOU KNOW, BASKETBALL IS ONE THING, BUT I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE GROUP OF GUYS, WE\u2019VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR A WHILE NOW, JUST REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE ON THE COURT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO CLICK FOR US AND WE\u2019RE STARTING TO FIND OUR RHYTHM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FLOOR. SO IT\u2019S BEEN FUN. YOU TALK ABOUT FINDING YOUR RHYTHM, AND I KNOW IT HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT. YOU\u2019VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. HAS THERE BEEN A LEARNING CURVE FOR YOU COMING TO A NEW TEAM AND TRYING TO FIND THAT RHYTHM? YEAH FOR SURE. I MEAN, I THINK EVEN LAST YEAR WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE. LIKE WE CHANGED OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS, CHANGED COACHES DURING THE SEASON. SO THERE\u2019S THERE\u2019S THERE\u2019S CHANGE. YOU KNOW ANYTIME THERE\u2019S CHANGE THERE\u2019S GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS. BUT GROWING PAINS ARE A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW. AND I FEEL LIKE I\u2019M STARTING TO GET THERE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? GROWING PAINS BEING A GOOD THING. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN ORDER TO TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GET TO, LIKE, THINGS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE FAMILIAR. YOU KNOW, OR THE OR THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU\u2019RE ACCUSTOMED TO. SO GOT TO BE OPEN TO NEW THINGS. YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE SHOT HEARD AROUND ORLANDO, RIGHT. THE GAME WINNER AGAINST PORTLAND FELT LIKE A WELCOME TO THE CITY MOMENT FOR YOU. WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT? I THINK EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. I MEAN, IT FELT FELT LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WELCOME TO THE CITY. LIKE WHEN I\u2019M GOING OFF THE COURT, LIKE EVERYBODY\u2019S SCREAMING, WELCOME TO ORLANDO. SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE. YOU KNOW. SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY A BIG MOMENTUM SHIFT FOR ME. AND I THINK FOR THE TEAM TOO. SO YOU\u2019VE GOTTEN A TASTE OF THE FAN BASE. YOU\u2019VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THIS TEAM AND THE CULTURE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU\u2019VE LEARNED ABOUT MAGIC CULTURE AND THE IDENTITY OF THIS TEAM? HARD WORKING, GOOD PEOPLE. I MEAN, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I MEAN, STARTING WITH JEFF ALL THE WAY DOWN, EVERYBODY\u2019S GREAT PEOPLE. AND, YOU KNOW, I\u2019M GLAD TO BE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS. AND YOU\u2019RE ON A TEAM THAT\u2019S DEALING WITH A WORLD OF EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT? EVERYONE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAS TALKED ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW THAT YOU\u2019VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THESE PLAYERS, YOU\u2019VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE EXPECTATIONS SURROUNDING THEM. HOW DO YOU GO FROM GOOD TO ELITE? I THINK STACKING DAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN\u2019T GET CAUGHT UP IN ONE MOMENT, ONE WEEK, ONE GAME, JUST CONTINUE TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, AND PLAY TO OUR STANDARD. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGH STANDARD. AND WHEN WE\u2019RE REACHING THEM, IT\u2019S GOOD. AND WHEN WE\u2019RE NOT, WE NEED TO TELL EACH OTHER ABOUT IT. AND FINALLY, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOURSELF AS A LEADER. OBVIOUSLY, FANS HAVE SEEN YOU AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER ON THE COURT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE THEM? LIKE IF A FAN IS WATCHING, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO\u2019S DESMOND BANE OFF THE COURT. WHAT\u2019S SOMETHING SURPRISING THAT MIGHT SURPRISE SOME PEOPLE? SURPRISING? YEAH. I LIKE THE FISH. REALLY? I LIKE THE FISH. OKAY, WHY COUNTRY BOY LAY BACK, COUNTRY BOY. SO WHAT\u2019S THE SECRET TO GOING OUT THERE AND GETTING SOMETHING? IT DON\u2019T LOOK LIKE YOU\u2019VE EVER FISHED BEFORE WITH THAT LITTLE CAST YOU JUST THREW OUT THERE. BUT PATIENCE. OKAY, PATIENCE. DOES THAT SERVE YOU ON THE COURT AS WELL? AT TIMES. I NEED TO HEAR YOU. HOW ARE WE DOING TONIGHT? SO PERHAPS PATIENCE, NOT DESMOND BANE\u2019S SPECIALTY. FISHING. NOT MY SPECIALTY, BUT THE MAGIC. REALLY ENJOYING WHAT HE\u2019S BROUGHT TO ORLANDO. SO HE SAID THIS MORNING AT SHOOTAROUND THAT GAME WINNING SHOT WAS BIG FOR HIM TO JUST ESTABLISH HIMSELF. HE WANTS TO EARN THE RESPECT OF HIS TEAMMATES. HE CERTAINLY HAS SO FAR. ALL RIGHT. IT\u2019S GETTING LOUD. THAT MEANS WE\u2019RE GETTING CLOSER TO GAME TIME HERE IN NBA CUP ACTION. THE BROTHERLY LOVE. WELL IT\u2019S GOING TO BE TESTED AS ORLANDO TAKES ON PHILADELPHIA LIV ON WESH TWO. YOU\u2019RE WATCHING COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF. THAT\u2019S A LOT. YEAH. BUT HONESTLY, NOT THE NOT THE WORST ONE I\u2019VE SEEN. I\u2019D SAY THAT SO. AND I THINK IT\u2019S KIND OF FUN PLAYING ON DIFFERENT COURTS GIVES IT A DIFFERENT FEEL. SO I\u2019M MAD ABOUT IT. I DON\u2019T KNOW I DON\u2019T KNOW, THAT\u2019S ALL. I DON\u2019T KNOW. IT IS VERY BLUE. I WILL SAY THAT. WELCOME BACK INTO XFINITY MOBILE ARENA. AS WE GET YOU SET FOR NBA CUP ACTION TONIGHT I TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM. I ASKED IN THE LOCKER ROOM. MIGHT BE A DUMB QUESTION, BUT WHEN YOU\u2019RE PLAYING ON A BLUE FLOOR OR A RED FLOOR, DOES IT MATTER? DOES IT LIKE WHEN YOU\u2019RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SPOTS? AND JALEN SUGGS LOOKED AT ME LIKE THAT WAS ONE OF THE I WAS GOING TO SAY REENACT THE REACTION, NO. YEAH. HE WAS LIKE, NO, NO WE\u2019RE GOOD. SO IT IS BASKETBALL. BUT IF YOU\u2019RE JUST TUNING IN YOU SEE IT. IT IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS IS THE NBA CUP. WE\u2019RE STILL IN THE GROUP STAGE. BUT TONIGHT\u2019S A BIG ONE FOR THE MAGIC. IF THEY HOPE TO GO BEYOND AND PLAY THEIR WAY TO LAS VEGAS. YEAH THE MAGIC LOOKING TO CONTEND WITH DETROIT WHO ARE ALSO UNDEFEATED IN GROUP PLAY RIGHT NOW. OF COURSE THE MAGIC DO PLAY THE PISTONS ON FRIDAY. AND YOU KNOW, THE NBA CUP IS A MOTIVATOR FOR THESE NBA TEAMS. I KNOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT. YOU\u2019RE LIKE, OH WHAT THE WHAT\u2019S THE DIFFERENCE. BUT THEY WANT TO EARN THE MONEY FOR THE TWO WAY PLAYERS FOR THEIR STAFF. THEY WANT THE BRAGGING RIGHTS. AND YES, THEY DO WANT TO GET TO LAS VEGAS. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THE STANDINGS ARE. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW THE LAST TWO YEARS WENT IN THE CUP FOR US. SO IT\u2019S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE IT TO VEGAS. AND I THINK HAVE A HAVE A GOOD SITUATION NOW WHAT KIND OF WHERE WE\u2019RE AT. AND YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TO GET THESE TWO ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK. I THINK THAT THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE\u2019RE PLAYING FOR. AND WE\u2019RE TAKING THAT NIGHT VERY, VERY SERIOUS. GO TO GO PLAY. YEAH. THE GUYS IN THE LOCKER ROOM SAID THEY REALLY ENJOY THIS. IT DOES GIVE THEM A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION EARLY IN THE SEASON. SO LAST YEAR THE MAGIC WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND WITH A LOSS IN GROUP PLAY. BUT IF YOU DON\u2019T WIN YOUR GROUP, YOU\u2019RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT SPOT. SO TONIGHT BIG. THEN THEY PLAY THE PISTONS ON FRIDAY. IF THEY CAN WIN BOTH THEY\u2019RE GUARANTEED A SPOT IN THE KNOCKOUT ROUND. BUT IF YOU LOSE ONE IT COMES DOWN TO POINT DIFFERENTIAL WHICH THEY SAID THEY WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO TONIGHT. NO DRIBBLING OUT THE CLOCK AGAINST THE SIXERS. THAT\u2019S WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. THE MAGIC LOOKING TO SCORE A LOT OF POINTS TODAY. ALL RIGHT. STILL TO COME ON COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF. TIP OFF I DID IT. THIS TIME. WE\u2019RE GOING TO TALK WITH GRANT HILL. AN INTERVIEW YOU CAN ONLY SEE ON WESH TWO A HALL OF FAMER BREAKING DOWN THIS MAGIC REBUILD. AND THE MAGIC WE\u2019RE SEEING ON THE FLOOR. STICK AROUND. SONICS LEAD BY THREE AS HILL GOES SLICING THROUGH THE LANE. I\u2019M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UNIVERSALLY LOVED BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME. BRANT HILL, THE ORLANDO MAGIC. OF COURSE, LUCKY TO HAVE HAD HIM BACK IN THE DAY. AND OF COURSE, ORLANDO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS A LOCAL RESIDENT IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. YEAH, SOMEONE WHO\u2019S DEFINITELY MADE ORLANDO HIS HOME, INVESTED HEAVILY AS A PART TIME EXCUSE ME, A PART OWNER OF THE ORLANDO PRIDE, BUT PERHAPS THE PERFECT PERSON WHO HAS AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THIS YOUNG, UP AND COMING MAGIC TEAM NEED TO DO TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD. WELL, THE HALL OF FAMER CAME BY OUR WEST TWO STUDIOS AND NOW YOU GET TO HEAR FROM HIM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ORLANDO MAGIC SQUAD. JOINED NOW BY FORMER ORLANDO MAGIC STAR, CURRENT NBA ON NBC STAR GRANT HILL COMING IN TO THE WEST TWO STUDIOS. GRANT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS ORLANDO MAGIC TEAM, THEY START 1 IN 4. BUT IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE DOWN THE STRETCH THEY\u2019VE KIND OF FIGURED THINGS OUT. WHAT WERE YOU WATCHING THAT KIND OF WAS OUT OF SYNC EARLIER. THAT SEEMS TO BE BACK ON TRACK NOW. IT TAKES A MINUTE SOMETIMES FOR A GROUP TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. YOU\u2019RE BRINGING BACK A GUY LIKE JALEN SUGGS WHO HAD BEEN INJURED, BUT SO IMPORTANT YOU\u2019RE BRINGING IN A GREAT PLAYER LIKE DESMOND BANE. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY\u2019VE THEY\u2019VE THEY\u2019VE RIGHTED THE SHIP. IT TAKES A MINUTE, YOU KNOW. AND LOOK I ALWAYS SAY EVERY TEAM EVERY YEAR GOES THROUGH STUFF. THEY GO THROUGH ADVERSITY. THEY GO THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGING MOMENTS. A FORK IN THE ROAD. HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT AS A GROUP? DO YOU LET IT SPLINTER YOU EARLY IN THE SEASON, OR DO YOU STICK TOGETHER AND FIGHT THROUGH? AND THIS GROUP HAS SHOWN THAT RESILIENCY THUS FAR, AND I THINK THAT WILL SERVE THEM WELL THE REST OF THE WAY. YOU MENTIONED EXPECTATIONS JUST IN AN NBA LOCKER ROOM. HOW MUCH DOES THAT CHANGE THINGS? WELL, IT\u2019S A LOT. AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE A YOUNG GROUP AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING YOU TO TAKE A BIG STEP AND MOVE INTO THAT SORT OF TOP 4 OR 5 IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE AND CONTEND YOU\u2019RE NOT SNEAKING UP. YOU\u2019RE NOT SURPRISING TEAMS ANYMORE. AND THAT\u2019S TOUGH. AND SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE TO BE IN THAT ROLE. AND JUST DEALING WITH THAT WEIGHT AND THAT PRESSURE. AND YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT THAT\u2019S LIKE UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH IT AND THEY\u2019RE GOING THROUGH IT NOW. AND I THINK THEY\u2019LL FIGURE IT OUT AS THEY GO. HOW CLOSE IS THIS TEAM TO BEING A CONTENDER AND BEING A FACTOR IN THE EAST? I THINK THEY\u2019RE VERY CLOSE. GOING THROUGH SOME STUFF AS YOU HAVE THESE EXPECTATIONS. IT\u2019S A REALLY GOOD THING AND I BELIEVE IT PAYS OFF AT THE END. BUT I THINK THEY HAVE A CHANCE. THEY GOT PAOLO BANCHERO OBVIOUSLY FRANZ IS SUPER TALENTED AND SKILLED AS WELL. YOU ADDRESS SOME OF THE SHOOTING CONCERNS DEFENSIVELY. YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS THEIR CALLING CARD. THEY HAVE THE MAKINGS TO BE A TEAM THAT\u2019S IN THE MIX. WHEN IT\u2019S ALL SAID AND DONE. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE MAGIC STANDARD OR PLAYING ORLANDO MAGIC BASKETBALL. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? A GUY WHO USED TO SUIT UP FOR THIS TEAM? WELL, I MEAN, YOU\u2019VE HAD SOME GREAT PLAYERS WHO\u2019VE BEEN A PART OF THIS FRANCHISE. YOU KNOW, GUYS WHO\u2019VE BEEN HALL OF FAMERS, GUYS WHO\u2019VE BROUGHT A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THE FRANCHISE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE SHAQUILLE O\u2019NEAL, PENNY HARDAWAY, TRACY MCGRADY, DWIGHT HOWARD. I MEAN, THESE WERE WERE TRANSFORMATIONAL PLAYERS AND THEY PLAYED ON TEAMS THAT REALLY JUST LIT UP, NOT JUST THE CITY OF ORLANDO, BUT THE ENTIRE NBA ECOSYSTEM. AND SO NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN YOU\u2019RE LIKE, OKAY, WE\u2019RE SUPPOSED TO BE NEXT, THAT\u2019S A LOT. IT\u2019S AN AWESOME ENVIRONMENT AND IT\u2019S AN AWESOME SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO BE IN. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK THIS TEAM, WHEN THEY REALLY GET IT ROLLING AND THEY START WINNING THE FAN BASE HERE, THE FEELING, THE PRIDE, THE JOY, THE MORALE, YOU KNOW, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, I MEAN, JUST SO MANY GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU WIN. AND AND SO THIS, THIS TEAM HAS A CHANCE TO DO THAT. ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE COURT OR INTERRUPT THE PLAY OR USING. WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT JEFF WELTMAN SAID AS WELL, THE TEAM PRESIDENT SAYING THERE\u2019S PLENTY OF ROOM ON THIS ORLANDO MAGIC BANDWAGON. SOUNDS LIKE GRANT HILL\u2019S RIGHT THERE WITH EVERYBODY. THIS TEAM\u2019S GOT A LOT OF POTENTIAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO SAY HERE IN PHILLY? THERE\u2019S A COUPLE OF MAGIC FANS WHO MADE THE TRIP, SO MAYBE THEY\u2019LL BE FEELING SOME BROTHERLY LOVE TONIGHT HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. STILL TO COME. WE WILL TELL YOU OUR KEYS TO SECURING THE WIN HERE TONIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA. THIS IS ORLANDO MAGIC BASKETBALL ON WESH TWO. WE\u2019RE COUNTING DOWN TO TIP OFF LESS THAN 15 MINUTES OF GAME TIME. SO STICK AROUND AND YOU\u2019RE ON CARD NUMBER NINE. THANKSGIVING DISH PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF SWEET POTATOES YAMS WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM. AND MACARONI AND CHEESE TOGETHER. EVERY BITE TOGETHER THOUGH I THINK IT\u2019S A COMBINATION OF THE MAC AND CHEESE AND THE TURKEY. WOULD I TRUST THE ACT? I DON\u2019T KNOW IF ANYBODY ON OUR TEAM ACTUALLY COOKS, BUT I\u2019M GONNA GO. I\u2019M GONNA GO. MO WAGNER. I FEEL LIKE MO WOULD PUT HIS WHOLE EFFORT AND HEART INTO IT. SO I GO MOBILE, NOT THE TURKEY. MAYBE SOME TYPE OF CASSEROLE. I DON\u2019T KNOW ALL THE KINDS, TO BE HONEST, I THIS IS LIKE MY MY MY SECOND TIME DOING THIS. THE FULL THANKSGIVING SPREAD. I\u2019LL PROBABLY GO J.R. YOU KNOW, HE\u2019S GOT SOME LITTLE ONES. HE\u2019S A FAMILY MAN. SO YEAH, VERY TRUSTWORTHY GUY. THE OVERALL CONSENSUS, THOUGH, IN THE LOCKER ROOM, THE MAGIC WOULD NOT TRUST ANYONE IN THERE TO COOK THEIR THANKSGIVING DINNER. ANYWAYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF HERE IN PHILADELPHIA, DAREN THE MAGIC WITH A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR, BUT I THINK THEY\u2019D BE EVEN MORE THANKFUL IF THEY GOT OUT OF HERE WITH A WIN TONIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. WE\u2019RE GOING TO TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THEY CAN COME AWAY WITH A WIN HERE TONIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA AGAINST THE 76 ERS. KEYS TO THE WIN. ALL RIGHT. MINE IS LOCKING DOWN TYRESE MAXEY SITTING DOWN AND GUARDING. YOU CAN\u2019T LET HIM GO OFF FOR 43 POINTS LIKE WE SAW THE LAST TIME. HE\u2019S THE LEADING SCORER IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE AVERAGING 33 POINTS PER GAME. YOU LIMIT HIM. YOU GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE. ALL RIGHT MIKE KEYS ARE A LITTLE BIT SIMPLER AS WELL. YOU GOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY. OBVIOUSLY THE LAST TIME YOU CAME TO PHILADELPHIA THEY WERE MISSING THREE STARTERS. AND YOU STILL LOST THE GAME ALMOST BY DOUBLE DIGITS. SO TONIGHT WITHOUT JOEL EMBIID WITHOUT PAUL GEORGE YOU NEED TO DO THAT. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY. BUT ALSO JUST MAKE UP FOR LAST TIME. THESE GUYS DON\u2019T LIKE LOSING. AND OBVIOUSLY SUNDAY IN BOSTON WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT CONTEXT OF A SITUATION. BUT TONIGHT THEY CERTAINLY WANT TO GET THIS ONE BACK AGAINST THE SIXERS. YEAH THE MAGIC ARE BUILDING A LOT OF MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW. LAST GAMES LOSS ASIDE THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THAT TRAJECTORY. HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT NBA CUP GROUP PLAY. THIS IS GAME THREE OF FOUR. THEY STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE PISTONS ON BLACK FRIDAY. IF THEY CAN WIN BOTH. THEY\u2019RE GOING ON TO THE KNOCKOUT STAGE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR. AND AS WE TOLD AS THEY TOLD US THEY REALLY WANT TO DO THAT. OH YEAH. THEY WANT TO COME ON. ALL RIGHT. WELL THE MAGIC ARE ON THE FLOOR. ON WHAT JALEN SUGGS CALLED MAGIC BLUE. KEEP THAT IN MIND. IT\u2019S ALMOST TIME FOR TIP OFF HERE IN PHILADELPHIA. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. THANKS FOR HANGING OUT FOR KRISTEN I\u2019M DARREN. WE\u2019LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Countdown to Tip-off | WESH 2 Sports is live covering the Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tUpdated: 8:44 PM EST Nov 25, 2025\n\t\t<\/p>\n