3 Things to Keep an Eye on: Odds and Predictions

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The first game of pre-season is never something you want to predict. Teams place different emphasis on these games and try to get different things out of the game. Starting this game at the odd time of 12:30pm locally only adds to the uncertainty of this game.

Last year, the Orlando Magic traveled to New Orleans for their preseason opener not knowing who the team would be. The team had plenty of ambition and at times showed signs of what it would become.

The team arrives at the Smoothie King Center much more confident this year. They know what their recipe for success is. That will not be fully evident in this preseason game. Orlando is probably holding some things back. The Magic want their team to walk the talk and put what they've been working on into practice.

Monday's success won't be measured by who wins or loses – but don't let that get you down. It will be measured by how close the team is to what the coaches want to see from camp.

The Pelicans will be a good test. They are a quality team working on their own changes. The Magic will get a chance to see how far ahead their defense could be. But this is a chance to get back on the ground and make sure the engine is still running after five months of idleness.

3. Franz Wagner from three

Everyone is hanging on every shot that Franz Wagner takes at this point. After looking fundamentally solid in the first two seasons of his career, his mysterious decline to 28.1 percent last year was frustrating.

Everyone had their own theory as to why Wagner struggled so much from three. Was it fatigue from the long summer at the FIBA ​​World Cup? Was it something mechanical in his shooting form? Was it confidence?

Wagner's appearance at the Olympics did not allay concerns. In that six-game run, he went 7-for-35 from three (20.0 percent) to rank fourth in the Olympics.

Wagner has had some time to work on things since then. He said he made some mechanical adjustments to his shooting form. The media was allowed to watch target practice, he watched. . . better. But no one knows until they get to the games.

A game like the season opener on Monday.

Wagner does so many things well. Adding a 3-point shot could be what pushes him to an All-Star level. It could be one of the big factors in the Magic achieving their ambitious goals this season.

2. Debut of the Terror Backcourt

When the Orlando Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, everyone was excited about the expected duo with Jalen Suggs in the backcourt. The Magic have one of the best defensive backs in the entire league with two All-Defensive Team candidates. At least on paper.

The duo starts with a good test to see what effect they can achieve.

Last year, both CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray met the Magic.

Murray scored game-winning shots in the Atlanta Hawks' victories over the Orlando Magic in Mexico City and Atlanta. Murray averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in four games against the Magic last year. McCollum averaged 27.0 points per game in his two games against the Magic.

The Magic now have multiple players they can throw at each of these two guards. Because of this, the Pelicans will pose a challenge. And it will at least be a good first test of what the Magic can do when they use these two players on defense.

1. Tristan da Silva makes his debut

Everyone is always excited when they see the newbie on the floor for the first time.

When Tristan da Silva debuted in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League, everyone was excited. The fact that da Silva performed well and was extremely comfortable on the NBA floor was even better. Da Silva averaged 17.7 points per game and made 10 of 17 3-point shots.

Additionally, da Silva was solid defensively. He never tried to do too much on offense. He moved the ball quickly, floating into spaces for his teammates to find him. When everyone was talking about his basketball IQ and how he made game-winning plays, you could clearly see it by watching just one of his Summer League games.

It's easy to understand why so many people believed da Silva would fit comfortably into any role. It was easy to believe that the Orlando Magic would have no choice but to play him. Finding his minutes with the main rotation will be difficult.

The preseason will give him the chance to play with these players and show what he can do. It may just be a preseason, but it's a step up from Summer League. Da Silva has to prove himself again. And that is an exciting prospect.

Everyone will be excited to see the rookie play again.