Countdown to Tip-off | WESH 2 Sports is live covering the Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers
SEASON, 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’RE CAPABLE OF DOING. I LOVED OUR TEAM’S FIGHT. DESPITE A LOSS IN BOSTON SUNDAY, THEY’VE WON SIX OF THEIR LAST EIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO BE GREAT. I MEAN, WE KNOW IT. WE HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT STANDARD. AND I THINK THAT’S THE IMPORTANT PART. IT TAKES A TRUE BELIEF. THIS TEAM, THOUGH STILL STRUGGLING TO GET HEALTHY. PAOLO BANCHERO IS OUT TONIGHT. HE’LL MISS A SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAME, BUT IN HIS STEAD, SEVERAL HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD. HE’LL 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’S PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND WE’RE THANKFUL YOU’RE 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’S SO FUN TO BE HERE. I’M STILL VERY FULL FROM THE CHEESESTEAKS, BUT THERE’S A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK. IT’S 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’T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT’S 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’RE TEN AND EIGHT OVERALL, NOT GREAT, BUT THEY HAVE WON SEVEN OF THEIR LAST TEN GAMES. THEY’D 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’RE 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’RE 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’VE 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’S THE MIDDLE OF A THREE GAME ROAD SWING. THEY’RE STILL FINDING THEIR RHYTHM. THEY’RE 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’RE EVOLVING, CONSTANTLY EVOLVING EVERY DAY, EVERY GAME. SO, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT THE SAME VERSION, SAME TEAM THAT CAME IN AND AND PLAYED THEM AND TOOK A L. SO, YOU KNOW WE’LL COME OUT AND JUST TRY TO BE US AGAIN. WE’RE NOT THINKING TOO MUCH ON WHERE WE’RE GOING AND WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO OR WHO THEY ARE OR WHO’S PLAYING WHO’S NOT. WE WANT TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND GET A WIN ON TUESDAY. IT’S BEEN A WHILE. I FEEL LIKE WE’VE HAD A LOT OF BATTLES SINCE THEN AND, YOU KNOW, WE’VE WE’VE 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’RE STILL WITHOUT PAOLO BANCHERO AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PLAYERS OUT TONIGHT. YEAH, THE SIXERS AS WELL. THEY’RE GOING TO MISS TWO STARTERS JOEL EMBIID OUT TONIGHT PAUL GEORGE OUT TONIGHT. THAT DIDN’T SEEM TO MATTER WHEN THEY PLAYED THE MAGIC LAST TIME. WE’LL 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’S 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’S 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’S 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’T ADORE BEING THE MAN IN THE MASK, HE’S PLAYING REALLY WELL WHILE HE WEARS IT. YEAH I GOT HIT ON THE REBOUND AND I BROKE IT A LITTLE BIT. SO I’M GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR A COUPLE GAMES PROBABLY. DO YOU LIKE THE MASK? NO, I DON’T 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’S A WARRIOR. HE’S NOT GOING TO SIT OUT FOR NOTHING. SO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE BROKE THE NOSE. SO THAT’S, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE. BUT YOU KNOW HE’S 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’S 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’S FITTING ONTO THIS TEAM. I’M HERE WITH MAGIC GUARD DESMOND BANE. DESMOND. IT’S 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’VE 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’RE STARTING TO FIND OUR RHYTHM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FLOOR. SO IT’S BEEN FUN. YOU TALK ABOUT FINDING YOUR RHYTHM, AND I KNOW IT HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT. YOU’VE 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’S THERE’S THERE’S CHANGE. YOU KNOW ANYTIME THERE’S CHANGE THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS. BUT GROWING PAINS ARE A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW. AND I FEEL LIKE I’M 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’RE 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’M GOING OFF THE COURT, LIKE EVERYBODY’S 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’VE GOTTEN A TASTE OF THE FAN BASE. YOU’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THIS TEAM AND THE CULTURE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU’VE 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’S GREAT PEOPLE. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M GLAD TO BE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS. AND YOU’RE ON A TEAM THAT’S DEALING WITH A WORLD OF EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT? EVERYONE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAS TALKED ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW THAT YOU’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THESE PLAYERS, YOU’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE EXPECTATIONS SURROUNDING THEM. HOW DO YOU GO FROM GOOD TO ELITE? I THINK STACKING DAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T 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’RE REACHING THEM, IT’S GOOD. AND WHEN WE’RE 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’S DESMOND BANE OFF THE COURT. WHAT’S 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’S THE SECRET TO GOING OUT THERE AND GETTING SOMETHING? IT DON’T LOOK LIKE YOU’VE 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’S SPECIALTY. FISHING. NOT MY SPECIALTY, BUT THE MAGIC. REALLY ENJOYING WHAT HE’S 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’S GETTING LOUD. THAT MEANS WE’RE GETTING CLOSER TO GAME TIME HERE IN NBA CUP ACTION. THE BROTHERLY LOVE. WELL IT’S GOING TO BE TESTED AS ORLANDO TAKES ON PHILADELPHIA LIV ON WESH TWO. YOU’RE WATCHING COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF. THAT’S A LOT. YEAH. BUT HONESTLY, NOT THE NOT THE WORST ONE I’VE SEEN. I’D SAY THAT SO. AND I THINK IT’S KIND OF FUN PLAYING ON DIFFERENT COURTS GIVES IT A DIFFERENT FEEL. SO I’M MAD ABOUT IT. I DON’T KNOW I DON’T KNOW, THAT’S ALL. I DON’T 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’RE PLAYING ON A BLUE FLOOR OR A RED FLOOR, DOES IT MATTER? DOES IT LIKE WHEN YOU’RE 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’RE GOOD. SO IT IS BASKETBALL. BUT IF YOU’RE JUST TUNING IN YOU SEE IT. IT IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS IS THE NBA CUP. WE’RE STILL IN THE GROUP STAGE. BUT TONIGHT’S 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’RE LIKE, OH WHAT THE WHAT’S 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’S 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’RE 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’RE PLAYING FOR. AND WE’RE 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’T WIN YOUR GROUP, YOU’RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT SPOT. SO TONIGHT BIG. THEN THEY PLAY THE PISTONS ON FRIDAY. IF THEY CAN WIN BOTH THEY’RE 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’S 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’RE 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’RE SEEING ON THE FLOOR. STICK AROUND. SONICS LEAD BY THREE AS HILL GOES SLICING THROUGH THE LANE. I’M 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’S 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’VE 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’RE BRINGING BACK A GUY LIKE JALEN SUGGS WHO HAD BEEN INJURED, BUT SO IMPORTANT YOU’RE BRINGING IN A GREAT PLAYER LIKE DESMOND BANE. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY’VE THEY’VE THEY’VE 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’S 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’RE NOT SNEAKING UP. YOU’RE NOT SURPRISING TEAMS ANYMORE. AND THAT’S 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’S LIKE UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH IT AND THEY’RE GOING THROUGH IT NOW. AND I THINK THEY’LL 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’RE VERY CLOSE. GOING THROUGH SOME STUFF AS YOU HAVE THESE EXPECTATIONS. IT’S 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’S IN THE MIX. WHEN IT’S 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’VE HAD SOME GREAT PLAYERS WHO’VE BEEN A PART OF THIS FRANCHISE. YOU KNOW, GUYS WHO’VE BEEN HALL OF FAMERS, GUYS WHO’VE BROUGHT A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THE FRANCHISE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, 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’RE LIKE, OKAY, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE NEXT, THAT’S A LOT. IT’S AN AWESOME ENVIRONMENT AND IT’S 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’S PLENTY OF ROOM ON THIS ORLANDO MAGIC BANDWAGON. SOUNDS LIKE GRANT HILL’S RIGHT THERE WITH EVERYBODY. THIS TEAM’S GOT A LOT OF POTENTIAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO SAY HERE IN PHILLY? THERE’S A COUPLE OF MAGIC FANS WHO MADE THE TRIP, SO MAYBE THEY’LL 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’RE COUNTING DOWN TO TIP OFF LESS THAN 15 MINUTES OF GAME TIME. SO STICK AROUND AND YOU’RE 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’S A COMBINATION OF THE MAC AND CHEESE AND THE TURKEY. WOULD I TRUST THE ACT? I DON’T KNOW IF ANYBODY ON OUR TEAM ACTUALLY COOKS, BUT I’M GONNA GO. I’M 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’T KNOW ALL THE KINDS, TO BE HONEST, I THIS IS LIKE MY MY MY SECOND TIME DOING THIS. THE FULL THANKSGIVING SPREAD. I’LL PROBABLY GO J.R. YOU KNOW, HE’S GOT SOME LITTLE ONES. HE’S 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’D BE EVEN MORE THANKFUL IF THEY GOT OUT OF HERE WITH A WIN TONIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. WE’RE 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’T LET HIM GO OFF FOR 43 POINTS LIKE WE SAW THE LAST TIME. HE’S 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’T 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’RE 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’S ALMOST TIME FOR TIP OFF HERE IN PHILADELPHIA. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. THANKS FOR HANGING OUT FOR KRISTEN I’M DARREN. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Countdown to Tip-off | WESH 2 Sports is live covering the Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers
Updated: 8:44 PM EST Nov 25, 2025
The Orlando Magic (10-8) are set to take on the Philadelphia 76ers (9-7) on Tuesday at 8 p.m.The Magic head into the game following a 138-129 loss on the road against the Boston Celtics on Sunday. The game in Philadelphia is part of a three-game road stretch. Orlando is 7-3 in its last 10 games. WESH 2 will have a “Countdown to Tip-off” live from Philadelphia starting at 7:30 p.m.The game will then be broadcast live on WESH 2.
PHILADELPHIA —
The Orlando Magic (10-8) are set to take on the Philadelphia 76ers (9-7) on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The Magic head into the game following a 138-129 loss on the road against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The game in Philadelphia is part of a three-game road stretch. Orlando is 7-3 in its last 10 games.
WESH 2 will have a “Countdown to Tip-off” live from Philadelphia starting at 7:30 p.m.
The game will then be broadcast live on WESH 2.