10 Must See Orlando Magic Games
This slide show will highlight the best 10 matches to see for the Magic's 2010-2011 campaign.
Everyone likes to see two great teams square off, and better still if the game is nationally televised so that fans without NBA League Pass can tune in.
I've included repeat games versus the same opponent, because, well, those games against elite teams are what people want to see.
Thursday ,October 28th , Home Vs. Washington
1 of 10
This match up has little to do with the team the Magic are facing. Washington was dreadful last season and has no marquee players worth watching.
So why watch this game?
Well, it may be more of an in person thing, but this is the opening night for the Amway Center, the new facility that will be in operation this year. Though it is geared mainly towards luxury boxes, there will be a number of very cheap seats that will allow many fans to attend games who otherwise could not afford to.
It promises to be a special night, even if the Wizards are a lackluster opponent. At the bare minimum, we'll get to see John Wall early on. Besides, would the Magic really want to lose their first game in the new arena?
Friday , October 29th , At Miami
2 of 10
This will be the first meeting of the Heat and Magic and it promises to be a great game. It will be televised on ESPN, allowing the nation to tune in and watch the battle.
Miami will probably not have completely developed their chemistry by this point, so that may give the Magic an advantage they will not have later in the season. But at this juncture, only three weeks into the season, the Heat probably will not be the team they are later in the season.
Wednesday, December 1st, at Chicago
3 of 10
Chicago looks to be a legit contender in the East this year, or at the minimum have home court advantage in the first round. This is mainly due to the addition of Carlos Boozer and the continued growth of youngsters Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
It should be interesting to see how the Bulls approach the better teams in the league this year, as their continued improvement will make them much more of a threat.
Besides this plot, there will be the obvious "Ha ha, we matched the offer you made to Redick" story. The Magic will have an opportunity to rub it in Jon Paxson's face.
Wedneday, December 25th, Christmas Day @ Home Vs. Boston
4 of 10
This is the first of two meetings against the Celtics, who ousted the Magic last year in the Eastern Conference Finals.
It should be an interesting subplot to see if Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal (Brothers? I kid, I kid) have any chance at containing Dwight Howard. Perkins suffered a serious knee injury and Rasheed Wallace retired, and those were the main two that were able to single cover Dwight.
If the Celts are forced to double team Howard, the Magic's three-point assault promises to bury them.
Thursday, January 13th, at Oklahoma City
5 of 10
What could I say that would do justice to the young Kevin Durant? He really came into his own last year, edging out Lebron for the scoring title, and giving the Lakers all they could handle in a first round matchup in the playoffs.
As a testament to their rising, both Thunder-Magic games are going to be nationally televised, with this one airing on TNT.
Thursday, February 3rd, Home Vs. Miami
6 of 10
This will be the second of two meetings at the Amway center against the Heat. By this point they will have developed more chemistry, and, barring injuries, should be starting to peak.
Sunday, February 13th, Home Vs. L.A. Lakers
7 of 10
Magic-Lakers games are always a blast to watch. It's a rematch of the 2009 NBA Finals and will be televised on ABC as a 3:30 P.M. EST matinee.
Friday, February 25th, Home Vs. Oklahoma City
8 of 10
The second of two meetings against the Thunder. It will be televised on ESPN.
Monday, March 14th, Home Vs. L.A. Lakers
9 of 10
As the season winds down, this could be a crucial game for seeding and home court advantage.
Sunday, April 10th, At Home Vs Chicago
10 of 10
As the season concludes, this game will be crucial for momentum purposes. Since a second round match up for the Bulls is a distinct possibility, this game will be a confidence booster for the victor.
