“Need Two Superstars to Get Through Jimmy [Butler]”: Gilbert Arenas Thrashes “For Real” Magic’s Chances vs Heat Citing Wild Reason

The Orlando Magic have started the 2023-24 season on fire. After years of tanking and finishing near the bottom of the standings, the Magic finally looks like a formidable team. They possess some of the best young talents in the NBA, with players like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. The Magic has been one of the premier teams of the Eastern Conference this season.

Reigning NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope thinks the Magic are “for real”. However, former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas believes that the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler will provide a daunting task for them in the playoffs.

Arenas is not convinced of the Magic’s playoff potential

Gilbert Arenas plied his trade in the NBA in the 2000s for the Washington Wizards. He last played in the NBA in 2012, after which he embarked on a successful journey as a podcast host. During a conversation on his podcast, Gil’s Arena, he spoke about Orlando’s recent improvements. However, he wasn’t entirely convinced of their playoff potential this season. He said, “Orlando can’t get the Heat. They’re going to need a superstar to get through Jimmy (Butler). They’re going to need two superstars.”

The Miami Heat, on their day, are a tough match-up for any team in the league. Their remarkable playoff run last season is proof of Miami’s strength-in-numbers approach. However, the Heat’s failure to add quality to their roster might become detrimental to their long-term playoff success. The Heat have time and again proved their skeptics wrong. But as of now, the Magic are the better team. Despite their brilliant start to the season, Orlando’s youth and inexperience in the playoffs may work against them.

Is Orlando Magic the real deal?

This season, the Magic has pleasantly surprised both fans and analysts alike with their wins. They have shown a marked improvement in performances compared to last season. The Magic possesses a bevy of talented young players all under the age of 25 and in peak health.

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They also possess one of the meanest defenses in the league. They have recorded a defensive rating of 109.1, which is the second-best in the NBA. Both Banchero and Wagner are destined to become future superstars of the league. Orlando’s future progression depends on the continued growth of their two superstars, and if early indications are anything to go by, then the Magic is in good hands.

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What do you think of this observation of Gilbert Arenas? Do you think the Orlando Magic stand a chance to move into the postseason this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.