NOTHING WAS THE SAME: The Return of Derek Baldwin (2023-2027)

[chosenone58]

[Fapplatte]

trying to read all of this... good work so far

[chosenone58]

Appreciate it, man. We're just plugging along in these playoffs

[chosenone58]

[chosenone58]

NBA|CROSSOVER
Eastern Conference Semifinals: (1) BKN vs (5) ORL

By Aaron Barnes April 25, 2026

The Orlando Magic have advanced in the playoffs over the 4th seeded Detroit Pistons and for their trouble they will face Derek Baldwin and the Brooklyn Nets. The Orlando Magic were the first team that Baldwin faced when he came back to the league suffering an 83-97 loss as Baldwin dropped 24 points on them in his return. They struggled with the Nets all season long and we really don’t expect much different in this series.

The Brooklyn Nets have been resting for the past four days and this can work in their favor or it can work against them in Game 1. Orlando played seven games in the first round to get past the Detroit Pistons, winning by a score 110-103 on the road.

“We watched that series,” said Derek Baldwin. “We watched it all the way to the end. These guys understand that the playoffs are a completely different beast and things can change in a manner of minutes. One minute you’re up and the next you’re down. The way Orlando dug deep and took that win showed us a lot. This isn’t the team we played earlier this season.”

Orlando got a lucky break with the Pistons loss their star player, Stephan Cisse, near the end of Game 5. Cisse went down with a broken ankle and wouldn’t be cleared to play for the rest of the series. Orlando went on to win the final two games of the series to take the win. The Magic were playing without their starting guard Richard Dixon, who went down with a torn hamstring just before All-Star weekend. But the Magic have managed to persevere.

The combination of Chip Bass, Dante Gibbs, and Aaron Gordon have carried the Magic to a winning season and a fifth seed in the playoffs.

“People didn’t think we were going to get here, let alone out of the first round,” said Gordon. Gordon in his 12th season with the Magic is currently averaging 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season.

Shareef O’Neal on game plan for defeating the Orlando Magic: I think we have the advantage here. We have the shooters on the perimeter to stretch out the floor to allow our post game to go into effect. I don’t think there is anybody on their team that can handle Nate. Once he gets going, he is tough to stop. He’s going to be our key to this series.

[RoyalTy]

Orlando's not going to be a problem. Fo' Fo' Fo'

[chosenone58]

Orlando's not going to be a problem. Fo' Fo' Fo'

[chosenone58]

[chosenone58]

[The JZA]

Quick exit for Orlando, that new ring coming for Derek "Thanos" Baldwin