Jordi Fernández’s non-negotiable principles were bound to be tested on Friday night, in the Brooklyn Nets’ second game of the season.
That’s sort of the Orlando Magic’s whole deal. Even without Jonathan Issac (again) the Magic are long, physical, and extremely annoying. This summer, they added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a mix that already included Jalen Suggs, who claps in your face while picking you up 94 feet, and Moe Wagner, who is Moe Wagner.
On top of all that, it was Orlando’s home-opener. Nic Claxton — who mused that he may “need a therapist” after getting deservedly ejected from Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks — wasn’t the only one who would feel the irritation on Friday.