Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 3: Late Christmas presents!

Dec 21, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic mascot Stuff plays with a security guard during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Philadelphia 76ers won 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The West Coast road trip is always a measuring stick for the Magic in my mind. It is usually when we figure out exactly who this team is and what they can become. A bad road trip is not necessarily a death knell, but it lets us know a championship is not in the cards. A good road trip at this stage is usually a pretty good sign for things to come.

Orlando went 3-3 on that trip and the team looked in good shape. Then they came home for the holidays and well… it is not completely awful right.

Christmas seems like a good time to empty the mailbag and get your Magic questions answered. Feel free to keep dropping your questions to me on Twitter @OMagicDaily or by e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com.

Let’s open the mailbag:

The three positives so far:

–There are moments I absolutely love this Magic offense. They move the ball well and work together. This is the kind of offense basketball purists love. The ball does not stick and it moves quickly. I have frankly been surprised at how well the Magic have played offensively. They have better shooters than I thought and do a decent job attacking the basket.

—Evan Fournier has obviously been the biggest surprise to this point on the offensive end. The guy sets his feet quickly and has a great shot. There has been some inconsistency, no doubt. That comes with being a young player. But the Magic appear to have gotten the better end of the Arron Afflalo deal so far.

Oct 17, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons forward Caron Butler (31) defends during the first half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

–Rob Hennigan appears to have struck gold in the Draft again. Eflrid Payton has looked good early on and Aaron Gordon before his injury was playing some really good defense. Both players were delivering on their potential and what we expected from them this season. Their continued development is another issue.

The three negatives so far:

–Injuries suck. They have kept the Magic from being where they want to be. It was the absolute worst thing that could happen to this young team. They needed to get off to a better start and be more united. They still look like they are figuring each other out and Victor Oladipo still looks like he is getting his legs under him.

–I am sort of the only person in the boat of giving Jacque Vaughn a longer leash. That does not mean that there have not been some shortcomings on his part that he needs to continue improving on. The lack of playing time for Maurice Harkless in certain situations seems baffling (unless he really is that bad in practice. . . which still makes me want to blame Vaughn for failing to develop him or giving him the right things to work and focus on). His play designs are still a bit too one-dimensional. There is one option and if that fails, the team is done. That part still has to change.

–This schedule has been brutal. I know there is nothing the Magic can do about it. But the road trips this team has had to endure through the first month of the season is a little ridiculous. It is a wonder that Orlando has won the games it has. Then again, the Magic have not taken advantage of the opportunity at home so far.