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Orlando Magic on a business trip to Brazil

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket as Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic 98-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket as Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic 98-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic departed for Brazil immediately after Tuesday’s preseason game. Their trip to Brazil will not be all fun and games.

Aaron Gordon seemed like he had just landed from his crazy reverse layup in the second half of Tuesday’s game. The way Gordon can hang in the air, he might still be up there.

The flight though was a signal of Gordon’s return to the court and his debut to the Magic fan base. That will be the only taste Orlando fans will get of their team for the next week.

The Magic left quickly after their overtime win over the Heat on Tuesday for the airport and a trip to Rio de Janeiro for a return date against Flamengo on Saturday. It is also part of the NBA’s efforts to grow the game in Brazil — the league has hosted games in Brazil in each of the past two seasons.

The Magic have also made it clear they want to establish more business ties in Brazil to take advantage of the large tourism market that comes to Orlando from Brazil. This is an important trip for the organization and the NBA.

For the Magic though, this is still a part of their preseason. The new locale and the new place is a nice distraction and side plot to the work that has to be done for the Magic as they prepare for the regular season in two weeks. This is a business trip.

“You got to just make sure it’s a business trip,” Aaron Gordon said. “As much as it sounds fun, we have to go out there with our heads on straight and go out there and do what we need to do and get a win.”

Yes, the Magic have lots of things they want to get done still. Scott Skiles is still seeking consistency and to see the team continue to develop the mentality he wants. They have shown flashes of it, but he is working for it to become second nature. That has not been easy work.

So despite all the NBA events and all the travel — an 8- or 9-hour flight to Rio after their game Tuesday — the Magic are still hoping to get some work done on this trip.

“Coach is going to get us to be productive every day that we have and every practice that we have,” Tobias Harris said. “We’re going to go 100 percent. We’re going to be focused. Obviously we’re in a different country and playing in front of different fans, but our goal is to just continue doing what we’ve been doing and getting better at the things that we have been working on. That will be our focus point.”

The Magic are expecting a pretty raucous crowd in Rio for the game. The fan culture overseas follows soccer fans more, something players like Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic and Mario Hezonja are more familiar with. When the Flamengo fans came to Orlando last year, it was a bit of a culture shock to American NBA fans. Especially for a preseason game.

That should add some intensity to Saturday’s game and keep the Magic alert and focused. They definitely want to win this game.

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The trip though also serves as a bonding point. Skiles said he is not too worried about the team’s need to bond on this trip. The players already seem to have good chemistry and so that aspect of the trip is not as important to him. It might be an aspect the media overrates, in Skiles’ esteemed opinion.

Team bonding will be a part of the team’s trip though. It is important for them as they keep working to the regular season.

“It’s going to be really important for the team chemistry to come together, eat together and spending time with each other,” Evan Fournier said. “That can be huge for us. Keep working. practice is practice and games is a games. Just keep getting better as basketball.”

At the end of the day, the trip to Brazil (for most players it is their first trip to the country) is a nice thing. It is necessary for the league and the team to grow its brand and business opportunities.

It is also still an opportunity for the Magic to continue putting in the work the need to prepare for the season. There will certainly be some time for fun in the process. But this is a business trip in every way.

There is a lot that still needs to get accomplished in the process.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Podcast: Previewing the Eastern Conference