Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Trends or Mirages: Breaking down this year’s Orlando Magic

By Brett David Roberts

Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 9
Next
Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic are markedly improved in the 2016 season, but what can be counted on continuing and what cannot be?

The Orlando Magic have been a mysterious case of blossoming, and it is somewhat difficult to ascertain which positive changes will stick and which are simply a case of not having seen enough of this season yet.

Many criticized hiring former player Scott Skiles, but Skiles has invigorated the roster and breathed life into a fan base that had fallen mostly asleep in the wake of three putrid losing seasons.

While not everything we have seen from the Magic has the potential to stick for the remainder of the season, a number of traits and facets of this team are indeed no mirage. Other things we have seen may be just a reflection of the small sample size of a season just past its quarter mark.

Even so, it is worth taking the time to dissect this sample and attempt to extract what are meaningful trends from what are nothing but mirages of the “small sample size theatre.”

From rookie Mario Hezonja’s interesting trials and tribulations to Aaron Gordon‘s fleeting brilliance, here is a look at 10 features of the Magic and which are likely to stick throughout the course of the 2016 season.

Next: Stand and cheer, youuuuur Orlandoooo Magic!