This is not the same Orlando Magic as last year

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Dec 21, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the New York Knicks during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Magic defeated the Knicks 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic have hit a break in the schedule and a moment of reflection. Even with a bit of a slump, it is clear the team has improved dramatically.

The players around the locker room are the same. At least the names are.

It was a common refrain (at least that I used in predicting this team) that this team was ostensibly the same as last year. How much of a leap could this young roster without any surefire — maybe a few potential and developing — stars take with just a coaching change and some cosmetic role player changes?

Could Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris or Victor Oladipo turn into superstar players? How much better than 25 wins was this team? How much of a step forward could this team take?

Those questions may still need answers further down the road. They will not get any definitive answers after this season. This season would answer some of the questions about the future of this team and what path the team should take.

These were the same guys right? This is ostensibly the same team? Right?

“This is not the same team,” Channing Frye said after the blowout win over the Hornets nearly a month ago. “This is not the same guys. Let me tell you that right now. This is a completely different group of guys in understanding the game of basketball. I think give a lot of credit to the guys buying in to what Skiles want, but we’re a team. We weren’t this [last year]. You look at it, we weren’t this.”

All the talk of a team tired of losing and wanting to turn it around has come to some limited fruition nearing the season’s midpoint. The Orlando Magic are 20-18.

They are beating teams with defense and have found some formula offensively (executing it consistently has been more of the storyline for the first quarter of the season doing so on the defensive end has been the story of the next quarter).

This is indeed not the same team as last year.

Even with the team’s recent slippage defensively, the defense overall is improved.

The Magic are currently 13th in the league in defensive rating, giving up 101.5 points per 100 possessions. That has been a slight decline from the first quarter of the season, but still a vast improvement over 2015. Last season, Orlando was 26th in the league in defensive rating, giving up 105.2 points per 100 possessions.

It goes without saying that is a seismic step up. There are not many teams who improve by nearly four points per 100 possessions. Again, a huge jump and improvement.

They are also 17th in the league in offensive rating with 101.5 points per 100 possessions. It does not rank well among the NBA, but that is also a steady climb from last year’s 99.6 offensive rating, good for 27th in the league.

The Magic are flat-out better than 2015, and the numbers show that.

“Regardless if we win or lose, guys are sticking together because we understand how we’re supposed to play,” Frye said. “Some games, you’re not going to win. But we’re going to play a certain way, a certain style and we believe in that and we believe in each other. We’re getting better every game. I think you’re starting to see that. We’re starting to evolve. Last year was last year, but this year, we are not the same team. Regardless of if I’m playing or not, I like to watch what we are doing.”

The difference is plain to see. Stats are not even that necessary.

Next: The fun is back