5 questions the Orlando Magic face in season’s second quarter
The Orlando Magic have passed the quarter pole of the 2017 season. They do not have the record they want but have formed an identity to build from.
The Orlando Magic are quickly settling into their identity, accomplishing perhaps the biggest goal of the first 20-or-so games. The defense has risen to the top of the league and the team is finding ways to win games — important games.
It was a rocky road for sure. Orlando had to learn some things about itself and build chemistry during the season. The Magic faced some humiliating blowout defeats and an anemic offense — that still ranks near the bottom of the league. There were still plenty of doubts.
Sitting at 9-12, the Magic are not where they want to be. They still have work to do to climb out of the middle tier of the Eastern Conference and get into the Playoff conversation. But they are not too far removed from the race to lose contact. Orlando’s goals are still in front of it.
But even when the schedule came out, everyone knew the Magic might have to bank some wins early. The schedule stiffens considerably in the season’s second quarter.
Orlando has answered some of its preseason questions in earnest. The Magic have established a defensive identity and have begun sorting through some of their big man rotation.
The Magic are seemingly moving up after this past week and securing a winning road trip to begin December. Things seem to be progressing and the Magic are figuring things out more and more. Orlando looks intriguing now, if not downright promising.
The Playoff dreams are still in clear focus.
Of course, the season’s progression brings with it more questions. It is always a game of whack-a-mole. Hit a few problems on the head to watch them recede into their cubbies and another one is bound to pop up.
The Magic focused on their defense, their offense cratered. The Magic changed their lineup once and solved one problem to add more. The new lineup change has balanced some things but it has also raised a few more questions. And certainly, the Magic’s long-term future remains in question.
The next 20-or-so games will be important. As golfers always say, you cannot win the tournament in the first round, but you can certainly lose it.
The Magic did not lose anything in the first quarter of the season. But they have some ground to make up. And a difficult second quarter of the season will test them even more.
Here are some questions the Magic face in the next quarter of the season.