Orlando Magic Year in Review: Top 10 games of 2016

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Mar 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) high fives guard Brandon Jennings (55) after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Orlando Magic 119-113. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 calendar year is a mere hours away from its conclusion. We look back at the past 12 months and the best games and moments for the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic’s 2016 calendar year was disappointing in many ways. The team aimed to turn this year into its return to contention and a return to the Playoffs. Across two seasons, it is hard to say whether the Magic accomplished that goal.

Their 19-13 finish to 2015 gave way quickly to the disappointment of a 2-12 January. The team never recovered. And then Orlando went about completely reshaping its franchise, beginning with February’s trade of Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons.

The summer saw even more changes, adding Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo, Frank Vogel and plenty others. The Magic were changing their identity into a firm defensive monster. Or so they thought.

Much like how the 2016 season was supposed to be the year the team took the next step and climbed into the Playoffs, the 2017 season had that as a firm and clearly stated goal. But it has seen its share of inconsistency through the first half of the season.

The Magic’s identity has not quite taken hold. The team still seems to be answering this big question from 2016. Just with more urgency now.

The year was a rough one for the Magic.

But there were still the bright moments. There were still memories made and some fantastic games played. The Orlando Magic still had a year full of games worth remembering. And a few moments too.

Before the calendar turns to January 2017 and we officially put 2016 to bed, it feels like it is time to go back and look at the top games from the Magic’s 2016 calendar year.