Orlando Magic Daily
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5 questions the Orlando Magic face in the season’s third quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) high five against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) high five against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers
Jan 13, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) points to a fan after making a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers who was making fun of hair at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic had a disappointing turn in the second quarter of the season. With the Playoffs fading, what questions must the Magic next?

There is no halftime to the NBA season. But the midway point is always a good point to take a pause and evaluate the first half of the season. Even as the games keep hurtling forward.

The Orlando Magic certainly will look back at the second quarter of their season with disappointment.

The team was 9-12 heading into the second quarter of the season, but had some momentum building. The Magic were finishing up that long road trip feeling good. The first game of the second quarter was that fateful win over the Washington Wizards.

The Magic have not been the same since that game. Orlando sat at 17-24 at the midpoint of the season, going 8-12 in the second quarter. The transformation on defense has been the most alarming.

Tthe team’s defense was the third best in the entire league through the first quarter of the season. In the second quarter of the season, the Magic sank to 28th in the league.

That is quite a turnaround. Orlando was the third best defense in the first quarter of the season and the third worst in the second quarter.

That shows the incredible inconsistency for this team.

While the record remains relatively identical, the way the team got there has been completely different. The Magic built their first quarter on defense even if the team struggled to score. The second quarter, it seemed the Magic were hanging by a thread and barely keeping their head above water.

The fall the team is seeing now seemed inevitable from its second half. Perhaps the Magic’s second quarter is a prelude of things getting worse.

The first half of the season is behind the Magic now. It is on to the third quarter of the season, an absolutely vital one for the team.

In the next 21 games, the Magic will pass the All-Star Break and the trade deadline. The future for the franchise will get set in the next few weeks as the season hurtles onward.

Orlando has lost the first three games of the third quarter of the season. And there are big questions the Magic need to answer sooner rather than later.