Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Signs of progress
The big takeaway from the Orlando Magic this week? Something is clearly working. But it is not enough to get wins quite yet.
The Orlando Magic are using the time after the All-Star Break to assess their roster.
Clearly, after this disaster of a season that has seen the team struggle to reach its lofty Playoff aspirations, the team needs to consider some change. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said the team is just a few tweaks away from making the Playoffs. And the final quarter of the season will be the magic figuring out exactly what those tweaks are — or if they need something more.
The returns in the first few games have been . . . at least, OK.
The Magic are 2-4 since the All-Star Break and have, at least, played a more aesthetically pleasing style. The Magic are trying to scramble better defensively and swarm opponents to get deflections and steals. And this would spark transition.
On top of all this, adding Terrence Ross has given the Magic another shooter, shifted Aaron Gordon to power forward where he has a clear speed and athleticism advantage and created space for Elfrid Payton to attack more and more.
About the only thing that has gone wrong is the fourth quarter. Orlando has had the lead — comfortably — in the fourth quarter in three of the team’s four losses in the last two weeks. The Magic are still trying to find the depth and the ability to close games. It is a recurring problem.
And learning how to finish games and pick up wins is part of building the winning culture Frank Vogel is trying to lay the groundwork for the rest of this season and beyond. He expects wins and so these losses are proving especially difficult and frustrating.
Despite all that, and the Magic’s pedestrian record, there are positive signs. The Magic’s defense is not close to elite, but it is better than before. The team’s offense is seemingly functional once again. The Magic are playing with renewed confidence.
The question is will this confidence turn into results on the floor. Or will the team “playing well” just mean more losses and the need to do more than a few tweaks.
The jury is still out there.