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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: West Coast character

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 17, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is guarded by Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Magic won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is guarded by Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Magic won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Mar 17, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is guarded by Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Magic won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

A team’s character is often revealed on its long road trips. What did last week’s West Coast trip reveal about the Orlando Magic?

Every year, the Orlando Magic take a couple of West Coast trips (and usually another long East Coast trips, but those are not as much fun). These trips are tests. A chance to get away from the Amway Center is a chance to build some chemistry and test your mettle.

Typically the Magic take a road trip in early December, early January and occasionally in mid-March.

Orlando’s trip away from home while the Amway Center hosted the NCAA Tournament was another chance to see what this team was made of. Especially with the team making such a dramatic change after the All-Star Break, this past week’s trip out West was a big test of the team and how it would respond to adversity.

Coach Frank Vogel sensed this too. Before the Magic embarked on their three-game, weeklong road trip, he spoke about the team’s need to build a winning culture and the chance to do that on the road with a relatively manageable trip against Lottery-dwelling teams in the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

The results? they were not exactly good. The Magic struggled to rise to the challenge and needed a good kick in the rear to snap to attention.

Monday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings was frustrating for the team’s lack of attention to detail and general sloppiness. Orlando fell behind by 10 points in the fourth quarter and had to rally to make it a game. And when it seemed like the Magic were ready to pull ahead with a win, they got burned.

It was not exactly encouraging. And it certainly was not good enough.

The team failed to pick up the rope in falling to the Golden State Warriors by 30 points Thursday after a few days without a game. Klay Thompson went crazy for 21 points in the first quarter and Stephen Curry took his turn in the third quarter to score 17 points in the frame. The Magic trailed by as much as 36 points and got some stern public words from Frank Vogel about the team’s effort and preparation.

It was not a good look at all. And at least Orlando recovered to get a 109-103 win at Phoenix — building on that win further with an 112-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. No one is going to be incredibly impressed with back-to-back wins over those two teams. But considering it is the Magic’s first win streak since Dec. 26, it has some merit.

Overall, the Magic’s West Coast trip was revealing. It showed the team still has a lot of work to do to build that culture the team wants to build. It showed the Magic still have to figure out how to play together and play with consistency night in and night out.

The West Coast trip revealed some of the Magic’s character. But the team is still far away from where it wants to one day be.