The 2015 Orlando Magic: Final Evaluation
Historical Perspective
At the end of each season, I try to take stock of where each season fits int he larger pantheon of Magic history. This is what Magic nerds do. And the perception of a season changes over time. I still wrestle with the “Big 4” Magic teams over which one is the best — I was at 1995 last year, but could easily make arguments for 2009 or 2010 or 1996.
This 2015 season was not among the best. It was not in the middle.
The levels of disappointment may not have been as high as when the Magic’s championship window closed shut tight in 2011 or 2012, but the disappointment was palpable. This Magic team did not perform to expectations and did not achieve its goals.
In the grand scheme of things, the 2015 season was a lost one. And that is why, for now, it should be considered among the worst of Magic seasons.
The team itself improved over last year’s 23-win record, but not by much. Despite improving in wins, both the Magic’s offense and defense were slightly worse than last year.
How do we explain that? How could the team get worse and possibly still show some improvement? The answer might be the teams at the bottom were that much worse.
In comparing this group to the worst teams in Magic history, it is hard to say where we should put this team in Magic history. Those early Magic teams were all about offense with slashers like Nick Anderson and Otis Smith receiving feeds from Scott Skiles. And those early teams also had the expansion tag tied to it.
We can all more or less agree the worst and most disappointing season in franchise history was 2004, Tracy McGrady‘s last in a Magic uniform.
The most comparable season to this in Magic history is probably the 1992 season.
At that point, the Magic were beginning to transition away from the expansion franchise. Nick Anderson took control as the best player on the team with Dennis Scott and Scott Skiles comprising a small core. But that team had no chance at winning. It was still building toward something and hoping to find it ways.
That is very similar to where this Magic team is. They had a lot of nice, young pieces and really an unclear direction. They seemed to be looking for that player to push them over the top. Just like this year’s team.
Of course, they won the Lottery and got Shaquille O’Neal the next season.
To say the least, fans are in the same position right now. The Magic are looking for someone to take them to that next level.
As for the season we just witnessed, it certainly felt as a disappointing as a bottom-five season in the team’s 26-year history. The team probably could beat the expansion team or some of those early teams, but not easily and not every time either.
For now, place this team in the bottom five of all-time Magic teams, a disappointing place to be.
Next: Final Grade