By Alex Horvath
The team is missing Elfrid Payton, badly.
The only true point guard available for the Magic currently is Shabazz Napier, and that is not someone you want to rely on to play big minutes.
C.J. Watson is still nowhere to be found (still harboring a sore calf). Aaron Gordon is creeping up on that starting spot, considering the Magic’s pick and roll defense is atrocious, Frye and Vucevic are much too slow, and Gordon would help fix that easily.
What do John Wall, LeBron James and Kris Humphries have in common? They are all Magic killers. Wall and James understandable, but Humphries? Come on.
At least Orlando can beat the teams it is supposed to beat, such as Brooklyn. Still struggling against teams in the hunt, going a whopping 1-5 ever since the New Year.
Tobias Harris is in slump, shooting 10 for 36 the past three games. Oladipo seems to be himself again, albeit not in the role you would primarily want him in. Hezonja is still going through usual rookie struggles. Showing some flashes of brilliance one possession, then looking completely lost the next.
The team has a rough stretch coming up, so it is important for its sake, and Scott Skiles’ tempers’ sake, that Orlando wins the upcoming game in London. Win first, sightsee later.
Next: Back to the mean