Orlando Magic Week 16 Takeaways: Confidence returns
By Philip Rossman-Reich
For the longest time, it felt like things could not get worse for the Orlando Magic. They were losing to anyone and the hope for just one win was driving the team forward. They had to find it.
They found it, but it still was not entirely strong. The Magic needed a bail-out shot from Nikola Vucevic to hold off the Atlanta Hawks. And while the next night the Magic came from behind for the win, there were still shaky moments before they blew the doors open in overtime.
The San Antonio Spurs, being as good as they are, still felt like a double-digit deficit was nothing and defeated the Magic on their home floor.
It is frustrating because the Magic are literally one play away from getting these wins. Literally one play away. The same could be said for countless other games this month.
The good news then is the Magic are in these games and giving themselves legitimate chances to win. There is very little to complain about until the final moments of the game.
And that is some form of progress out of the depths of the worst this team had to offer in January. The team is capable of winning again and beginning to play together with energy on defense again. That is a big step.
One that should not be necessary at this point of the season, but that is where we are at.
It feels the team has hit bottom and is climbing back out.
Next: Ups and downs