Orlando Magic get running as training camp begins

The Orlando Magic started training camp with the usual learning and philosophy building. Frank Vogel though helped set the tone for what is expected.

Frank Vogel was extolling to his team they would have to sprint and play harder than every other team in the floor. That did not mean just diving on the floor for loose balls, but getting up and down the floor faster and executing their offense better than their opponents. Every game. Every day.

That led him to his final drill on this first day of practice. The players would pass the ball to a coach at the elbow, receive the ball and immediately pass it to another coach on the elbow at the other side of the court. They would sprint to keep up, receive the ball back and finish with a left-handed layup.

The team would have two minutes to make 82 of these layups as a unit.

When they failed, Vogel reiterated his team would have to find another gear. There is always another gear. They could not relent or take plays off.

He gave them a second chance, to make 41 layups in one minute this time. This is when the team got animated. They were not going to fail again.

Bismack Biyombo was pushing his teammates, cheering them on and offering encouragement as he stepped up for his turn in line. Other players too were shouting and cheering, encouraging them on.

The Magic accomplished their goal — 44 layups in one minute. But there is still plenty of work to do.

“When you got a coach like him and the way he did, that is why the second time we did great,” Serge Ibaka said. “It’s almost like he pushed us. That’s what we need. Not every time is going to be perfect. We need somebody like him who is going to push us and stay focused.”

Vogel was largely described as a generally positive-minded coach. Even someone who would insert a well-placed joke to lighten the mood. That is part of Vogel’s personality and what helps him connect so well to his team.

The moment where the team failed its initial goal, Vogel held them accountable to it and set the standard and tone for the rest of camp.

It will not be the last time the Orlando Magic see that drill in all likelihood. Evan Fournier said the Magic plan to get that 82 mark when given a second chance. That would come at a later time. Everyone though seemed to take that failure in more than stride.

That is, of course, what the first day of camp is all about. Setting a tone for how the team wants to play and what its philosophy will be.

“The first day was great,” Biyombo said. “I still got a lot of legs in me. I think overall it was competitive, a lot of teaching, we run a little bit at the end. We all have to get some cardio, but I think that’s part of training camp. It’s great to see all the guys get together and try to figure things out. I’m hoping for better days and later today.”

The Magic did not get out unscathed. Vogel said Elfrid Payton strained his left hip flexor and had to miss the last part of practice. His status for future practices is unknown.

It was also a typical first day in a lot of ways. The play was sloppy with lots of turnovers and tiredness, Vogel said. He spent a lot of time teaching mainly the team’s defensive sets and rotations.

Vogel said the Magic will be doing some things defensively he has never tried before. He will adapt his scheme to his team.

The defense will be a work in progress throughout the season. Fournier though said a lot of the drills focused on defense, running and conditioning. Those are the pillars for the Magic.

Offensively, the Magic are focused on playing fast and picking up the pace. It was evident in that final conditioning drill and evident throughout the practice according to players.

Orlando is not going to slow the game down just because they have bigs. Vogel is committed to speeding the pace up, as he said throughout the offseason.

“Whatever speed level you have on your team, I believe in maximizing your speed,” Vogel said. “I believe in attacking early in the clock and getting out and running the floor. We have some fast guys, we have some athletic guys who are going to be more effective than other. We’re going to be running for sure.”

The Magic still have a long way to go. The team is still building its chemistry.

Vogel said the team has to be perfect to succeed in that drill. It is going to take an all-out effort. That is the foundation he tried to lay with his first practice as he got the Magic off an running. The rewards are still pretty out there.

“I think everyone here sees what we can be,” Vogel said. “I think there is a healthy belief that it’s going to be a fun year for us.”

Next: Orlando Magic Position-By-Position Outlook

The Magic are off and running now.