Orlando Magic show foundation to build upon in first game

No one knew what the Orlando Magic might look like when they played for the first time. In their first preseason game, they showed their foundations.

The Orlando Magic have one game under their belt. The mystery surrounding this team is beginning to get revealed.

Not too much though. This is just one game — one preseason game.

Nothing super illuminating would get revealed in the Magic’s preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. As Frank Vogel even admitted after the game — and he has throughout the preseason — this will be a work in progress a continuing and evolving experiment.

The Magic’s opening game was not meant to be pretty. It was not meant to be a true reflection of what the team will be.

It was meant to provide some hints and some clue of what they will one day be. But those moments would still be more illusory or subtle than anything else. This is the first preseason game.

What the Magic were looking for from this first game was ambiguous in some ways. They did not need to win their preseason opener. The Magic did not need to have gaudy scoring numbers or prevent high turnovers. They just needed to get out and play to reinforce their principles and the foundation practice laid.

And if that is the standard for judging success in the Magic’s preseason opener, then it is hard to say the Magic did not accomplish this goal.

poured in points on largely open shots for 18 points in 23 minutes, making 3-pointers at a high clip.

struggled from the floor, but still kept the ball moving with five assists. His ability to pass from the high post is what can make a lineup with him and

work in limited circumstances.

Nikola Vucevic

even hit a three.

The defense had its moments too. Not long enough to feel super confident — but then again nothing did, it was the first preseason game.

What the Magic needed to accomplish in this first game was much more intangible. It was a buy in to the philosophies Vogel is teaching. That was far more important. The team can clean up and sharpen the details and the edges in the next three weeks before the regular season begins.

The interaction on the bench between player and coach was as important as anything. It was clear something connected with the players, as Bismack Biyombo told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel after the game:

"“It’s really calm, more than you think a coach is,” Biyombo said. “So that’s a good thing. He doesn’t overreact to the little things, and he helps the players play the game. He lets you play your game, do you what you do. That’s what I like about him.”"

The Magic may restrict that freedom as they fit into the principles and rules for the team. But a fast-breaking offense also allows for plenty of freedom. As the Magic get used to it more, those turnovers — 23 of them in Monday’s game — will surely decrease. And Vogel admitted high turnovers is a byproduct of the kind of offense the Magic are running.

For now, the team is more about finding comfort with the system, with the coaches and with each other.

On those three fronts, the Magic succeeded in their first game.

Now the trick is getting it to carry over into the next game as the Magic adjust and correct things in Tuesday’s practice. The trick becomes evolving and building on that foundation.

That is what preseason games are ultimately for. The results — the Magic will likely never finish a game with Nick Johnson, Branden Dawson and Arinze Onuaku on the floor (sorry, guys) — are not so important. Not at this stage. They just need to ramp up slowly to a good place when the games start counting.

The Magic are making progress quite clearly. But there is no benchmark for where they need to be. It is a continually evolving process. The only expectation is for the Magic to get better the next game.

In Wednesday’s game, Vogel surely hopes the Magic tighten some things up defensively and keep up the ball movement and willingness to run. These are the core tenets to the Magic’s style and philosophy at the moment. The two things they have probably worked on more than anything in the first week.

Next: Orlando Magic Grades: Memphis Grizzlies 102, Orlando Magic 97

For the first game of the preseason, the Magic showed an intention to commit to these principles. That makes the first game a success and something to build upon.