Orlando Magic still need time to come together

The Orlando Magic showed signs of life in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Regardless of poor outings so far, the Magic need time to gel.

Throughout the past month of Orlando Magic basketball, there have been moments. Really nothing more or nothing less than a fleeting glimpse of what this team could be.

They have not lasted long and left everyone wondering when they would become permanent while providing hope of what this team could be.

The preseason ended with a split effort — an abysmal effort on both ends in the first half followed by a dominant effort in the second half to score an overtime win. Who this team would be entering the regular season remained uncertain.

All anyone knew was Frank Vogel was preaching patience. It would still take time for the team to come together — even as the games counted. But they would come together. Until then, the team would do its best to win, improving at each step until they became whatever final product they became.

The first two games did not provide much optimism. There were few moments. But the team seemed still far apart.

The Magic had not come together yet. But they showed signs the process and the wheels are churning. Things may improve. It will just take time.

And this team needs more time.

The first half of Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers provided few moments too. This looked like a team a step slow and not on the same page. They were forcing their offense, not knowing where to to turn. The defense too was twisted to the snapping point. They dug in too much into the paint or over-rotated to stop penetration, giving up a cross-court pass from LeBron James or a driving lane from a poor closeout.

This is not the way the Magic want to play. The moments in these first two and a half games were not anywhere near consistent or strong. The Magic did not flash much of what they could be.

Something changed though. Orlando slowly cut into a 22-point deficit. The Magic played their second strong half of the season (the first half against Miami Heat being the other). Orlando cut the lead to three before ultimately falling 105-99 at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.

They finally had something to build on.

In the second half, the Magic outscored the Cavaliers 54-43. They held the Cavaliers to 89.7 points per 100 possessions. Cleveland shot a 34.6 percent effective field goal percentage.

Related Story: Grades: Cleveland Cavaliers 105, Orlando Magic 99

This is the way the Magic wanted to play. Strong defense. Transition offense. Gritty, physical play and results at the end.

D.J. Augustin was wedging his way into the paint to score. Bismack Biyombo was setting devastating screens and blocking shots. The Magic were rotating and scrambling, closing out, rotating and getting back. The strong play seemed contagious. The defense fed the offense.

It bears repeating: The play in the halfcourt offense may still be ugly — the Magic scored fewer than a point per possession even in the second half during the comeback — but the defense can keep them in games. And make up the deficit. This was the energy the Magic want to play with.

This is who they want to be.

Vogel repeated after the game, he believes the team has the offensive firepower and defensive personnel to be successful. Saturday’s second half at least gave some evidence of that.

Even in the first half, the Magic got beat by some incredible plays but seemed to be playing their best defensive game of the season to that point. Turnovers undid the team for the most part on offense as the far superior Cavaliers were able to pick the Magic apart on every mistake.

Orlando simply is not on the same page. They are still learning where each other are supposed to be. They are still learning, as Vogel terms it, to “trust the pass” and, most importantly to trust each other.

Magic fans are certainly hungry to win. Vogel has set the expectation level high. The team spent its entire preseason embracing these raised expectations. The stakes are high for this season.

The reality though is the team needed time to come together. It was not going to happen overnight. Or within the four weeks of preseason. Especially after the preseason injuries the Magic had.

The lack of chemistry or familiarity is not an excuse. Each and every one of these losses stings and hurts. It could be the reason the Magic miss the Playoffs in April. And taking a preseason mentality of being better today than the team was the last outing can only go on for so long.

The Magic expect more and need to do more to achieve their goals.

The first three games provided plenty of points for concern. Players like Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier were expected to do more. They are veterans who should be able to adjust more more quickly. And defense and defensive effort should never be a question.  Who knows where that ceiling actually is — the first three games have provided signs of how high it can be and the barriers to getting there.

Slowly though — maybe too slowly — the Magic will show more flashes of who they can be. There is no reason to believe they cannot get better.

This team was destined to get off to a bit of a slow start as they figured out how to play together. Without the superstar player to anchor and bail everything out, the process looks much messier.

As the Magic left Cleveland though, they showed signs of things beginning to come together.

That process has been extremely messy. Perhaps a galvanizing event or something to build confidence from will change things. Perhaps it does mean making a lineup change and balancing the rotation better.

Next: Should the Orlando Magic try to emulate Frank Vogel's Indiana Pacers

The only thing that is clear through three games? Orlando needs the time and patience to get there.