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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Way too early impressions

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Oct 28, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons forward Aron Baynes (12) and forward Stanley Johnson (7) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons forward Aron Baynes (12) and forward Stanley Johnson (7) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Serge ibaka, Orlando Magic, Frank Vogel
Oct 26, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel talks with forward Serge Ibaka (7) against the Miami Heat during the second half at Amway Center. Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 108-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

What is the biggest concern from the first week of the Orlando Magic season?

Vincent McMillan (@vmvincemj): The biggest concern I have are the points given up in the paint. Right now Orlando is ranked 29th in the league giving up 55.3 points per game in the paint. The only team with a worse ranking is the Los Angeles Lakers with 57.3 points given up. The interior defense was supposed to be the anchor of this defense and the team as a whole. At least that is what I thought. Bringing in two of the best rim protectors in the league that also have the ability to switch assignments on the perimeter, the Magic should be better than this.

Zach Palmer (@FmrTankCommandr): My biggest concern for the Magic right now is that I do not see consistently good effort from most of the players. Listen, I expected the Magic to struggle out of the gate, but these three games have taken it a bit further than I imagined. Serge Ibaka looks lethargic. Evan Fournier is not competing well on defense. And nobody wants to track down a long rebound. I think the fact Mario Hezonja has played with the best energy out of anybody so far, but is still struggling sums up the kind of funk the Magic are in right now.

Alvaro Grullon (@AlGrullonNBA): Without a doubt the biggest concern through three games has been the interior defense. The defense overall has simply not been as good as advertised. This team was built to be a defensive team and to protect the rim, but so far the team has not done anything to stop penetration and easy scoring inside the paint. While the defense did look a bit better in the second half of Saturday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, I cannot give them a pass based on how poor their overall defensive performance has been early on in the season.

Philip Rossman-Reich (@omagicdaily): The biggest concern is the defense. This was supposed to be the team’s bedrock and its identity. Instead it is causing a lot more problems than it is solving. And it is not merely a matter of carryover culture. Serge Ibaka looks a step slow (perhaps lingering effects of his knee injury) the rotation seems completely out of whack. A lot of players just look in the wrong spot — both positionally and schematically. It should get better. But the flashes of strong defense need to get better. And Ibaka needs to become the anchor the Magic invested for.