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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Meeting first quarter expectations

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) react after a basket during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) react after a basket during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jeff Green, Orlando Magic, Marcus Morris, Detroit Pistons
Dec 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jeff Green (34) moves to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Have the Orlando Magic met your expectations for the first quarter of the season? Are they on track to meet them?

David Iwanowski (@davidiwan1): To be frank, they have not met my expectations at all. The team has not had a gauntlet of a schedule at all and has looked lost at times. The team is on pace for about their over/under prediction for wins, but that would not be enough to make the playoffs in a season where that was the clear goal. If they do not turn it around, I am not sure where the team goes from here.

Muhammed Jumani (@MuMuJumani): In my opinion, yes they have. They have met my expectations, not exceeded them, however. They had a completely new roster, bringing in nine players and a new head coach. They are lucky to be 9-12. Before the season began, I thought it would take the Magic about 25-30 games to get to know Frank Vogel’s system well enough to gut out some wins. The first 5-7 games were a disaster. Magic were in the lower part of the league in defense. It is a good sign they are figuring it out.

Zach Palmer (@FmrTankCommandr): From a record standpoint they are pretty close to what I expected before the season. But from a results-on-the-court perspective, they have absolutely underwhelmed me. You knew it was going to be tough to incorporate this many new players so I expected a slow start but the offense had been on pace to be one of the worst offenses in NBA history. Just about every single player on the team was shooting a career low and the offense itself was stagnant and cramped. The exact opposite of how winning teams player in the current NBA climate.

Philip Rossman-Reich (@omagicdaily): Yes and no. I figured the Orlando Magic would have some struggles at the beginning coming together. The team would need to build an identity — something that had not happened in four years with virtually the same roster, let alone with more than half the roster turning over. But things have come together slowly. Frank Vogel has established a defensive identity. The team is on track for that top-10 defense everyone felt the team needed. But that was also under the assumption the team would be at least near the league average offensively. Being one of the worst offenses in the league? I knew this team would be bad there, but not this bad. And that part has to change dramatically.