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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Holiday wish list

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 16, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) celebrates after they made a shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) celebrates after they made a shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
Dec 18, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks down after they called a foul against him against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Amway Center. Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 109-79. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

What do the Orlando Magic hope to see underneath the tree on Christmas morning?

David Iwanowski (@davidiwan1): The Orlando Magic should hope they will face some teams on back to backs with some DNP (rest) for their stars. The Magic are currently 13-17 with the fifth-worst net rating in the league, which is scary for a team going all in to try to make the playoffs. They have not been playing well and will have a tougher end to the schedule. Therefore, they can take all the help they can get with the hope of sneaking into the playoffs and losing four times on national TV. Teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies have been given gifts from schedule games against tough teams. The Magic can really use that. For a bit more of a stylistic gift, the Magic can hope Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson’s shooting skills get taken Monstar style and brought to the Amway Center. The Magic are 28th in true shooting percentage and 24th in 3-point percentage, which is alarming in an era so dependent on shooting ability.

Muhammed Jumani (@MuMuJumani): The Magic should hope their defense picks up very soon. They had a lot of success in the 11 games earlier this season in which their defense ranked No. 1 in the league. The past couple of weeks, there has been some slippage on that end of the floor which has resulted in the Magic placing dead last in the league in defensive rankings. As a result, the Magic have struggled mightily. The Magic are not a team that relies on their offense and expects to outscore opponents through offensive firepower, such as the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets, so they must ensure they control the defensive end of the floor that they are capable of.

Alvaro Grullon (@AlGrullonNBA): The Magic would love to find a player who can step up and help the team close out close games in the fourth quarter under the tree on Christmas morning. The Magic, for the most part, have played competitive basketball throughout the season. But one trend that has become obvious is the team’s inability to close out games. This is a direct result of the team not having a player that can take over the offense in the last few minutes and get to the free throw line or make a basket when it matters most. Frank Vogel and the Magic would love to have one of their own players step up and assume this role effectively or perhaps go out on the trade market and acquire a player that can get this task done.

Philip Rossman-Reich (@omagicdaily): The Magic would like to see some defense underneath their tree. That was what Frank Vogel-Claus was supposed to bring to the team when the team hired him this summer. They hoped the team would form a defensive identity. For about 10 games, the Magic seemed well on their way to doing so. They had the best defense in the league for a few weeks. That seems to be the mirage with how bad the Magic’s defense has been since. It feels like a giant lump of coal. It would be a nice gift to get that defense back. Because with an elite defense, all the Magic really needed was a competent offense.