Orlando Magic end road trip on a high note, but still ‘far away’

The Orlando Magic ended their road trip on a high note with a victory over the Phoenix Suns. But their trip proved they are still far away.

Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel spoke to the media in Sacramento on Monday afternoon as the team prepared to begin a three-game road trip. The season had long been lost — if not mathematically, then certainly realistically and in some ways emotionally — but Vogel was here to fight.

Vogel was here to build for the long haul. And, even with the prospect of landing a top pick in a loaded NBA Draft, value for him was in building the habits it would take to win down the road. A high draft pick would not mean much if he comes into a team and a group that has grown numb to the losing — not apathetic, players care, but just unable to do the things they need to win. It is a self-defeating cycle.

Vogel’s task the rest of this season is to do as much as he can to slow that cycle and lay the seeds for the 2018 season in some way.

The Magic’s loss on Monday to the Sacramento Kings was not encouraging.

The Kings were energetic and first to every loose ball. they pushed to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Orlando seemed to be sleepwalking a bit, turning the ball over often and losing 3-point shooters. Vogel chided his team’s effort and attention to detail after the game, a 120-115 defeat where the Kings made big shots to hold off a late Magic rally.

Orlando would have two practices to get their sea legs and get back on track. The team did not have to defeat the Golden State Warriors, but they had to play with an effort becoming of this team’s vision. They could not lay the egg they did in Sacramento.

They did. It was ugly. The Warriors ran through the Magic for a 30-point win.

A clearly frustrated Vogel met the media afterward and was not happy with his team.

In as many words, he said the effort was not good enough. And this was the kind of game the team is trying to absolutely avoid at all costs the rest of the way. There was nothing to celebrate here. This kind of effort was unacceptable.

The first two games of this road trip — a three-game road trip the Magic should have felt good about winning two games — showed a lot of problems. A team that is trying to find motivation for something to play for could not muster up the energy to do so.

It was the exact kind of mentality Vogel is trying to change. And, clearly by looking at the results, the Magic have a long way to go, as he told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

It has felt like the Magic are as far away as they have ever been. Things have seemingly not looked so bleak. And at least, in the Magic’s estimation, it remains a positive to win.

That adds to the disappointment of the Magic’s road trip. Losing can be acceptable if a team puts in a full effort. Clearly, this team does not have the most talent in the world. But that is the basis for any type of winning culture, having at least a consistent effort base to build from. It is clear from Vogel’s comments throughout the trip, the team has not always had this.

It is why Friday’s 109-103 win over the Phoenix Suns provided some solace.

The team did not win completely cleanly. The Magic lost a big lead in the first quarter, but the strong start carried through the game. Nikola Vucevic, playing on a sprained ankle, pulled down 17 rebounds. The team rebounded the way it needed.

Vogel noted the way the team started and responded to the loss. He lauded the team’s activity on defense with 17 deflections in the first quarter alone. This is the kind of activity his team needs to have success.

So too is the running game, which was in full force Friday. Aaron Gordon finished two emphatic jams late to help the Magic seal the victory. Evan Fournier finished the rest late to secure the win.

It is these energy plays Orlando needs at all times to compete. And competing is half the battle for the Magic.

Regardless of the result of this final game, it was a sign of what Orlando needs the rest of the season. Clearly with the Magic’s record, they are not going to win very many games. The standard for the team is probably no longer wins and losses. It is how long and how thoroughly they can sustain good stretches and efforts.

It is moral victory time — even if the actual players and coaches do not want to hear it.

What the road trip showed is there is still a long way to go to build the culture the Magic want. It starts with the consistent effort and attention to detail. Mistakes are OK if they are well intentioned — and if they get corrected the next time.

And when the Magic get the chance to win, that is not a bad thing. They need to win. That is the only way they can learn and grow this culture from a sapling.

Next: Grades: Orlando Magic 109, Phoenix Suns 103

Orlando still has a long way to go. But, as has been the case for the weeks, the Magic need to start now.