The Orlando Magic season ended in disappointment with 29 wins. The team did not meet expectations. But there were some bright spots in 82 games to highlight.
The Orlando Magic’s 82-game slog through the 2017 season full of disappointment and frustration.
The team set the bar high, acquiring veterans and investing a lot in free agents to get the team over the hump and into the Playoffs. The Magic believed they had a winning hand. Or at least an identity.
From the first day, the Magic never hid from Playoff expectations. Coach Frank Vogel walked to midcourt during an open practice before the season and asked the fans if they were ready for the Playoffs. The hope was very real for the Magic.
It came crashing down fairly quickly. Orlando gave up 70-plus points in the paint in the season opener against the Miami Heat. Even after a strong first quarter to the season on defense, the team collapsed. They never got themselves back to .500 after evening their record at 3-3 with a three-game win streak.
It was hard to find many positive signs for the team for the long term. There were momentary successes. Like every season, the Magic provided some fun moments in individual games. While the majority of the season was spent lamenting the team’s missed expectations, every once in a while the team would provide a highlight moment and some momentary joy.
It is an 82-game season, and a lot happens in the confines of the year.
Serge Ibaka made his return to Oklahoma City and hit a game-winner in his first game back. The Magic won the season series against the Heat outright for the first time since 2009. Elfrid Payton became a triple-double machine in the second half of the season. Aaron Gordon showed flashes of superstar brilliance with a couple of 30-point games against the LA Clippers.
The season was not all bleak. And there will be a few fond memories the Magic will take with them into the offseason and into the future.
Here are our top 10 games of the 2016-17 season.