Five concerning statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers

ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 20: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on March 20, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic are entering the 2018 season with some cautious optimism. There are still some major questions and some statistics of concern from 2017.

The Orlando Magic will open training camp next week and start the season with a clean slate. It is one the team has needed fairly desperately. Anything to put last year’s 29-win season behind them.

Of course, the team cannot put that season completely behind it. That season will hover over the team a bit longer until they prove it wrong and put it completely to rest. That is a part of their legacy and a part of the work they have to bury to move on.

The franchise is spending the season evaluating itself and finding a new way forward with new management. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has not quite placed his imprint on the Magic’s roster. He worked mostly on the margins improving the team’s bench and depth, setting the team up perhaps for future moves.

Stability was something the Magic lacked in recent years as the rebuild went south and so the Magic maintained a bit of the same.

As an organization, Orlando is hoping that stability means the team takes a step forward. The team hopes so. It has been a franchise-long five years since their last Playoff berth and there is a fair amount of restlessness among the fan base. At the very least, the Magic need to show they are taking some step forward.

There is at least a fair amount of cautious optimism in the Magic community. The team finished the season well after the All-Star Break. They looked like a better team.

And the Eastern Conference got worse. It seems like there is a Playoff spot there for the taking — or at least the opportunity to play meaningful games later into the season. That would be growth, right?

Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Ask the national media though, and the Magic probably still do not make much of a blip. After all, enough people jumped on the Frank Vogel/Serge Ibaka bandwagon to put their faith in them last year despite the obvious offensive deficiencies. They all got burned. Most of all Vogel.

The Magic did not make any major changes to their starting lineup. By most estimations, they do not even have a top-75 player in the league. This is a team that still has a long road ahead of it to make the progress it needs.

If there is a bit of pessimism for the 2018 season, it is warranted. This team has to prove itself under fire.

Those pessimists have plenty of information armed with them to doubt the 2018 Magic. And no one can ignore them because things really could go wrong.

If the Magic are going to overcome the expectations, they will have to answer these concerning statistics.