Five concerning statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

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Bench Net Efficiency: -19.8

The Orlando Magic had one of the worst benches in the league last year. There is no other way to cut it. And it was a key to the Magic’s struggles throughout the season, and especially after the All-Star Break.

According to HoopsStats, the Magic had a -8.4 net efficiency rating off the bench overall last year. That was good for 27th in the league. But things got worse after the All-Star Break.

After the All-Star Beak, the Magic had a -19.8 net efficiency rating off the bench. That was the worst mark in the league by more than six points per 100 possessions (the Cleveland Cavaliers were the second worst team).

It is easy to see why the team opted to focus on changing its bench this year. The second unit last year of D.J. Augustin, C.J. Watson, Mario Hezonja, Jeff Green and Bismack Biyombo just did not get the job done. And often Frank Vogel stuck to his 10-man rotation, instead of tightening the rotation to keep a starter in. The results were expected.

And all this came as the Magic’s starting lineup was thriving. According to HoopsStats, the Magic starters had the 10th best net efficiency after the All-Star Break.

That is quite a stark difference. And probably the reason the Magic struggled so much where it mattered after the All-Star Break. Orlando was constantly fighting out of a hole, and even a solid starting group could not overcome it.

So the hope for the Magic is remaking the bench will push the team to a higher level. Adding in Shelvin Mack, Jonathon Simmons, Arron Afflalo and Jonathan Isaac creates a lot more defense and length than the previous unit had. But it is an unproven group too.

Orlando’s whole season does not rest on its bench. As Cory Hutson of Orlando Pinstriped Post likes to put it, the team just has to have a halfway decent bench and the team should improve dramatically.

That is the hope at least. But the bench group is still unproven. The Magic will not know how good they are until they see them play.