Orlando Magic Daily
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Five promising statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 13: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 13, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Starting Lineup Net Rating: +1.4

The Orlando Magic were telling anyone who would listen to them at the end of the season they felt like they had something toward the end of last season. They believed the franchise had found a style that fits their roster better and could at least feel the team was playing better.

Aesthetically, the Magic’s decision to move Aaron Gordon to power forward and run a fast-paced offense was a long time coming. The Magic seemingly went out of their way to make Aaron Gordon a small forward last year and keep him on the perimeter. It did not work for anyone.

And so the team, grabbing onto anything positive it could find, found something worth at least maintaining or exploring in the early part of the season after the All-Star Break.

If the Magic can believe in its results at the end of the season, then it might indeed have something to build from.

That is because the Magic’s starting lineup to end last season was actually fairly successful.

In 410 minutes after the All-Star Break, the Magic’s lineup of Elfrid Payton, Terrence Ross, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic posted a net rating of +1.4 points per 100 possessions. The lineup posted a 112.0 offensive rating (basic math should tell you they gave up 110.6 points per 100 possessions, ignore that mark for now).

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That positive net rating suggests statistically the team should have been about .500. In fact, according to HoopsStats, the Magic had the 10th best starting lineup in the league after the All-Star Break.

That would all suggest there is something there. As I noted yesterday in stats of concern, the Magic’s bench was that abysmally bad.

But the strong play from the starting lineup after the All-Star Break suggests the team has something to build from. Orlando’s starting lineup were not world beaters by any means. But they were good enough to be a .500 team. And .500 at least gets the team in the Playoff conversation.

That is if they can carry it over.

Certainly, the team will have to improve its defense. That is something the Magic have to believe they can fix through a true training camp. There just is not the time to implement a new defense in the course of a season. Orlando could see improvement there just from familiarity and practice.

If that offense can be maintained, Orlando might have something. It is at least a sign of optimism for the team.