The Orlando Magic’s continuity seemed to pay quick dividends. The team’s starting lineup did not miss much of a beat in the preseason opener.
It is hard to draw too many conclusions from the first preseason game. There are far too many turnovers, fouls, missed shots, heavy legs and all the other things that go with playing that first actually competitive game. It is always a mess to watch. These teams are far from finished products. They have a long way to go.
Besides, teams will rest players, veterans will pace themselves and certain schemes will remain hidden until the regular season begins. Everything in these first games should get taken with a grain of salt. And the first preseason game is far from the time to draw conclusions. Even in the shortened preseason, there is still a lot of time before the season begins.
Yet, it is undeniable how fluid the Orlando Magic’s starting lineup looked to start the game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Maybe the full details and maybe everything else was not fine-tuned. The Magic should not be out there playing games that count quite yet. But that second instinct teams that have played together have was present.
There was a natural and willing pass to the next man. Or there was the trust to hand a player off to Nikola Vucevic on defense. Or the confidence the ball would work its way to the open man. The trust in transition to fill lanes and suck the defense in to create open space.
No, the Magic were not perfect in a 92-84 loss to the Grizzlies on Monday at FedExForum. Far from it.
The Magic had their moments of playing sloppy, shooting 36.4 percent from the floor for the game. The team fell behind in the second quarter and struggled to get back, although the Grizzlies never blew the game open. Orlando kept things tight despite inconsistent play from their revamped bench.
There is still a long way to go.
Orlando Magic
But the familiarity the team has with each other, with their coaches and with the gameplan certainly seemed to pay some dividends through one game.
The Magic’s starting unit of Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic posted a +2 for the game. The unit posted 25 points in 28 possessions in a little more than 13 minutes. Those are hardly impressive numbers. It was the first preseason game, after all.
But diving beyond those numbers, there were the signs of a team that was all on the same page. The Magic got open looks and made the extra pass. The trust between the group was evident. Even defensively, they looked a bit better. Vucevic recorded his share of blocks and was a solid deterrent in the paint. Aaron Gordon too had his share of defensive plays.
"“I thought that group looked comfortable with each other and really worked on playing up tempo,” coach Frank Vogel told the media in Memphis following the game (h/t Orlando Magic Radio). “I thought they were pretty tight together on the defensive end. We got out and ran. that group has good chemistry and they showed it tonight. There were some really good ball movement segments that I was excited about.”"
There were, of course, some horrific preseason stat lines.
Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon led the group with eight points each. Elfrid Payton had three points, five rebounds and four assists. Terrence Ross was the only starter who truly struggled, hitting just 2 of his 10 shots. Most of those shots were open or at least a decent shot to take. The team has to feel confident he will make a few more of those in the long run.
It is hard to draw too many conclusions after one game. But the Magic could say the team picked up a bit where they left off. The Magic indeed looked connected and a step ahead.
They were probably a little heavy-legged from a long training camp. The Grizzlies broadcast noted Vogel said he worked the team hard in camp. It is no surprise they were a bit slow and unable to hit shots at a solid rate. That is preseason.
And Vogel noted the team took some bad shots. That would include the starters. Orlando will have to get their rhythm and trust each other even more.
All of this is expected at this point of the year.
Still, that togetherness and that familiarity paid some dividends. Vogel said in recapping camp that their togetherness was noticeable throughout camp. It gave that lineup a leg up on everyone else. It became a unit the team could turn to.
Jonathon Simmons almost certainly will knock on the door to get into the starting lineup. He was impressive throughout his time on the floor in the first game. Simmons certainly will get his chance to play with the starters at some point this preseason.
There is still a lot to sort out for the Magic. And the team still has to gain its rhythm.
But the starting lineup — at least the one that finished last year — showed why familiarity with each other and the coach can pay dividends. The team looked like it was a bit beyond the first preseason game in preparedness.
Next: Grades: Memphis Grizzlies 92, Orlando Magic 84
And that leg up is important for this Magic team. It is something to grow from.