Orlando Magic enter most difficult stretch of their season starting out West
The Orlando Magic are already halfway through their first West Coast trip. But the most difficult stretch of the schedule is just beginning.
The Orlando Magic knew they would need a reservoir of energy to get through this stretch. The road is always daunting — a challenge for every team in the NBA.
So here Orlando is, now at 8-5 through the first two games of this four-game road trip, trying to find the reserves to get through what might be their most difficult stretch in their schedule. Now, as they would say on Scooby-Doo, we find out who they really are.
That is always what the West Coast trip does. Usually the first major road trip of the year, it is the first time the team has to band together and find a way to win without the comforts of home or even the consistency of practice. There is no one to lean on but each other.
How each team responds to these hardships is always telling for the rest of the season.
This road trip, though, might be very different. It goes beyond the West Coast trip that continues Monday at Golden State and Wednesday at Portland.
Orlando might be entering the toughest stretch of its season — playing eight of 10 games on the road.
"“It’s maybe the toughest stretch of our season,” coach Frank Vogel said after the Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks at home on Wednesday. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us. But hopefully with Elfrid [Payton] coming back and us getting whole will put us at our best. We try to play .500 basketball on the road. We’re plus-1 right now. Hopefully, we come back from this trip plus-5.”"
That plus-5 dream is out the window thanks to Saturday’s defeat to the Denver Nuggets. The road for Orlando does not get any easier.
The Magic finish the West Coast swing against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers. They then come home for a quick two games at home — against the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers. Then, after just three days at home, the Magic head out for another four-game road trip — at Minnesota, Boston, Philadelphia and Indiana.
If that was not enough, the Orlando Magic’s next two home games are against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors.
To say the least, Orlando will know a lot about itself by the end of its stretch. This is their chance to prove themselves.
"“Very critical. We have a chance to prove ourselves right now and what kind of team we’re going to be,” Elfrid Payton said following the Magic’s win against the Knicks. “It’s still early. We could bounce back from it. I think guys are up to the challenge to prove the beginning of the season was not a fluke and we can play.”"
Orlando is already facing its first bit of adversity.
After playing well despite foul trouble in Friday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, Payton sat out Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. He is still experiencing discomfort in his hamstring. The Magic opted to hold him out of the back to back.
Considering three of the Magic’s five losses have come with both Elfrid Payton and D.J. Augustin out of the lineup, that is a major effect for this team. Shelvin Mack has struggled as the primary point guard for this team.
Orlando will soldier on. It is one more challenge to face on the road. Payton is available to play when he feels up to it and can clearly be effective.
The Magic know this series of games will play into their larger season too. Orlando sees the bigger picture. The team wants to be a .500 team on the road, believing it can protect the Amway Center enough to have a winning record.
After two games on this trip, the Magic are 4-3 on the road. That would accomplish that winning record goal. But this trip and this stretch will obviously set the Magic on their way. Orlando is 4-2 at home. And there are not many home games on the horizon. The Magic will have to navigate what they can away from home and keep their momentum going.
To win on the road, the Magic know they will need to find their own energy and pay attention defensively. That was certainly the lesson of these first two games.
Orlando needed some halftime adjustments to tighten up their defense and secure the win against Phoenix. Saturday, Orlando never had the energy defensively. The Nuggets drove directly through the paint and punished the Magic defense constantly.
These are the moments that will test the Magic most on the road. There is little time to adjust and only each other to rely on.
"“It’s going to be a good challenge,” Terrence Ross said after Wednesday’s win over the Knicks. “It’s part of growing. We need to meet challenges like this head on and all be on the same page. Adversity is going to occur. It’s all about how we push through it. That’s really what the season is about is adversity and how you play through it.”"
The next two weeks will provide a lot of challenge and a lot of adversity for the team. Things will not be easy for this team. They already have not been.
Orlando’s entire season is not going to get decided on this long road swing. The team has another long road trip in March that will have a lot to say in the Playoff race if Orlando lasts that long. But the direction of this team certainly can shift. The perception of this team will too.
Survive this road trip and the Magic (or at least their fans) can start discussing the Playoffs a little more seriously.
Next: Orlando Magic must keep their pace
The only thing that is for sure is that this will not be easy.