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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 27: A new future for the Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 22: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes for a lay up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 22, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 22: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes for a lay up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 22, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 22: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes for a lay up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 22, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic’s hot start raised some new questions for the team and expectations. A losing streak only amplifies the noise as we open the OMD Mailbag.

The NBA season starts to get its rhythm about a month into the year. Things begin to feel routine. Teams settle into their identities.

There are still those typical ups and downs. Teams still have to navigate difficult stretches to the schedule. Things can turn very quickly. Memories of the 2016 season still linger with many members of this team. And those ghosts still haunt them when things get tight.

Even with all that, the start of the Orlando Magic’s season has been a memorable one. Even through injuries and the inevitable fall to earth, Orlando is staying around .500 and playing at such a high level overall. Fans would have been thrilled with 8-10 at the start of the year. Maybe just not how they got there.

In many people’s wildest dreams, the Magic would struggle a bit and find their groove to make a run at the Playoffs. No one saw them as taking the lead in the Playoff race or holding onto that position. The Magic have not been .500 this late into the season since that fateful 2016 season.

But this team feels different. The chemistry feels stronger. The commitment and buy-in feels different.

The Magic offense is functioning for the first time since . . . 2010 (the Magic were 14th in offensive rating in 2011). The Magic have not ranked outside of the bottom 10 in offensive rating since Dwight Howard left. Even that 2016 team — it finished 21st in offensive rating and 17th in defensive rating — never quite hit these heights.

There is a lot of time to go. The specter of that season will hover over the team. And Magic fans are certainly still a bit gunshy after five years of losing to believe in anything fully. It still feels like the bottom could drop out on this team.

Orlando has its flaws. But things in this early phase of the season have been very good for the team. The Magic have raised expectations for themselves this year. They are not the team that is going to struggle to stay in the Playoff race or struggle through the season with modest improvements.

What the Magic have done this early season is reinstitute some belief. Orlando has played well. And done so in a sustainable way. Even as they come back to earth.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Players like Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic have made dramatic improvements to their game. D.J. Augustin returned to his mean throughout his long career and has flourished in this team’s system. Jonathan Isaac has looked promising as a rookie in his limited minutes. Jonathon Simmons has been a stud off the bench.

And this team is still getting healthy, having played few games at full strength.

Still, there is a lot of season left. Everything comes with that caveat. Everything can change. Orlando has hit a rough patch this season. There is still a lot of time go to.

And plenty of questions.

For the last week, I solicited your questions for the Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag. Here, I answer the questions — both big and small — about the Magic in both the short and long term.