Orlando Magic’s players hold ultimate responsibility for team’s struggles, not Frank Vogel
During a long losing streak, it is easy to point fingers at the coach. But Frank Vogel should remain free of blame. This season is all on the players.
Losing streaks rightfully bring questions. Long losing streaks rightfully lead to some assigning of blame. And, in many cases, real change. Not simply a lineup change or some kind of tinkering, but leadership change.
The NBA is a results-oriented business. Every game has a winner and a loser. There is nothing more definitive than that. And pile up enough losses — as the Orlando Magic have in the last five years — change is inevitable. It is almost required.
Change is already sweeping through the NBA.
Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies surprisingly fired popular coach David Fizdale. The Grizzlies, dealing with a mountain of injuries, have lost eight in a row after a 7-4 start. Things got hairier Sunday when the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Brooklyn Nets and star Marc Gasol sat for the entire fourth quarter. By all reports, the sudden dismissal came because Gasol and Fizdale could no longer get along.
The changes in Memphis may not be done. But for now, the Grizzlies are hoping this puts out the fire and gets them back on track.
Like the Magic, the Grizzlies have seen this losing streak knock them out of the Playoff picture. Memphis is 7-13 and 2.5 games out of the Playoffs. Unlike the Magic, the Grizzlies are still trying to make the Playoffs as a primary goal. A rebuild is not the first path.
Other teams that went on long losing streaks have also faced questions about their leadership.
The LA Clippers lost nine in a row, raising questions about Doc Rivers‘ future with the team. Those kind of questions were natural considering all the change that has occurred with that team and the fact Rivers’ tenure has sort of run its course with little success.
Injuries to Patrick Beverley and Milos Teodosic gutted the team’s point guard depth. The Clippers have won their last three games since ending that losing streak. Although now it looks like Blake Griffin is out for some time with a knee injury.
Like with those teams, losing streaks naturally bring up questions. Coaches have to face those questions.
Magic coach Frank Vogel is no exception.
Orlando just snapped a nine-game losing streak, having fallen from one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference to one of the absolute worst. For the second straight year, the defense has collapsed from one of the best int he league (at least statistically) to one of the very worst. This is a story that is similar to last year.
It is natural to point some blame at the coach. And Vogel certainly deserves some blame.
As he was last year, he has been slow to change his rotation and slow to adjust when things go wrong. He has relied heavily on veterans he has put trust in — even when it at least feels like they have not earned that trust.
He preaches sticking with each other and continuing to band together. Even in the face of a rotation or a mix that has ceased to work. Even in the face of a team that is struggling to do even the simplest things. And the team has struggled to respond. That is at least somewhat a reflection on him.
But there are some extenuating circumstances.
Maybe part of the problem is this losing streak has coincided with a difficult eight road games in 10 games stretch. The Magic have had little time to practice or get settled. Maybe a week at home — Orlando does not travel out of town again until Saturday — with some practices will settle the team’s effort back in. Maybe this is where the coaching staff can begin making its adjustments.
There is pressure to turn things around. If not completely then incrementally. At least to the point where the team is competitive every night and taking steps in the right direction. During the recent losing streak, there were moments where the Magic looked downright abysmal.
Some of that must fall on the coaching. But considering this team’s history, more of it should fall on the players. And that is where most blame for this season’s wild swings should reside.
Orlando has had five coaches in four years. Keeping Vogel was supposed to add some continuity of voice to a similar roster to last year’s 29-win team.
The reality is the Magic have had virtually the same roster now for four years. They have had several opportunities to figure things out. And this year was all about them.
New management is in place and has acquired very few of these players. Even longtime stalwarts have to feel a little unsettled on their futures with the team. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman came into the year saying he would spend the year evaluating what was on the roster. This year was less about wins and losses and more about developing a path for the future.
Vogel though should largely escape blame. Not at least to the point where his seat feels scalding hot. He should get a normal evaluation. But this year is all about the players.
There is only so much a coach can do to cover up a flawed roster. A coach cannot wring a box out or scheme for more effort. That stands on the players. And after last year’s embarrassment and the complete change of coaches for the last three years, that responsibility falls on the players.
Everyone senses the team’s unsteadiness and uncertainty. That happens whenever there is new management. And the Magic have accomplished so little that no player feels safe. Or no player should feel safe when it comes to the team’s long-term future. Everyone has to prove themselves.
Orlando Magic
The team, in keeping Vogel, was telling the players to buy in. They were given the advantage they had all seemingly asked for several years.
And ultimately it is the players’ responsibility to take the ball and run with it. That is the part that grew more frustrating during the losing streak. And the part the Magic finally broke through with Wednesday’s win.
There was not dramatic strategic change. To a man, everyone said the difference in Wednesday’s win was the effort. It was simply playing hard. Something no coach can control.
The reality is this roster and these players have not had the success or experience to receive the benefit of the doubt for not following a coach’s gameplan. They have run out of that rope.
The rest of this season is really on them. It does not absolve Vogel of his faults or mistakes. That will be part of Weltman’s evaluations too as the team moves on. But the primary focus is on the players themselves. Some coaching stability will help this team grow and set its direction. There seems no reason to change that constant. At least not right now.
Next: Toughness is Orlando Magic's salvation from losing streak
This season and its struggles falls squarely on the players. They are the variable that is next to change.