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Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live: Fixing the Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 13: Marreese Speights #5 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against C.J. Williams #9 of the LA Clippers on December 13, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 13: Marreese Speights #5 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against C.J. Williams #9 of the LA Clippers on December 13, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The losses keep piling up for the Orlando Magic and there seems to be no end in sight. How to fix the Magic goes beyond injuries.

The Orlando Magic are down in the worst way right now.

The team’s hot start has faded into the background and fans are already starting to turn their eyes to the Draft. That is the reality after five years of losing and a team that has lost 16 of their last 19 games after the defeat to the Detroit Pistons.

Injuries are certainly at the heart of the team’s issues. The losing streak started when the Magic lost D.J. Augustin to a hamstring injury with Elfrid Payton already out with an injury. That began the slow descent.

Just as Orlando was seemingly getting itself steady again with a full complement after a week at .500, Jonathan Isaac went down with an injury. Then Terrence Ross got hurt. Then Evan Fournier. And then Aaron Gordon.

It just all seems to compound. Orlando was stretched thin and it would be tough for them to win with all these players missing time. The team’s margin of error was already small anyway.

No one is going to use it as an excuse though. And the Magic have had their chances to win games. They have played with a sometimes inconsistent effort. And, of late, it seems the Magic’s rotation decisions also deserve some examination. The team should at least be more competitive, it would seem.

There are obviously a lot of issues with the Magic. Even beyond the injuries. The team is still a poor rebounding team. The Magic still give up a lot of second-chance points. The offense is now going in the tank since the calendar turned to December. And the defense is relatively inconsistent — although about the only stable thing for the Magic in the last few weeks.

Orlando is at least giving itself a chance to win games lately if only it could score consistently.

How do the Magic get through these struggles? Can they hang in the Playoff race or are they destined to fade away early (again).

These are the questions I answered in this week’s Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live. I talked about what the Magic are doing wrong and where they need to improve. I also commented on coach Frank Vogel’s rotations and how they might be holding the Magic back:

On This Episode:

  • If the Orlando Magic are playing with the proper energy, then why are the Magic struggling so much?
  • Why are the Orlando Magic continuing to turn to Bismack Biyombo and Marreese Speights together?
  • Why do the Orlando Magic go to three point guard lineups right now?
  • Are there problems in the locker room?
  • How much do the Orlando Magic miss Jonathan Isaac? Is he enough to pull them out of the rut?
  • What to make of Elfrid Payton’s season so far?
  • What issues the Orlando Magic need to fix?
  • How bad has the Orlando Magic’s rebounding been?
  • Who are the Orlando Magic’s best rebounders? Where do you want Nikola Vucevic‘s rebounding to be at statistically?

Next: Momentum compounds for the Orlando Magic, for better or worse

Be sure to join the Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live on our Facebook page every Sunday at 12 p.m. ET!  Also, subscribe to Orlando Magic Daily’s daily podcast, Locked On Magic, on Panoply, iTunes, Stitcher and TuneIn.