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Frank Vogel still likes the direction of his team

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic watches as his team takes on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic watches as his team takes on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Frank Vogel remains optimistic about his team and the direction it is headed. The coach spoke to Chris Mannix of Yahoo! about the season so far.

The Orlando Magic are heading toward a bad place right now. Losers of 17 of their last 20 games, the optimism from a surprising 6-2 start have quickly dissipated.

Orlando went from league darling to Lottery dweller in a very short amount of time. In the team’s last 15 games, the Magic have the second-worst net rating in the league. This is a team that is playing very poorly.

And that is an understatement. The Magic have dropped from a near sure thing to make the Playoffs to just three percent in FiveThirtyEight’s playoff projections.

And even that seems optimistic. Extremely optimistic, actually.

But optimism is something coach Frank Vogel does best. Through all of the losing and the team’s struggles, he continues to have an amazingly excited tone about his team.

From a conversation with John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com . . .

"“I think our guys still have belief in what we can be,” Vogel said. “We’ve been battling the schedule early and then injuries all throughout. It’s still very early in the season. It’s a long season and there’s a lot of basketball to be played. I don’t think anybody’s losing hope on that.”"

. . . to his conversation with Chris Mannix of Yahoo! for a recent episode of the Chris Mannix Podcast, Vogel still has optimism for his team and the direction it is going.

It is definitely hard to see now. The Magic have fallen off such a cliff and the frustration coming from players is palpable. But so is the frustration watching them play and struggle to get out of this rut.

Vogel said he thought the team played “above their level” at the beginning of the season. It was clear that was happening. But it was unclear whether it was sustainable. Injuries helped cut that short and send the Magic tumbling.

The whole season has had a weird posture to it. Vogel acknowledged his relationship with new management is good but that the season has been more about their desire to evaluate the pieces the team had already up close and personal.

The big problem remains about building a winning culture. And that is excessively difficult to do with the way the team is losing. Even the team’s broadcasters are openly commenting on what years of losing have done to the players that have remained with this team for several years.

But Vogel still sees comparisons to his teams with the Indiana Pacers:

"“There are a lot of parallels,” Vogel told Mannix on his podcast. “That’s one of the reasons I took this job is because of the parallels I had with the team in Indiana and the way we were able to develop those young players and grow with them and build confidence in them. I believe we are on that path here. It’s obviously off to a slower start than that team in Indiana. But that team was further along and more ready. These guys have some ability here. We have a chance to turn this thing around. That’s what we’re working to do.”"

Vogel might be optimistic, but that does not mean he is unrealistic. He told Mannix the team has to improve its defensive habits and its rebounding.

There is a lot of work to do. And even the season’s brightest spot — Aaron Gordon — comes with questions. The Magic are using this year to evaluate whether he can be a player they can truly build around. That question may yet be uncertain.

But overall, Vogel is going to remain optimistic about what his team can be and the direction it is heading.

Next: Elfrid Payton not providing point guard play Magic need

Things are seemingly dark right now. But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. And things can change quickly. At least, that is what Vogel still believes.