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Orlando Magic hope for purpose to finish lost season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 30: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Miami Heat on December 30, 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 30: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Miami Heat on December 30, 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 Orlando Magic season is over at this point. The team is at the bottom of the standings and fighting for consistency. What is left for them to do?

The Orlando Magic’s season started off with so much promise.

Things have changed pretty drastically for the team. Things have trended downward for some time and there appears to be no end in sight. The 8-4 start is long gone. The reality is the Magic are tied for the worst record in the league.

Injuries are part of the story for sure. But the Magic are disappointed in how this season has turned out.

They still have a little less than 40 games to get through the rest of the season. And, as has been the case every year for the last five seasons, the Magic are trying to make the most of the time they have remaining. Or trying to get something positive from this season.

"“The goal for the rest of the season is to play better basketball so we can feel better about ourselves and the future,” Evan Fournier said. “You can lose games. You are certainly going to be disappointed. If you feel like you gave it all and played the right way then the opponent is just better than you. Most of the times, we don’t feel like this. We could have done a ton of things better.”"

The Magic are still speaking glowingly of their last game against the Washington Wizards. It was an oddly encouraging game where the Magic moved the ball and fought hard for a win. Coach Frank Vogel has called it the team’s best overall game in some time.

The game marked the best offensive rating the team has had according to Basketball-Reference since the loss to the Miami Heat a few weeks ago. It was also their worst defensive rating in a game since that matchup at the Amway Center.

The team’s 78.0 percent assist rate was also its highest since the loss to the Atlanta Hawks in December. The ball was indeed moving and creating efficient offense.

That part is encouraging. Orlando is hoping to maintain that momentum heading into Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and beyond.

"“We played with great positive energy and hustle,” Vogel said. “We played one of our better basketball games of the year. We just didn’t get the stops. But our guys were out there working and trying and competing. That’s the biggest thing for us. If we compete like we did in that game, then we will win more than we lose. That’s just not always been there for us this year.”"

Of course, the team has had its trouble building momentum and turning one good performance into the next. No one seems quite sure how to get things moving in the right direction.

That is the lot of a team that has the worst record in the league since November 11 and has lost 27 of the past 31 games. The team is hoping one win can tip the scale, but that might just be the motivation the team needs to keep working. It is just hope.

And that is all that seems left this year.

It feels like the team trying to win is now about a long-term vision of the team. Yes, that means the Magic are trying to grow players who may not be with the team much longer.

But that is the team’s purpose the rest of the way. It may not be about building wins for this season — although the team would like that — but about building those wins and winning habits for future years.

That is why player development and some of these positive moments get the attention they do.

"“Development. This is part of our mission this year,” Vogel said. “We want to make a playoff push and get this franchise back in the playoffs where our fans want to see us. But to do that, our young players have to improve and develop. Whether it is Aaron [Gordon]’s 3-point shooting or Mario [Hezonja] getting comfortable or Elfrid Payton shooting 52 percent from the field is impressive. Our young players are improving. It is a silver lining with our record. These things lead to wins and lead to building a winning culture.”"

That is some long-term thinking for sure. The Magic want to make the Playoffs. But the throttle to get there has certainly eased. No one can expect the Magic to make the Playoffs this year.

Orlando currently is tied with Atlanta for the worst record in the league. The Orlando Magic are 10.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons for the final spot in the Playoffs. If the Pistons make the Playoffs with a .524 win percentage (43 wins), the Magic would have to go 31-8 the rest of the season.

That would be an extremely tall order. But the team is trying to remain motivated to make such a push.

And, of course, they remember that fast start. That team is still in there somewhere.

"“I know we do [have enough to make a run],” Elfrid Payton said. “It’s just about putting it together. It’s tough with injuries. But I think we have enough in here to make a run.”"

So what is the purpose for the Magic the rest of this season? Improvement and wins are certainly part of it. The team wants to play hard start building some of these habits. The habits the team has not had consistently throughout the season.

Before the team can talk about runs, it has to win a game. And then win another. Or go .500 in a stretch of 10 games rather than winning one and losing the next five — or six or however long it goes.

Stopping the long losing streaks are a good place to start.

The Magic still want to find a way to turn their season around. That hunger to pick up a win is still present. The team wants to build some confidence heading into the offseason.

That is an unfortunately familiar refrain for this franchise. How that changes is out of the players’ control. For now, they just want to find the motivation to change their current situation as best they can.

Next: OMD Facebook Live: Midseason review

It may not mean a ton of wins. It may just mean moral victories. But that is what the team is playing for now.