Orlando Magic Daily
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Five questions for the 2017-18 Orlando Magic’s third quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on November 18, 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 - NOVEMBER 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on November 18, 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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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on November 18, 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) /

The Orlando Magic find themselves playing for lottery odds in the second half of the season. As the schedule continues, here is what the Magic must answer.

It may have been asking a lot for the Orlando Magic to be in the playoff race at this point of the season. Certainly, it felt like the Magic should at least be on the fringes of the conversation.

This was a team that was looking to prove its 29-win season was a fluke of bad chemistry and poor fit. The season was one to evaluate the players on the roster — or let contracts roll over another year — and then figure out how to grow and build from there.

Injuries threw a wrench in that plan. But the team’s collapse and uninspired play for much of the last two months has been something that is a bit deeper than the injuries. Injuries might have only revealed something innate in this team.

Something innate that has caused it to sink further and further to the depths.

The Magic will not be competing for the Playoffs in the third quarter of the season. In fact, during this time when we thought we might see the team make a move up or down the standings, the team is already pretty much eliminated. The Magic hold the worst record in the league.

The focus has already turned to the draft. And the team seems to be playing out the stream.

The second quarter of the season was where the Magic would have to save their season. And the second quarter of the season was where the Magic lost their season. The attention has turned toward the future and trying to figure out exactly how to fix this mess — which may be worse than anyone might have imagined.

The Magic will play the second half of their season without direction. But they will still play those games. There are still now 36-some-odd games to go and the Magic will have to find some meaning in them, whatever it may be. And however pointless it may be.

The next quarter of the season will turn its eye toward the future. The 2018 season is essentially already lost and without purpose. Everything the team does now will seemingly be about building toward a better 2019 season.

Here are our questions for the third quarter of the season, already underway.