Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

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

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks reach for a loose ball during a game at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks reach for a loose ball during a game at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Frank Vogel, Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL -FEBRUARY 10: Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Orlando Magic speaks to Orlando Magic during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 10 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

How do the Magic balance the long-term interests of the franchise with the long-term interests of the roster?

Tanking does not exist among players. Players do not purposefully throw games. There is no reason for them to do so. They would essentially be trying to help the team find their replacements. They want to have jobs after all.

And coaches are not going to ask their players to give anything less than their all. Lest bad habits sneak in. This is a very real dilemma for coaches. How do you keep players motivated when there is nothing to play for? How do you get them to believe in a future they may not be a part of?

Coach Frank Vogel was accused last year of winning meaningless games. He fought hard to have his team playing better to end the season. The Magic’s 8-16 post-All-Star-Break record ended up only costing them one spot. And Orlando probably was taking Jonathan Isaac anyway.

He said he believes the strong finish helped feed the Magic’s hot start. He thinks there is some carryover.

But this year is different. The standings at the bottom of the NBA are very bunched up. Just one win is the difference between the fourth-best odds and the sixth or seventh.

Both Jeff Weltman and John Hammond have publicly stated they detest tanking strategies. They seem more interested in building a better culture for the Magic that will foster growth and development.

But, again, it seems inevitable the team will not win enough games to make a huge dent in their lottery chances. And injuries are starting to pile up again. It makes sense to sit some players and let the young players run free and experiment with lineups to set up the team’s future. That is part of the team’s culture too, right?

No one is too naive not to recognize that the Magic need a high draft pick. They will get one. But will they get a high enough draft pick to get the player they need?

There is already a perception the team has knocked itself out of position before. Maybe that is all perception. But the Magic will search for victories where they can get them. Fully recognizing they are few and far between.