The Orlando Magic will play their final game of the season tonight, hoping to deliver one more enjoyable moment for fans before an uncertain offseason.
Coach Frank Vogel said nothing was different about the Orlando Magic’s final shootaround. They went through their process as they would any game. No shortcuts or changes to the routine. There were the defensive slides and the offensive gameplan. The team put itself through its paces to understand the Washington Wizards’ sets.
There might have been a little bit of a last-day-of-school vibe to things. The practice ended with a half-court shooting contest, the injured Evan Fournier saying he drained a basket on his first try cold off the bench. But the season is ending Wednesday night. And while there is a lot to look forward to this summer, there is still one more task to get through too.
The team still has to play one more game — with all of its implications for the Lottery that no player or coach will publicly talk about — Wednesday night to close their season.
"“It’s no fun being out of the race,” Vogel said. “The Playoffs are a fun thing to be a part of. It really enlivens your whole life up. To not be there is disappointing and frustrating. In life, you deal with the hand you are dealt the best you can with a positive attitude, enthusiasm, energy and enjoy what you do.”"
Regular starters Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic and D.J. Augustin will play, but not their normal minutes. Vogel said they will not play “big” minutes. Terrence Ross will play his second game with the goal of getting him out there and comfortable playing basketball again.
The same goal will remain. Vogel said the team will be trying to win the game and go out there and have fun for the last game. At least, to give the fans a show.
That may upset certain fans. The Magic with a win would finish with the fifth-best odds to win the lottery and 88 chances to win the top pick. A loss would put the team in a three-way tie for third-best odds with 112 chances. A stark difference.
Players are not focused on that part of their future though. They will go out there and do what they have done all year. The Magic are still trying to compete and win, ending a disappointing season on a high note.
"“Definitely not the way we wanted to end our season,” Nikola Vucevic said. “I know we didn’t set up any expectation at the start of the year. But obviously, we didn’t want to end it this way. This last game, we just want to do our best to get a win, especially for our fans. They have been with us the whole year. You want to go out there and give it all you’ve got for one last game, enjoy it. It will probably be the last time all of us play together. You want to take advantage of that and finish off the season the right way.”"
In their final game in front of their fans, they will try to do right by them. It might also be their final time together as a group.
In all likelihood, it will be their final game together as a group.
The Magic are expected to make significant changes this offseason. A season of evaluation from president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has more than likely led to conclusions that the team needs to make some changes.
That future looms for this team as the season’s end approaches. Everyone can sense it and the possibility that this is the last time for many players playing and competing together. Things have to be different after the way the season went apart.
Players are already thinking about how they want to construct their summers and work to improve.
There was a lot of individual growth throughout the season, but it rarely translated to wins. One of the bigger mysteries of this season. Things just never came together the way they wanted.
Disappointment reigns when they look back at the season even through the injuries and difficult circumstances throughout the season.
"“It’s disappointing,” Aaron Gordon said. “We underachieved as a team. That’s always disappointing. I would have loved to be in the Playoffs, but I guess we weren’t ready.”"
The autopsy of the season will come beginning after Game 82 is played. For now, the Magic are facing a Wizards team that needs a win. A team that is fighting for Playoff positioning.
Vogel said that should make for an energetic and exciting game. One that should ratchet up the intensity for one final game.
The one thing everyone will miss is being together. Despite all the losing, the group seemed to genuinely enjoy each other. It seemed like they had good off-court chemistry even if it never developed into the winning the team needed.
There is obviously something more that has to develop. The team now will have one more game to go through that process together. For better or for worse.
"“I’ve enjoyed working with these guys this year,” Vogel said. “The player relationships with this particular group have been strong and enjoyable. They are not always good. Sometimes you have years where you have a handful of guys you don’t really click with. But we’ve had a group that is really coachable this year and have enjoyed each other and are fun to be around.”"
Next: Rumors: Players defend Frank Vogel as changes loom
Now, there is just one more game to go together.