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Orlando Magic: Top 10 games of the 2018 season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Isaiah Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic did not have a good season at all. But there were still a few highlights that gave us momentary hope and joy in a difficult season.

The Orlando Magic’s 2018 season did not go according to plan, it is safe to say.

True, the team itself put very few expectations on the year. No one would make the same Playoff guarantees they made the year before. Everyone was confident that continuity would bring improvement but cautious to buy in fully with new management watching and not taking the big risks they made the year before.

No matter how anyone cut it, the team did not reach anywhere near its full potential or any of its goals. It was a disastrous 25-win season. Blame injuries or a poor roster or previous management’s bad decisions or coaching or tanking or… whatever, it was bad.

The end of the season left an especially bad taste in everyone’s mouth. The team was limping to the end of the year.

That is why there seems to be change on the horizon. The Magic hit a rock-bottom moment this season. Everyone can sense it.

The after-effects of the season are still to play out. Orlando still has to hire a new coach and now an entirely new staff — apparently even chefs and other support staff behind the scenes. Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are starting a major rebuild.

There is still a bit of a bow to put on the 2018 season. Not every moment was bad.

The reality of an 82-game season is that there are severe ups to go with the severe downs. Success in this league is based on managing those good times and bad times successfully. Teams like the Magic cannot seem to stop the bad times for long enough.

There were some all-time good moments in the Magic’s season this year. Here are some of those highlights… and a few lowlights.