Orlando Magic Daily
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5 stretches that will define the Orlando Magic’s season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Khem Birch #24 and Wesley Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic box out Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Khem Birch #24 and Wesley Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic box out Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 2: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 2, 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) /

The First 12 Games

Annoyingly so, Orlando Magic fans are holding onto the team’s hot 8-4 start as much as they can. For the first five weeks of the season, the Magic were the talk of the entire league. Not just the talk of the entire league, but the best team in the Eastern Conference by record.

But even when the Magic made their first big West Coast trip, they were beginning to show some cracks. The team’s shooting looked completely unsustainable. Still, the chances of missing the Playoffs after such a strong start were less than 10 percent. This was a pretty big collapse for the Magic.

Especially to fall into the bottom of the league so quickly and easily.

The start of the season will get some added attention again this year. The team has a new coach and that always brings with it the question of whether the team will buy into the philosophies he is trying to sell them. That is why a fast start is always necessary.

Orlando’s fast start last year certainly got everyone to believe — and even Steve Clifford has said that team is at least somewhere inside this current group.

When all was said and done last year, the Magic played five playoff teams in those first 12 games last year. They went 4-1 in those games with wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers included.

That is not bad work.

This year, the Magic will play eight teams that made the Playoffs last year in the first 12 games. The good news, though, is Orlando will play eight of its first 12 games at home. And among those teams that made the Playoffs in that first grouping of games is that Cavaliers (Nov. 5) team now missing LeBron James.

There is no stretch of play that will be easy for the Magic.

They have to prove they can win even the games they are expected to. And, again, no one knows how good teams might be. Especially with veteran teams, it is sometimes easier to pick them off early while they are still getting their feet under them and getting into the season’s rhythm.

There is only one game against the bottom of the league in this run (vs. the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 30). No “easy games” as it were.

But if Orlando wants to overachieve and make a Playoff push, it will have to beat teams like the Charlotte Hornets (Oct. 19), LA Clippers (Nov. 2) and Detroit Pistons (Nov. 7).