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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The First West Coast Trip

The Orlando Magic always take a big road trip in the early part of December, typically right after Thanksgiving. This has always been one of the big moments for the Magic every year.

The first West Coast trip is usually when we figure out whether the team is for real. And, to some extent, it is also a point where the Magic need to have some cushion in case the trip goes disastrously.

This year’s first West Coast trip is quite a doozy. It starts a six-game jaunt out West that will last 12 days. The good news is there is some time between the fifth game out West and Dec. 4 game against the Miami Heat.

But this West Coast trip from Nov. 23-30 is a real doozy. A tough trip that will test the Magic’s survival skills. And bouncing back from it will be as big a challenge as anything else.

The Orlando Magic will play the Denver Nuggets (Nov. 23), Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 25), Golden State Warriors (Nov. 26), Portland Trail Blazers (Nov. 28) and Phoenix Suns (Nov. 30) in that long road trip.

That Lakers-Warriors back to back feels especially daunting sitting here in August. It is never easy to play the best two players in the league back to back.

The only solace is that game against the Lakers is the last time the Magic see the Lakers for the rest of the year. They play Los Angeles at the Amway Center on Nov. 17. It will be nice to get that series out of the way earlier.

But this is a tough road trip. The Nuggets, Suns and Lakers all did not make the Playoffs last year. Denver missed out by a half game and with a healthy Paul Millsap should be competing for a Playoff spot this year. The Lakers got LeBron James and should make the postseason even in a stacked Western Conference.

That leaves really only the Suns — the last game of the trip — as a team that missed the Playoffs on this road trip. Orlando would be happy to get that one and even that one will prove difficult with the long trip home on the horizon.