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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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors /

Home for the Holidays

The Orlando Magic will not get a whole lot of rest after coming home from that West Coast trip. They play the Miami Heat (Dec. 4) in South Florida after a few days at home. Then they get a few games at home before heading to Texas to play the Dallas Mavericks (Dec. 10) and then their pair of Mexico City games (Dec. 13 vs. the Chicago Bulls and Dec. 15 vs. the Utah Jazz).

What should be a nice little respite at home to recover from the long West Coast trip instead becomes a short road trip, a two-game homestand and then another jaunt out on the road. The Mexico City trip does not necessarily come at a time when Orlando could use another long-ish road trip.

In other words, it could be a fairly fatigued Magic team heading to Mexico City for that pair of games.

Fortunately, after those games, Orlando is home for a considerable amount of time. They play five of their next six games at home. And the schedule at that point becomes relatively manageable.

The Orlando Magic play the San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 19) and Toronto Raptors (Dec. 28) during this stretch. But they also see the Phoenix Suns (Dec. 26) in that stretch. The lone road game is to Chicago to take on the Chicago Bulls (Dec. 21).

This all happens during the holiday season which should ensure the Amway Center is relatively packed. They always sell those games fairly well. That should give Orlando a small boost at least to get things going after the tough road stretch — and especially for the tough road stretch that comes ahead.

Like the early part of the season, it feels like this part of the schedule is at least manageable. And a chance for the team to get some solid confidence-building wins beneath them before the schedule gets more difficult again.