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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Time to believe in Magic?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic will again rely heavily on their starting lineup, a group that proved successful in 2019. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic will again rely heavily on their starting lineup, a group that proved successful in 2019. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 20: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors and Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic go up for a rebound on November 20, 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) /

What signs have you seen to make you believe the Orlando Magic are for real?

Philip Rossman-Reich (@philiprr_omd): This team is far from perfect and the Orlando Magic still have a lot of holes they need to fill. The season is going to be a constant struggle to cover up many of those weaknesses and get hot from the field. But I do like that the Magic appear to be buying into what they are doing. The effort and intention to play the way Steve Clifford wants them to play are present. The Magic clearly look like a team that is trying to do the right things. Whether they can execute them nightly is another matter. And we will still see how long they stick with it especially when things get rough.

Zach Bethel (@Bethelhub): It has to be the resilience. There have been times when the team has looked bad (home versus LA Clippers, away at Denver Nuggets) but this seems like the first Orlando Magic squad in a while that really learns from their mistakes and bad losses and applies them. Steve Clifford’s accountability has helped immensely.

Jean Racine (@realjeanracine): The Orlando Magic are playing as a team. They have won with great team defense and offense. I believe Steve Clifford has a good handle on the team. The Magic are getting better defensively and offensively each game.

Patrick Flynn (@pflynn33): The Orlando Magic have been playing through the whistle with intensity and effort, which has translated to a solid team and individual defense. The Magic have also been winning without key players like Evan Fournier and Jonathon Simmons playing particularly well. This gives me hope that not only are their winning ways sustainable, but they actually have an opportunity to play even better. Another point that gives me hope is they have wins over playoff-caliber and elite teams and close losses to elite teams as well. Their record could be 4-5 games better than .500 right now if a handful of plays happened to go their way.