Steve Clifford will not let Orlando Magic rest on their laurels

The good vibes for the Orlando Magic came to a stop quickly as Steve Clifford said his team’s practice was not up to standard and the real work begins.

The Orlando Magic ran through their paces for the first time Tuesday to open training camp. The team got in plenty of scrimmaging as they began to get themselves in game form and look ahead to the season.

All the beats were there, with perhaps a few new hits as D.J. Augustin lobbed a pass for Mohamed Bamba to finish at the end of the team’s practice. The pace was noticeably higher too as the team played with an 18-second shot clock in their final scrimmage of the day. Players had to move and act quickly, not always getting the best shot in the process.

There were glowing reviews of Markelle Fultz and his first return to the court in 5-on-5 action at practice. Teammates and coach Steve Clifford lauded Markelle Fultz’s ability to dart in and out of the lane and create his shot off the dribble. It seemed like he was already beginning to rediscover his flow.

Tape might reveal a few more nuggets for the coaching staff to uncover. But at the end of practice, Clifford was clearly bothered.

He gathered the team together to close out practice, pulling out Nikola Vucevic, D.J. Augustin, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Jonathan Isaac to go over a read in their flow offense. After reviewing this set and the options that branch off it, he proceeded to get to his main point.

The approach the team had to its first practice was not up to his standard. Clifford was not raising his voice but said if he needed to be more the taskmaster, he would be.

This was not a good practice in his estimation. Certainly not up to the standard he and the team set as they closed last season.

"“It was an OK practice. You can’t manufacture stuff that was OK,” Clifford said. “We have to do better than we did today. There are 30 teams practicing today, I’d say most of them did better than we did today. That’s what I’d say.”"

Clifford said there were still positives to take from practice. But still committing the usual high turnovers that you would expect for the first day. And the team seemed to get the basic defensive sets back. It seems like the preparation was not bad.

But clearly Clifford is not going to let the team slide back into the season. He said the team’s continuity is only what the team makes of it.

During media day he said that if the team does not have the same practice habits and willingness to work, then continuity and familiarity are irrelevant.

Clifford’s message to his team during the first practice was certainly sincere. The players were a little more lukewarm in Clifford’s assessment. But they understood what Clifford was getting at as they move forward in camp.

"“Obviously, we didn’t do as well as he thought we should,” Nikola Vucevic said. “We have to respond and do better. It’s nothing that he hasn’t really told us before and we don’t know how to respond to. It is just a side of him motivating us and trying to push us. We’ll get there. It’s the first day so there is a little bit of rustiness to shake off. It’s nothing to worry about.”"

Vucevic said things did feel easier in this first go-round for practice. There was a familiarity not only with teammates but with the system and plays the team was running. Things started to come back easier.

Jonathan Isaac said he felt practice got better as it went along. Familiarity at least might have explained how the team got into the groove.

He and the rest of his team know Clifford is always going to find something to point out to improve. He is not a coach that is ever really satisfied.

Perhaps this is where Clifford’s sharp eye was focused. He did not want the team to get comfortable. Things are not supposed to be super easy in the early stages of camp.

Clifford might like to say he will not place any limits on the team, but he certainly has a floor.

The one bright spot for the team remained Fultz’s return.

Fultz practiced for the first time with the team as he prepares his return to the court full time since leaving the Philadelphia 76ers with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome last November. Fultz was given the all-clear to practice last week.

"“I prepared pretty much during the offseason to ramping it up from 3-on-3 to 5-on-5 to now when I’m out here, I’m just relaxing and having fun,” Fultz said. “It’s more an appreciation of just being out there with my teammates, competing and getting ready for the season.”"

Fultz said he knows he will make mistakes and that he is going to work to play through those and grow from them. But his joy and ease on the court are certainly noticeable.

That is helping him show flashes of his potential, according to teammates.

Vucevic said Fultz looked comfortable on the court and was able to make plays for himself and others. His size was noticeable on both ends as he was able to wedge his way into the lane.

Clifford was complimentary of his defense and his ability to get into the lane. There was a lot of eagerness about his performance as he has begun to show his potential.

"“I thought he looked fantastic,” Isaac said. “His ability to get into the lane. He is so crafty and able to manipulate the offense the way that he wants. And he is just learning it. I definitely saw that and I definitely enjoyed being on his team.”"

In any case, it was one checkmark off his recovery list returning to practice. Now it is coming back and learning and getting better in practice two.

That is certainly a potential that this team is beginning to realize. The team had that working for them to keep growing from.

But the overall message for the team is not to get too happy with the familiarity and good feelings that come from starting a promising new season.

Perhaps those good vibes needed to get knocked down a peg as the real work begins. The team has a new standard to meet.

The expectation from everyone is they will continue to get better as they get back into rhythm on the court and in their preparation.

"“At the end of the year I thought we had become a good practice team,” Clifford said. “If you practice better, you are going to get better. continuity is what you make it. We were a hard-working, serious-minded team last year that put a lot of work into it. If we do that again, we will be better because we have a better team. Athletes are just like everyone else, they are human beings. They have to get themselves back to that place."

But very clearly, the Magic are trying to raise their standards. And it started with day one.