Orlando Magic get to the real work with regular season on the horizon

The Orlando Magic had a spirited intense practice Sunday as the regular season begins to come into focus and the season opener approaches Wednesday.

There is a bit more energy and urgency within the Amway Center these days.

The preseason is behind everyone, opening night is in front of them. The waiting game for the season start has come to an end. And there is still a lot of work to do.

That was the going thought coming out of the Orlando Magic’s preseason slate. The team went 3-3 showing a lot of what was good and bad — even in just the finale. An early reminder of how good this team can be and how much this team can struggle if they are not on their toes.

But with that behind them, the real work seems like it can finally begin. The understanding that these games will count now and the attention to detail has to be sharpened is well underway.

Coach Steve Clifford promised after Thursday’s loss to the Miami Heat that Sunday and Monday would feature full-contact, physical practices that would sharpen the team for the regular season. They would work through their turnover issues and any lingering chemistry and rhythm problems in these practices.

Preseason and training camp have their own levels of excitement and anticipation. The spirit that seemed to permeate the Magic’s camp after this practice felt different.

"“This might be the best practice that we’ve had,” Clifford said after practice Sunday. “Good intensity, better purpose. We did turn the ball over more, but really better purpose of play on the offensive end. We moved the ball well. It was good. Really really competitive. We had a good day.”"

Whether that is coach speak or whether that good day translates is, of course, the trick to figure out. It is probably hard to find any coach willing to say anything but good things about his team in the days leading up to the regular season.

Nobody really knows how they are faring until the lights turn on and the games really start.

The Magic throughout the preseason showed their potential. But their struggles were also apparent. They became a high turnover team in the last four preseason games, averaging 19.8 turnovers per game in that stretch. That mucked up their offensive execution and put their defense on its back heel.

That is something the Magic know they cannot allow. But it was a good lesson for the team to take under lowered stakes.

"“I think we had some good games and some bad games,” D.J. Augustin said after Sunday’s practice. “We saw what we can’t do in games in order to win. we will lose a lot of games if we play like we did in the last three preseason games. I think we’re ready to take a step forward.”"

This is the time though when things really begin to ramp up.

D.J. Augustin said the Magic had only about five or six plays installed for the preseason. They began installing more of their offense Saturday and Sunday as they begin to focus on the regular season.

The main focus throughout these next practices — and the way many players believe they can reduce turnovers — is to get their rhythm playing together back again. That is something that will take time.

Orlando Magic

The Magic did not have much of that time during the preseason, with games crunched together at the beginning of the preseason. Then various injuries to key players knocked the team a bit off kilter.

The practices between Thursday’s finale and Wednesday’s opener are about re-establishing that rhythm.

And this rhythm is vital. Clifford said the biggest thing the Magic have to re-establish is their way of playing that was so successful last year. The team has to get back to that level that propelled them into the playoffs.

"“It’s hard. I don’t know how to put my finger on it,” Augustin said after practice Sunday. “It’s a challenge to get back to that. It’s been five months since the season. We had it rolling. It’s going to take time to get back to the level. Hopefully, we can turn it on quicker than we did last season.”"

That is what the work is in for now.

If the Magic truly have a seriousness about them that is different, then their focus and intensity will have to increase from the way the preseason ended. The Magic certainly struggled to get themselves going in those final three games, leaving some lingering doubts about this team.

But with the games about to count and the regular season on the horizon, the team seems to have a renewed focus and excitement.

"“I’m excited,” Augustin said after practice Sunday. “Even though they made preseason shorter, it still felt pretty long. Preseason is preseason to me. But I think it is good for the guys to get that rhythm and that conditioning. Now it’s real. We just got to bring that mindset. I think we did that today in practice. Everybody practiced hard. I think we’re ready to get started.”"

The team will have another contact practice to sharpen its execution on Monday. The Magic are still focusing more on themselves, but some game-planning will begin to take place then too as the Cleveland Cavaliers come into sharper focus.

The regular season is here and the team seems eager to get the real games started.