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Orlando Magic 2022 Schedule: 5 key stretches to the season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Magic 122-115. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Magic 122-115. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic’s key stretches to 2022

The Start (Oct. 20-Nov. 13)

When the schedule came out, immediately our eyes were drawn to what we will call in this post as “The Gauntlet.” We will get to the details of The Gauntlet in a bit.

It will make the first stretch of games — the first 13 games or the first month of the season — all the more important.

This feels like an excessive amount of time, but the next group of games are so difficult and will be such a challenge, the Orlando Magic will have to be ready to go from the moment the season begins if they want to accomplish anything of consequence this season.

I think I write every year how critical it is for the Magic to get off to a good start. It feels like the simplest thing and an obvious goal. It is better to play from ahead than have to make up ground. But this schedule especially will require a strong start.

But even this beginning stretch will be difficult. And that is before the team gets to the really hard part.

The Orlando Magic open the season on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 20, marking their first road season opener since the 2015 season. The Magic are used to having some comfort early in the season.

But there will be no homely comforts to start the year. Orlando starts the season with six of the team’s first eight games on the road. The two at home are a playoff team in the New York Knicks (the home opener on Oct. 22) and a play-in tournament team in the Charlotte Hornets (Oct. 27).

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In those first eight games, the Magic play just three teams that made last year’s Playoffs — and two are the Knicks. So at least the opponents appear to be manageable for the team to get off to a decent start even if it is away from the Amway Center.

The most important part of this part of the schedule will be a five-game homestand that begins on Nov. 3 and lasts 10 days.

That stay at the Amway Center will be no walk in the park either. The Orlando Magic play the Boston Celtics (Nov. 3), Utah Jazz (Nov. 7) and Brooklyn Nets (Nov. 10) during this stretch. It will still be a difficult road for the Magic to pick up wins.

It will obviously not be easy. Nothing will for the Magic.

With a new coach and such a young roster, it would be hard to expect this team to hit the ground running so quickly. But that is clearly what this team has to do.

If Orlando is going to surprise the league, it will have to do well here before The Gauntlet begins. Otherwise, the team might be climbing too far uphill.