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Orlando Magic First Quarter Review: The Magic’s 5 best lineups

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic have struggled in their record, but Jamahl Mosley has some very successful lineups he can use to soften that blow. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic have struggled in their record, but Jamahl Mosley has some very successful lineups he can use to soften that blow. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat
The Orlando Magic are struggling with turnovers to open their season. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic have had a strange quarter to their season.

On one hand, the team has seen significant growth from several young players they needed to see growth from. Whether it is Cole Anthony staking a claim to some All-Star-level numbers or Wendell Carter turning himself into a modern, versatile big forward or Franz Wagner just making things work, the Magic have collected a ton of young players that seem to be getting better individually.

On the other hand, those individual players have not exactly come together to create wins yet.

The Magic finished the first quarter of their season with the worst record they have had since the fateful 2004 season that started 2-19 — two wins sandwiching a 19-game losing streak — totaling just four wins.

They can certainly blame a lot of things on it.

As a team, the Orlando Magic had a rough start to the season. But the team still found lineups and groups that were extremely successful and something the team can build upon.

The tough schedule is probably near the top of it. Injuries — Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz are still waiting in the wings to come back, but key veterans like Michael Carter-Williams and Gary Harris also missed time during the early parts of the season — were also a major factor in gutting the team’s record.

Youth is certainly a big part of that equation too.

Orlando expected to come out of the gates slowly and face all the inconsistencies that come with youth. The Magic’s opening day starting lineup was the youngest in the franchise’s history and one of the youngest in league history.

There were always going to be growing pains. And taking all that together along with the team trying to figure out roles and a new coach led to a poor 4-17 record to start the season.

So where do the Magic go from here?

Things were not all bad for Orlando. The team did find some things out and find some groups that work well together. As players get healthier and the team refines its rotation and play style, there are plenty of groups the team can use and rely on.

A good place to start to find some positives for this young Magic team and their outlook ahead is to look at the team’s best lineups.

As we wrap up our review of the first quarter of the season, we will take a look at the Magic’s five best lineups this season that have played at least 10 minutes together.