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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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Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Spencer Dinwiddie
Mo Bamba and the Orlando Magic are one of the best fourth quarter teams in the league so far this season. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic’s top 5 lineups

Closing Big

Cole Anthony/Terrence Ross/Franz Wagner/Wendell Carter/Mo Bamba

28 minutes (10 games) – +5.9 Net Rating (118.2/112.3)

Along the same lines, it is really about figuring out which lineups Terrence Ross works with best to close games. For now, Orlando is continuing to finish games with Ross in there for one starter.

There is no reason to expect that to change.

Among the Magic’s “clutch” players in the first quarter of the season, Cole Anthony (16 points total in 17 minutes) and Terrence Ross stand out (eight points in nine minutes on 2-for-2 shooting). Franz Wagner has zoomed up those clutch rankings in the last few weeks too.

This is all again pointing to the Magic struggling to find the best closing lineup or the best lineups to emphasize Ross.

As much as Gary Harris has drawn criticism for his poor play, Terrence Ross is not faring much better. This season overall, Ross is averaging 9.9 points per game on a career-low 46.7-percent effective field goal percentage. He is shooting 29.6-percent from deep.

Ross has traded a lot on his reputation and history with the team. But he has struggled to perform at times. Orlando still tries to catch that lightning in a bottle that Ross can become. It is finding the best lineups for it.

The good news from all of this is the Magic clearly have the versatility to try different lineups.

When teams go small, the Magic have a smaller lineup they can use to close games. When teams go bigger, they can upsize to close games. And in either case, Orlando has a lineup that works and can still help the team impose its will.

Obviously, some of these are now on hold with Suggs’ injury. The question is a lot easier to answer of who to take out of the starting group when one is out with an injury.

A lot of these questions will not go away though. Injured players will begin returning and cause some shifts to the rotation. Orlando is not likely to go away from Terrence Ross — and Cole Anthony — as closers for this team.

Next. 3 things we have learned so far. dark

The good news is that despite how poor the Magic’s record is, there are several lineups and groups that have found success. Orlando just has to find a way to remain competitive enough to give these lineups the chance to run up the score on occasion.