Orlando Magic’s veterans have helped stabilize team in uncertain time

The Orlando Magic’s last few days have been about instability.

The team has lived with injuries — five players have been out with long-term injuries, including four who have been out for the entire season. That adjustment has long since passed as the team has tried to find its way.

The last two days have seen the team place five players — Ignas Brazdeikis, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross and Moritz Wagner — in health and safety protocols. It necessitated the Magic signing four players from their G-League team just to have a legal roster.

All things considered, the Magic have fought hard.

A 10-point loss to the Miami Heat saw the team play with plenty of effort and push. Then a six-point win at Brooklyn saw the team put a lot more pieces together with big shots and plays coming throughout the roster.

Orlando has just been trying to get their legs under them in those 48 hours more than anything else. The team needed some stability just to get through the last two games.

That is where veteran players like Gary Harris and Robin Lopez have mattered more. They have given the team some crucial stability both as on-court presences with their increased roles on offense and defense and as leaders off the court, helping guide the team through these unprecedented and strange times.

The Orlando Magic are dealing with injuries and absences. They have turned to their veterans and each other for some stability.

The Magic would not be able to keep getting something out of these games if not for the calming presence of these players.

"“They helped a lot being that they are vets and they have been in the league a long time,” Chuma Okeke said after Saturday’s win. “They’ve both been on winning teams before. They know what it takes to win. Just hearing their voices out there helping us on the defensive end and offensive end and getting everyone in the right spots. Their leadership on the court and also in the film room helps a lot.”"

In the last two games, Lopez has turned in games of 18 points and seven rebounds against the Heat and then 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Nets on Saturday. Harris scored 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting in Friday’s loss to the Heat and 117 points in the win over the Nets.

Orlando has a +8.8 net rating (109.5 offensive rating/100.7 defensive rating) with Harris on the floor and a +0.7 net rating (101.4 offensive rating/100.4 defensive rating) with Lopez on the floor in the last two games.

With Harris off the floor, the Magic have a -39.2 net rating (84.3 offensive rating/123.5 defensive rating). Without Lopez, the Magic have a -9.6 net rating (110.0 offensive rating/119.6 defensive rating).

These are obviously very small sample sizes against two injury-depleted teams in the Heat and Nets.

But still, it is indicative of how the team has functioned with and without them. Harris may be having a larger on-court impact than Lopez at the moment.

The bigger moments though are when these older players take the team together and give instruction on the court. They seem to be the ones directing play and pulling guys aside to give extra instruction on the court.

It is not rare to see Lopez grabbing one of the new players especially after an error and providing words of encouragement or pointing something out.

"“Basically by just telling us to go play,” Okeke said after Saturday’s win. “At the end of the day, we’ve got some men down and some people down. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. It’s still supposed to be played a certain way which is: Go play hard, play for each other and play as a team. If we do that every night, we always give ourselves a chance to win.”"

The absences have certainly raised the intensity and urgency in the Magic’s play. That goes without saying considering how many guys have stepped up into new roles.

The team has had to show a lot of resiliency in the process, something this team has done in stretches overall. Orlando has usually played to the final buzzer of games, even if the result was ultimately a big defeat.

Coach Jamahl Mosley said Robin Lopez has been the ultimate team guy. The two have been in constant communication throughout the season with Lopez understanding before the season began that he would not play every game. Lopez has kept himself ready throughout the season.

Obviously, that has helped him at this moment. So too has his commitment to the team.

What perhaps has made that even easier is how much responsibility the team is taking for itself. While Lopez has certainly had demonstrable moments of leadership throughout the year, other players have taken the lead too.

Lopez says this is a credit to the roster at the moment.

"“I think what’s been wonderful is there are many guys you can point to who are vocal and trying to lead the way,” Lopez said after Saturday’s game. “It’s not one or two guys. That’s been a constant for our season. That’s something you love to see especially in a young team. It means guys are bought in and guys are trying to do the right thing.”"

That is possibly why the team has continued to fight. Nobody has hung their head or given up on these games despite all the adversity the team has faced. They have always worked together to try to solve these problems.

The Magic are clearly still invested in their project.

To get through these games, they still need the stability these veteran players have provided. The Magic certainly feel a bit more settled with them in and they have been a consistent source of scoring at the biggest moments for the team.

At the least, they have set this team up for as much success as this group is going to have as they wait for players to return. Orlando is certainly following their lead.