5 questions the Orlando Magic face in the fourth quarter of the 2022 season
Orlando Magic: 5 questions for the fourth quarter
What useful experiments will the Orlando Magic find?
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley started this week to say the team would start to experiment some with its rotations and lineups for the rest of the season. It was as if turning the corner to the fourth quarter of the season suddenly flicked a switch to OK this kind of flexibility.
The cynic would say this is some coded language for something looking ahead to the team’s future that does not have to do with anybody currently on the roster. Even an optimist would probably have to concede that fact — especially looking at some of the lineups and rotation choices Mosley has made to this point.
Orlando is probably right to take at least a small look at two-way players Admiral Schofield and Ignas Brazdeikis before the end of the season. They have been on the team all year getting spot minutes, giving both a real chance to contribute to the team would be a kind thing to do.
But this idea of doing some experimenting is not one completely without merit or one completely for the cynics. With the Magic essentially eliminated from the postseason, this is a time to try things out and get some information and data to understand how these pieces fit together.
It is not all nefarious. There is some method to the madness. Or at least a good idea behind the concept.
Orlando has to see how its three key guards will play together. Once Markelle Fultz is up to speed, playing all three of Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs together makes a lot of sense. That is something the Magic should see.
The team should be thinking about playing some lineups where Franz Wagner acts as the main initiator. Just as the team should prepare to play some lineups with Franz Wagner at center — the team has indeed played Wagner alongside Chuma Okeke as the two frontcourt options.
The team should be doing everything at this point with an eye toward the way the team wants to play. And the Magic should be working to put these players in positions to succeed those experiments actually give them real data points.
Injuries may hurt that. And the team might have to sacrifice some wins and deal with some really bad lineups. But skilled coaches know how to manipulate the rotation to get the tests they want in. That is probably where the team has fallen short in the early experimenting so far.
But the Magic should be trying to emphasize the kind of lineups and groups they anticipate for their future. That is probably why the team has been willing to sacrifice minutes for veterans Gary Harris and Terrence Ross for now.