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Orlando Magic Rebuild: Even surprise playoff teams can get off to slow starts

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero's stellar start to the season has not translated into wins for the Orlando Magic. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero's stellar start to the season has not translated into wins for the Orlando Magic. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic
Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies were slow out of the gates in his rookie season before rallying to make the Play-In Game. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie playoff teams who struggled out of the gates

Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies (2019-20)

Record: 34-39, lost in Play-In Game
Started: 2-7

Ja Morant seemingly took the NBA world by storm from the moment he stepped onto the court.

The potential 2023 MVP candidate (if not this year, his MVP candidacy year is coming awfully soon) has been a dynamo as an explosive scorer at the rim and in transition and an improving point guard and playmaker.

His selection with the second pick completely changed the Memphis Grizzlies’ franchise in the wake of the dissolution of Grit and Grind. Memphis had the one down year and did not seem to miss a beat getting back into the playoff picture.

Entering the Seeding Round games in the bubble, the Grizzlies sat at 32-33 and in eighth place in the Western Conference. Their middling experience in the Bubble cost them a playoff spot — they ended up losing a Play-In Game with the Portland Trail Blazers in a game that went down to the wire.

Morant averaged 17.8 points per game and 7.3 assists per game in his rookie season with Memphis.

This was an incredible season. But it did not start that way for Memphis.

The Memphis Grizzlies were really slow out of the gates, starting the year 2-7 including a loss to the Orlando Magic. Morant averaged 18.9 points per game and 5.5 assists per game in that stretch, but it was not enough to get Memphis to scratch a few wins.

Like the current Magic team, there were hints of what the team would become, especially with Morant leading the way. He scored in double figures in seven of the team’s first nine games (he sat out one game and scored eight in that loss to the Magic in Orlando) including a 30-point game in a one-point win over the Brooklyn Nets.

There were even some blowout losses in that process too — a 29-point loss against the Los Angeles Lakers and a 32-point loss in Orlando stand out.

But Memphis was able to get itself right after that slow start. Morant became more efficient and effective as he gained confidence through the season. As did second-year player Jaren Jackson Jr.

Veterans like Jae Crowder and Jonas Valanciunas helped provide some stability, but the Grizzlies’ turnaround came from the growth of young guys like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks.

This was the foundation for the Grizzlies’ current team, a 2-seed in last year’s playoffs and a potential title contender just three seasons later.