The Orlando Magic are already nine games through their regular season schedule, and there is plenty to discuss.
They sit at 2-7 and look like an organization that is once again going to be near the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference when the season is finished.
We know that is not the whole story though, as there is far more optimism around this group than in years gone by, even with the losing record. Talk of competing for a play-in spot, which was mooted during the offseason, already seems wide of the mark (yet still not impossible).
But it is still the early days. There has actually been quite a bit to like about this young roster.
So much so in fact, that fans of the Orlando Magic can already look to three real positives from the nine games they have played.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley is doing his best to create a culture with the group, and it was on full display in Thursday night’s win against the Golden State Warriors. Somehow the Warriors haven’t won at Amway Center since Kevin Durant left, and this loss dropped them to 0-5. Jalen Suggs got the plaudits down the stretch, but it was a team-wide effort to show the fightback necessary to win.
That is just one of a number of intriguing subplots developing, and with more losing sure to come their way, let us take this opportunity before the seven-game home stand really kicks off to take stock of some of the positives around the Magic at this time.