Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

3 thoughts on the Orlando Magic’s humbling homestand

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: (L-R) Wendell Carter Jr. #34, Caleb Houstan #2, Terrence Ross #31, and Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic talk after a foul in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Amway Center on November 09, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: (L-R) Wendell Carter Jr. #34, Caleb Houstan #2, Terrence Ross #31, and Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic talk after a foul in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Amway Center on November 09, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Damion Lee #of the Phoenix Suns with Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

3. They are playing to the level of their opponents.

An annoying trait of teams that are growing, or lacking in a strong identity, is how they can play to the level of their opponents. Never was this more true than during this homestand, with the Orlando Magic beating the last two Western Conference champions in the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns and also the Luka Doncic-inspired Dallas Mavericks.

Around those highs, came losses to the still-meh (but improving) Sacramento Kings, the rebuilding Houston Rockets, a poor Charlotte Hornets group that did get LaMelo Ball back (he’s gone again), and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The latter having real issues in making Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns co-exist early this seaosn.

The good news is that three of those losses were all by single digits. The bad news is that the Magic lost all of these games in the first place.

The display against the Hornets in particular dredged up bad memories from the past. There was no energy, no enthusiasm and no desire to beat their opponents at home. It felt like everybody just assumed they’d pull out the win.

They did not, and this is an unacceptable level of play for one of the five youngest rosters in the league.

Playing with pace and energy should be a minimum requirement, and it is if the Magic want to make the playoffs one day soon. Head coach Jamahl Mosley could have looked to an energizer such as Kevon Harris more for that game, but he only played 11 minutes.

You can bet that when the Orlando Magic venture out onto the road again (the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers away from Amway Center are up next for them), they will begin both games with more energy.

Learning how to manage the expectations of the fans, and also the label of being a good team favored at home, is still something they are far away from handling.