It would be fair to say the Orlando Magic’s season has not gone exactly how they would have liked to this point. The possibility of making an attempt at the postseason is getting dimmer after only a quarter of the campaign, mostly due to the dire injury luck which has cursed this franchise at key times for a number of years now.
The Magic are still just three games out of the final play-in spot entering Wednesday’s game, so do not quit that dream quite yet.
Missing personnel is not the only factor in the Magic’s inability to string wins and a cohesive product together.
This is one of the youngest rosters in the league, and the inescapable fact is most other teams are competitive as well. No win comes easy in the league anymore. Even the teams that many expected to tank, are stringing together early victories.
It is not all bad however. This Thanksgiving the Orlando Magic have five real reasons to be thankful for the position that they are in. It is a time for optimism still within the franchise.
Some of these will be obvious. Others less so.
But with the bulk of the roster on a similar timeline, a second-year head coach in Jamahl Mosley, whom the players are responding to, and a reliable veteran in the form of Terrence Ross navigating NBA life for the youngsters, the Magic are doing their best to forge an identity for the future.
Even if your outlook is not as optimistic as this, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be grateful. And that is what we are doing here.
Make no mistake, there are still plenty of hard days and tough losses ahead. But with the possibility of tanking looking as enticing as ever, perhaps that is no bad thing either.