3 thoughts on the Orlando Magic after one-quarter of season

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3 thoughts on the Orlando Magic’s first quarter

2. The next quarter will be worse

The trend of negativity continues because there is every reason to believe that the next quarter of the season is going to be even worse for the Magic. If that sounds like a poor stance to take, then consider these two facts that may change your mind.

The first is that, as great as it will be to have Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac back (eye that homestand at the end of December for his much-anticipated return), they cannot simply be inserted into this group seamlessly to make the rotation better. They are going to help sooner rather than later, especially Markelle Fultz in a bare backcourt, but does coach Jamahl Mosley sacrifice some Bol Bol minutes to get Jonathan Isaac involved? A risk, considering Bol has been their most important player this season.

Bamba is having his best year with the franchise and seems to have found his place. Uprooting him to accommodate Isaac is risky.

There will be moments of respite where the defensive rating especially improves with these players coming back because of their sheer talent on that end, but this is a puzzle that will be complex to put together properly.

Next. 3 thoughts on the Magic's humbling homestand. dark

On an even more daunting note, by the time the Magic have played their next 21 games, they will be three games into a five-game West coast road trip. Before that, they will see the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks three times, the Boston Celtics twice and the Milwaukee Bucks. Two of those Celtics games, as well as a Hawks game and finally a tilt against the Houston Rockets, will come as part of a four-game road trip just before Christmas.

The Magic ironically have a tendency to play better away from home, but you have to admit this is running the gauntlet. The final three games before the second portion of the season wrap-up will be away to the now red-hot Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.

Taking a look at the schedule, there are games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and L.A. Clippers in there as well. All of which is to say, the Magic will struggle to add five wins to the 5-16 record they already have during this period.

At that point, calls to tank will be growing by the hour. Maybe the Magic knew this and are doing their work early before they put the focus back on winning to close the season.