The start of Sunday's game against the New York Knicks could not have started off worse.
The Knicks scord the first 12 points in the game. The Magic were sluggish offensively, unable to hit from the outside or get to the rim. The Magic's first points came from the free throw line. Anthony Black hit the first field goal. The first made shot from the starters came near the first-quarter buzzer from Jase Richardson.
It felt like the Magic were going to break apart trying to find a way through. This new system was not clicking.
Or, at the very least, not producing results.
Coach Sean Sweeney has often said that confidence comes from evidence. The team can say they are bought in, but the proof would come from their actions. And some of that faith needs to be rewarded.
That is perhaps the biggest thing that stood out from the Magic's win over the Knicks. It was not merely that Orlando came back to win with a flourishing fourth-quarter finish from Franz Wagner.
It was that the team stuck to and believed in what Sweeney is trying to run. They got that confirmation and belief. They made it work to score their first win and a confidence-building, identity-building win at that.
"You are going to see ebbs and flows like that throughout the game," Desmond Bane said after practice Tuesday. "I thought the most important thing and the best thing about that is that we stuck with it all the way throughout. We kept playing our brand of basketball. The game turned for us in the second half. You don't want to start like that, but we got it under control."
The Magic still clearly have many things to clean up. They have not put together a complete game. There have been hiccups and concerning lulls in all three games.
But the Magic are starting to form some patterns. They are starting to form their identity.
It will start on the defensive end, of course. That is where the Magic have started to build consistency. The team's offense is still rounding into form.
And all of it is still becoming consistent.
But the Magic are progressing. Or at least, they feel like they are. And Sunday's win was the first time the Magic seemed to put all the pieces together.
Growing on defense
For as much attention as the Orlando Magic's offense received during the preseason, the biggest determining factor for the team's success would be recovering the team's defense.
Coach Sean Sweeney made it clear that defense was still going to be the team's chief identity and backbone.
The Magic have had their ups and downs defensively to start the season, for sure.
Through the first week of the season and three games, the Magic rank just 18th in the league with an 111.9 defensive rating. That is still a solid defensive number, even if it ranks low in the league currently.
Orlando has struggled corralling offensive rebounds -- the team has a 65.7 percent defensive rebound rate, good for 20th -- and has fouled a lot -- giving up a 32.0 percent free throw rate, ranking 22nd.
Those issues carried over from the preseason. There was still a lot to clean up.
But the Magic have progressively been getting their defense under wraps.
They followed up a frustrating 118.9 defensive rating in the opener against the Atlanta Hawks with a more reasonable 113.9 effort in the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They finished Sunday's win with 102.0 points allowed per 100 possessions.
That trend will likely not continue. But the Magic's defense improved in each outing so far.
"I just think our defensive mindset in that second half was really great," Jase Richardson said after practice Tuesday. "We defended at a high level late in the game. I think our composure down the stretch offensively -- AB, Franz, Desmond -- were really composed getting us into our sets and getting good looks."
The Magic had a 98.0 defensive rating in the second half of Sunday's win. It was huge in setting up the win, as the offense finally came alive beyond the team's surprising shooting.
The Magic's defense is starting to find its footing and assert itself. That is a positive sign for the team. A step in the right direction.
If the defense can continue improving like this, the Magic will be in good position.
Putting the pieces together
Undoubtedly, though, the team is still putting the pieces together.
The offense has not come around -- posting a 106.5 offensive rating in the first three games, good for 22nd in the league. The shooting has been wildly inconsistent, going from Friday's 8-for-39 effort to Sunday's game-saving 18-for-42 showing.
Water is still finding its level throughout the league. The Magic are still figuring out how to execute appropriately on offense.
Right now, the bigger problem is the team's turnovers. The Magic are posting a 16.8 percent turnover rate, good for 20th in the league early in the season. That is a sure way to give up a lot of points and a sure way to sabotage good defensive effort.
Orlando is still putting all the pieces together clearly.
The team had the rough second quarter in the loss to the Hawks, a rough half against the Timberwolves and the slow start against the Knicks. This is still a process to get everyone on the same page.
The injuries do not help with that process. The team is having to redefine some roles and how to play without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Then again, Sweeney has been big on keeping player roles and just doing them well regardless of who is playing.
"Everybody has a great idea of what we're trying to do on both ends of the floor," Desmond Bane said after practice Tuesday. "I think coach Sweeney has done a great job of saying just do that. Just do what we're asking and good things will happen."
The team is still trying to learn what that process is. They are still learning how to execute Sweeney's style of play.
The Magic have not given up on that process this early in the season. They are still very bought in to what they are trying to do with this new coach. And they are not wavering in their attempts to execute it.
That got them their first win and got them on the first step this sason.
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