For the first time in what feels like forever, Orlando Magic fans can confidently say they have a great basketball team.
The days of talking about the future and refreshing Tankathon might just be over.
Yes, the Magic do have a bright future. They have not even begun to scratch the surface of what they can be. But right here and right now, we can finally have nuanced conversations about this season, without even having utter the word potential.
And it feels good.
As it currently stands, the Magic are the third in the Eastern Conference, boasting a 16-7 record, and owners of the third-best defensive rating in the league at 108.7 points allowed per 100 possessions. They have the fifth-best net rating at +5.2 points per 100 possessions and quite frankly play some of the most physical and aggressive basketball in the whole NBA.
And, for the cherry on top, the Magic are 16th in offensive rating at 113.8 points per 100 possessions. They are on track to be outside the bottom 10 in offensive rating for the first time since Dwight Howard was on the team 2012.
You would be hard-pressed to find another team in the league competing at their level night in and night out. All of this is also coming with a real home-court advantage at Amway Center, with the Magic only losing two homes so far this season -- and one of those was in Mexico City.
Given their choice of possible outcomes to start this season, Magic fans might not be able to dream up a better result, except for maybe an appearance in the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals.
The best part about being in the mix at this point in the season is these games now mean something. They always mean something in the win-loss column. But now fans get to watch games with an eye on the playoffs.
Each regular season game could be a potential playoff matchup down the line. The Magic will be trying out lineups, different defensive assignments and mixing up the offensive sets, all in preparation for trying to make some noise later in the season.
The second quarter of the schedule holds some serious tests for this Magic team. Just like the first, when the calendar hits mid-January, we will have an even clearer picture of where this team stands.
3 Orlando Magic games to watch in the second quarter of the season
Dec. 15- at Boston Celtics
Dec. 17 – at Boston Celtics
Choosing these games against the Boston Celtics was easy.
As we know, the two teams played back as part of the In-Season Tournament and the Magic dominated, winning 113-96. Things got a little chippy in the aftermath of that game.
Cole Anthony made it well known that he and the team took Eddie House's words from last year personally and are always ready for Boston. And it seems like Boston might have some unfinished business, despite getting the last laugh by still advancing.
The Magic get a double dip with the East-leading Celtics this weekend. There will be a lot of intensity to these games. But Friday's game will be the second night of a back-to-back for the Boston Celtics (they are at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday). That is what will make this Sunday's matinee matchup even more juicy.
If Boston comes out like I think they will, the season series should be tied up going into Sunday, with this being the last regular season matchup between these two teams.
And I say regular season because who knows? The Magic and Celtics might get even more familiar with each other with a potential date in the playoffs.
There is also an interesting dynamic at play here as the Celtics have dominated the conference for years now, but are still looking for the ultimate prize. The Magic are now right on their heels, and with two young forwards like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, can go shot for shot the Celtics’ superstars.
3 Orlando Magic games to watch in the second quarter of the season
Dec. 20 – vs. Miami Heat
This is the first of four games versus the Miami Heat and hopefully the start of a new era in the rivalry.
Playing against the defending conference champs, who also happen to be your in-state rival certainly raises the stakes for this one. And whether anyone likes to acknowledge it or not, these games have a more charged atmosphere inside the Amway Center and wins over the Heat matter a lot to this franchise.
Things have been quiet recently between these Florida foes, but both teams could finally be good enough at the same time, potentially creating some friction.
That is something that has rarely happened in the two franchise's history. In Orlando's 34 seasons, Miami and Orlando have both had a winning record in the same season just 11 times. The last one was in Dwight Howard's last season in 2012.
As it is tending now, there is also the potential to get a playoff matchup between these two, which would have the whole state buzzing. That has not happened since Anfernee Hardaway's famous playoff series in 1997.
On the court, the Heat’s trio of Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo can present some issues for the Magic, assuming they are healthy for this game.
Looking back at last season, the Magic beat the Heat only once. Starting this season so strong, taking back the reigns in this match-up could go a long way for the franchise.
This is always a matchup that feels meaningful to the franchise. It is certainly a big measuring stick for this young team to reclaim their state.
3 Orlando Magic games to watch in the second quarter of the season
Jan. 13 – at Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s timeline parallels the Orlando Magic’s in many ways.
Both have drafted very well the past few years, both are making their way back into contention and both seem to have caught the eye of the NBA-nerd public.
The Thunder have long been everyone’s favorite rebuilding franchise with a whole treasure chest of picks and assets. But so far this season they are quite the monster on the court as well.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back playing at an All-NBA level, averaging more than 30 points per game. The supporting cast has all elevated their games too. And Chet Holmgren has shown more than real flashes in his first taste of NBA action.
There’s the obvious connection between Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero and this will be their first clash on an NBA court as they missed each other during Summer League and last season with Holmgren's foot injury.
Any time players are drafted Nos. 1 and 2 in the same draft, they will always be connected. In this case, both franchises are more than happy with the player they selected. But it is still fun to compare.
In a bigger picture sense, the Thunder and Magic are both on pace to be real power players in the league for the foreseeable future. With some of the best young players in the league on the court, this is must-watch TV.
If only the league recognized that and broadcasted it to a national audience. They will at least get that chance when the Thunder make their visit to Orlando and the Amway Center on Feb. 13 (in the third quarter of the season).