Nov 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel calls play as he huddles up against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic have not had much to celebrate in the early part of the season so far. But a few bright spots have emerged as the team continues to build.
Anger. Sadness. Annoyance.
Those are three things Orlando Magic fans have been feeling so far from their team. Orlando has been disappointing, to say the absolute least even though the team sits at 5-7.
The Magic have been dead last in offense in the league (scoring 92.3 points per game on average). They are 10th in the league by defense (allowing 100.9 points per game), but that could obviously improve. In pace-neutral stats, the Magic rank 28th in the league in offensive rating (96.4 points per 100 possessions) and 15th in defensive rating (104.6 points allowed per 100 possessions).
Serge Ibaka, the one guy Orlando really counted on this season, has been averaging a mere 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. And the returning stalwarts like Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier have seen their scoring aveages decrease too.
Serge Ibaka’s numbers are great for a bench-warmer, not a “go-to guy”. And Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier were the Magic’s two best offensive players entering the season. They all have struggled to deliver.
Things are not all bad. The Magic have risen to 15th in the league in defensive rating in the last week after wallowing in the bottom five. It seems like the team is starting to round into form.
And while the team has suffered some embarrassing offensive performances and has failed to blow out teams it perhaps should, the Magic are still at 5-7 with every opportunity to achieve its main goals still. It is only 12 games into the season, after all.
So, insults and depression aside, let’s see the few bright spots Orlando has had so far.
Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard D.J. Augustin (14) drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
D.J. Augustin
Back in July, D.J. Augustin signed a four-year, $29 million contract with Orlando as their backup point guard. It was nothing too newsworthy. Now, that crazily seems like the best decision Orlando made this offseason.
Since Elfrid Payton has been sluggish to start this season, it is refreshing to see Augustin know how to run an offense and create his own shot.
He is averaging 9.3 points and 2.3 assists per game off 17.9 minutes per game. Not too bad. The stats are not that solid, but he does serve Orlando to what they need. A boost of offense off the bench. He is a good 3-point shooter, and he gives a veteran presence.
Again, this seemed like a minor move at first, but looks can be deceiving. Hopefully, when (or if) the Magic start getting their act together, Augustin keeps up his decent play.
Nov 11, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) points after he makes a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Amway Center. Utah Jazz defeated the Orlando Magic 87-74. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Bismack Biyombo
It was apparent when the Magic signed Bismack Biyombo, he would provide rebounds, blocks and a lot of hustle. Thankfully, that s exactly what he is doing.
Biyombo is averaging 4.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. The points category is low, but he was not expected to score the ball anyway. Watching him play is enjoyable, because he actually seems like he cares. Which is extremely noticeable for this team which has sometimes lacked energy. Biyombo has sparked the team to more than a few wins already this season.
Sure, a four-year, $72 million contract seems a bit much just for an energy player, but they need him. Especially if Vucevic or Ibaka do not show up to play well.
Nov 11, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel reacts against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Frank Vogel
He knows what he is doing, that is for sure. It is safe to say however he is working with less in Orlando than he was in Indiana.
But Vogel still has faith, as he told Sports Illustrated earlier this month:
“I think we have good guys that are all trying to do what I’m asking them to do. We have some ability. I have a lot of confidence in what we can accomplish as a group, but we all have to remain patient that it’s gonna take a little bit of time.”
Also, it is not like Vogel i snot trying to do new things as well. He put Aaron Gordon on the bench to play behind Jeff Green recently. Whether that was a good idea or not is too early to tell, but it is good to see he is experimenting. He is not staying complacent as the team struggled. Right now they are treading water as they figure out their identity and chemistry.
Overall, Vogel knows things are not good in Orlando. It’s good to have a coach who knows they are not playing well, instead of sugar coating things pretending they are.
He has remained positive with the team. And, while the results may be coming slowly, the Magic are starting to turn something of a corner and establish an identity defensively. Just as he promised.
Oct 26, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel talks with forward Serge Ibaka (7) against the Miami Heat during the second half at Amway Center. Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 108-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Conclusion
The Magic are currently 5-7. Five wins technically is not too bad right now, but it is the way the Magic have been playing that is the bad part.
For a team that has playoff hopes, this is not impressive. Also, for a team that wanted to be a defensive monster, they are laughably bad at defense.
But they are slowly improving. The last four games have had encouraging signs, if not some really ugly games. Maybe things can turn around, and maybe the Magic do not have to press the panic button now.
Still, the Magic have a few things to be proud of. It is not much, but it is all they got besides looking forward to a top draft pick next summer.
They remain in the early Playoff race with some clear problems to solve. But still tie to do so and come together as a team.
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