The Orlando Magic are not off to the start they had hoped for. Orlando started the year 1-4 with a few bad losses. However, the Magic have won their last two games heading into Tuesday’s road trip finale against the Atlanta Hawks.
Still, the Magic were expected to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, but they have not played like it. Big-name acquisition Desmond Bane has been one of the more disappointing players as he is averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Orlando will need him to play better, but Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have been holding it down as the leading scorers.
Jalen Suggs has not been at his best to begin this year, either. He is not worried about the team’s slow start, though.
“It’s coming along pretty well. It’s early. It’s so easy to look at these things and call them ‘big, glaring problems,’ and then you forget that there’s 70-plus games left…” Suggs said, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic Have Made Changes The Last Two Games
GettyThe Magic have made some changes in practice that are evident in their gameplay.
During their 1-4 start, the Magic allowed 122.6 points per game. Opponents were shooting 48.6% from the field and 36.5% from the three-point line. Offensively, Orlando averaged 114.0 points per game on 46.7% shooting and 31.2% from beyond the arc.
In their last two wins, Orlando has allowed 100.7 points per game, a 35.1% three-point percentage, and 44.8% field goal percentage. Their offensive production has improved to 124.0 points per game on 51.4% shooting and 37.8% from deep.
The changes Orlando has made are evident in the way they are practicing.
“We’re coming in every day in practice and using that time intentionally to have conversations, to have discourse about what we’re seeing, what we’re feeling, and what we want to do,” Suggs told Beede.
Granted, the last two games have come against weaker competition, but it is still important to win those games. Orlando being able to play better against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards is an encouraging sign for what’s to come.
Upcoming Matchups
GettyThe Magic enter Tuesday night’s game on a two-game win streak.
The Magic have a chance to get back to .500 on the year when they take on the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. The Hawks will be without Trae Young, so Orlando should like their chances in the game.
Assuming the Magic take care of business in Atlanta, they will start their mini three-game home stand with momentum. During the home stand, Orlando takes on the Boston Celtics twice and the Portland Trail Blazers once. Those two teams are solid squads, which means Orlando is going to be tested a lot more than they have been recently.
The rest of November will not be a cake walk for the Magic. They will have to grind their way through some tough battles if they are going to end up on top. Orlando has been much better recently, which is hopefully a sign for things to come.
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