West coast heartbreak a part of rising up for younger Magic

The Orlando Magic wrapped up their 5 recreation journey out West on Sunday evening, with a 2-3 document and the sensation that this was a chance that obtained away from them.

Whereas on the floor choosing up highway wins towards the Golden State Warriors (who they are now 3-0 against in their last three meetings) and Portland Path Blazers exhibits progress, head coach Jamahl Mosley will know there may be nonetheless a lot work to do.

Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic broke Magic hearts in lifting the Denver Nuggets to a 3 level win over them, whereas additionally they misplaced to the Utah Jazz by solely 4 factors on this journey. Throw in a 136-111 drubbing by the hands of the Sacramento Kings, and there have been onerous classes discovered.

Regardless of the shut losses, the Magic are nonetheless nearly hanging in there within the race for the play-in, and might now sit up for 4 of their subsequent six at residence.

The robust method of shedding two shut video games, after which getting blown out in one other, could be sufficient to discourage a younger staff from continuing to play the way that they are trying to.

Make no mistake, the Magic weren’t nice in all 5 of the video games both. The Kings loss was as dangerous as they’ve performed all season, and the defeat to the Nuggets was not helped by some poor intervals of play.

The Warriors win was all that’s good about this younger staff, and will have set the tone for a constructive journey. Curiously the Warriors are the one a type of 5 opponents who they’ve a profitable document towards, and are 36-32 all time.

Towards the opposite 4 groups mixed, they’re 114-155 all-time. In the event you suppose again to among the ghastly journeys earlier iterations of this staff have gone on up to now, this was nonetheless higher than a few of these experiences.

Level guard Markelle Fultz continued to play huge minutes (30.4 minutes per evening on the journey), and averaged 15.6 factors per recreation as properly. His 3-point taking pictures should be near non-existent, he made one among solely 5 makes an attempt out West, but that’s not stopping him from having an impression.

Franz Wagner additionally had a visit to recollect, with the nickname “fourth-quarter Franz” sticking after an amazing exhibiting within the frantic win over the Path Blazers. Wagner has been the most effective gamers within the league in fourth-quarters this season, which has been enormous for the staff.

Heart Bol Bol additionally obtained a revenge of kinds towards his former employers within the Nuggets. He couldn’t fairly assist the Magic get the win, however completed with a powerful 17 factors and 6 rebounds. He was additionally again to casually producing moments of brilliance, akin to this.

But the journey can’t have been all good, and though it was a essential rising expertise for the younger group, the shortage of consistency as soon as once more reared its ugly head. Put merely it’s the largest issue holding the Magic again from getting extra critical about making the play-in.

It would be unfair to lay all of this on one person, as even rookie sensation Paolo Banchero has had much less impactful video games at instances this season. However in Cole Anthony, the franchise clearly have a player who is struggling for consistency on a nightly foundation.

One minute he’s outworking the Magic’s bigs on the glass, to grab well timed rebounds and supply an vitality enhance off the bench. His 4.5 boards per evening this 12 months have been helpful, and out West he upped that quantity to 4.8 a recreation.

Much less spectacular was the 8.4 factors and 4 assists he put up throughout these video games, whereas taking pictures 27.3 % from 3-point vary. The Magic at this stage have players with more clearly defined roles, and Anthony’s seems like that of sixth man.

However in his third season, he isn’t exhibiting what he can do typically sufficient to warrant that function. Buying and selling him might not be the reply but, however nights the place he forces photographs and makes the mistaken selections, and we noticed each through the journey, frustrate as a result of we all know what Anthony can do.

Ending with a glass half full mentality, and the Magic might have gone 4-1 on the journey if that they had proven extra expertise and poise. Two elements that we all know will come as they proceed to get reps collectively.

The group has additionally had a 60-137 document on the highway within the final 5 seasons (not together with this one), and are 425-540 all-time versus groups from the Western Convention. So getting two wins and displaying some of what’s good about this group was necessary.

The Magic will not be but at full energy both, with Jonathan Isaac trying vigorous throughout his stint with the Lakeland Magic to this point. How they might have used a participant like him throughout a few of these tough stretches all through the 5 video games.

With 4 of their subsequent six video games at residence earlier than one other 4 recreation highway journey (towards just one staff from the West within the Minnesota Timberwolves), they are going to get an opportunity to point out that they’ve grown from a tricky and at instances heartbreaking journey quickly.