Orlando Magic: 5 keys to bouncing back in December
By Luke Duffy
5. Take Christmas off
It might sound strange for a team in the midst of a tussle to make the playoffs to enjoy some time off, but that is exactly what they should do.
Earlier this season, rookie Malik Monk of the Charlotte Hornets told CBSSports that the life of an NBA player is actually quite boring. Not every player feels the same way as Monk, but there’s no question the slog of an 82-game regular season, with plenty of time spent out on the road, can be difficult.
While the NBA does a fantastic job of putting a great five-game spread on Christmas Day, the Magic won’t be a part of that this season.
In fact, after playing away to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 23, they don’t play again until Dec. 26 in Miami against the Heat. This is a great opportunity for the players to fly home from Washington on the same night and then spend a couple of days with their families.
The schedule doesn’t always allow for this to happen, and it should really be a goal of the Magic to get the nod to play on Christmas Day in the near future.
For now, however, head coach Frank Vogel would be wise to have the team do light shootaround work on one or both days between games, and nothing else. It would give the players and coaching staff a chance to recharge a little before giving their all between then and the All-Star break.