Orlando Magic: A look at the team’s start with Orlando Magic Daily

We’ve seen enough of the Orlando Magic now to formulate some thoughts on their season. Here, Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily shares his.

At 10-15, the Orlando Magic are exactly where we thought they would likely be. They’re a team still in postseason contention, but with more losses than wins.

Despite this, the Magic actually started the season really well, even though that 6-2 start feels more like a pleasant dream than anything else at this point.

After a cursory look on Twitter, Reddit and various fan forums, it is clear the fans themselves have varying opinions about the state of the team and the direction it is headed in. Some are overly optimistic, others far too negative, but it is clear everybody has strong feelings on the 25 games we’ve seen so far.

Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily stopped by to talk about the season so far, and where he believes this team is headed. You can follow Orlando Magic Daily on Twitter here.

Luke Duffy (HoopsHabit): Who do you think has been the Magic’s best player so far this season?

Philip Rossman-Reich (Orlando Magic Daily): I think it has to be Aaron Gordon. He has become the player everyone imagined he could be when the Magic drafted him with the fourth overall pick.

Through his first three years, there was hardly a universe where he took pull-up 3-pointers or took over games for long stretches.

Gordon is giving Magic fans a lot of hope. And he better with the money it will cost to keep him now. But Gordon is proving to be the ultra-versatile stretch-4 that has become vogue. He is also just 22 and still has room to grow. This season is quickly becoming about fostering his growth and letting him soar (pun intended).

Duffy: Their worst player?

Rossman-Reich: Magic fans are obsessed with Mario Hezonja since he was a former fifth overall pick. I never really expected much from him this year.

But the worst player on the team (other than Hezonja) has probably been Nikola Vucevic. It is not that he is bad. So maybe worst is the wrong word. Disappointing is probably better. Vucevic’s weaknesses have been well known for years. But they have become far more apparent this year.

It feels like things have run their course. As the Magic fell from the top, his poor defense and rim protection became a constant source for opponents to attack.

It feels like Orlando is going to have to move on and that the team will have this ceiling on them with Vucevic out there.

Duffy: Are you surprised the Magic have become known more for their offensive ability as opposed to defensive ability as a team?

Rossman-Reich: Yes, I am surprised. The team was one of the worst offensive teams in the league last year and I thought they would have similar struggles this year.

They still did not have someone who could create offense for themselves. And even when the team opened things up in transition last year they were still in the 20s (they were 29th with a rating of 101.2).

To be in the top half of the league offensively is a really huge step. Obviously Aaron Gordon’s development has had a lot to do that. Adding another shooter to the lineup — and a highly efficient one — has helped the Magic offensively.

But head coach Frank Vogel is a defensive coach and this team will still have its offensive struggles. This should have been the added bonus to the team’s identity.

Duffy: Trade rumors are really going to start heating up now. Which Magic player needs a change of scenery?

Rossman-Reich: There are several players that it is time to move on from. Hezonja obviously needs to go somewhere to save his NBA career, because it is not happening in Orlando.

I think Vucevic is still a usable player, but not in the role the Magic have him in. He needs to go somewhere he can come off the bench and put his offensive skills on display.

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That has not happened in Orlando and I do not think he would accept a “demotion,” so to speak. It is probably time for him to move on elsewhere. The Magic certainly need him to do so.

Duffy: December’s schedule looks far more manageable than November’s did. What is the highest win streak the team could conceivably put together this season?

Rossman-Reich: I think the team could throw together a five-game win streak. I am not looking too specifically at this schedule.

But the Magic are not a team that is exactly consistent. I am not sure we can rely on the Magic to build any long win streaks at any point.

They are going to be very up and down all year. Really their success will be built on putting together longer stretches of sustained play. I do not know if the team is going to put together any super long streaks.

Duffy: Are you happy with the job head coach Frank Vogel is doing or should he be edging closer to the hot seat?

Rossman-Reich: I think Frank Vogel has done about all he can do with this roster. The team has kind of run its course with this roster and it is clear they need to flip things over.

Having some stability at head coach is important to teaching whoever is left once president Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond make the changes they inevitably have to make.

Really the question is: What are the expectations for this team? It clearly is not necessarily built on wins and losses. I think that is more on the players. Is it based on effort?

If that is the case, maybe Vogel is not as safe as I think. I really believe the Magic need stability at coach and so Vogel is the safest guy on the team (outside rookie Jonathan Isaac).

Unless he has completely alienated the team, he is going to be the coach next year. But the demand for results will come shortly after that. Perhaps his stature is like the players — management wants to learn and figure him out just like their players and then determine if he stays.

Duffy: Assuming he comes back 100 percent healthy, does Jonathan Isaac have a case to become a starter for this team before the season ends?

Rossman-Reich: Just before his injury, I thought the move the Magic should make to their starting lineup was to add Jonathan Isaac, not Jonathon Simmons. I think he would largely stay out of the way offensively, but his defense would help boost the team. The defense is the problem.

As long as they keep his role well defined and give him some second unit minutes to explore his offensive game, it is probably the way to go. According to NBA.com’s on/off numbers, the Magic play their best defense with Isaac. Maybe that is not all attributable to Isaac, but he cannot hurt.

Isaac has been a more-than-exceptional defensive player. His injury really came at a bad time for him and the team.

Duffy: Be honest, do you think the Magic will make the playoffs this season?

Rossman-Reich: I do not think the Magic are a playoff team. They had me believing earlier in the year during the hot start. I think the goal for the players and coaches remains the playoffs.

I still expect them to be in the race deep into the season. They still seem on track to do that, especially if they can put together some wins in December. This next month will really determine what direction the season goes in. The Magic have their opportunity right now.

Next: 2017-18 Week 8 NBA Power Rankings

But this team is still so inconsistent — on both ends, really. it is hard to see them breaking through. Their rhythm fluctuates so dramatically.