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Orlando Magic: 3 unexpected stats from promising start

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic speaks to the team during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 14: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic speaks to the team during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 14, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic look like a competent outfit for the first time in years. Here are three unexpected stats from their nice start to the season.

At 7-8, the Orlando Magic are in a much better place than they have been for some time now. They are a tough out in every game they play and have the kind of personnel to win close matchups as well.

Upcoming games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets won’t be easy, but as long as the Magic remain competitive when playing in these games, fans will be happy. After all, that is all they have asked for with this organization for a long time now.

But while some parts of their start to the season were expected, such as the impact of first year head coach Steve Clifford and how they play defensively, other aspects of what Orlando is doing weren’t as easy to predict.

These are the factors which have contributed to their nice start, and as long as they continue to surprise in these areas will be the reason they hang around the playoff conversation into 2019.

Here we will look at three stats and numbers in particular that jump out when examining the Magic’s season so far.

However these don’t include a big shot here (the buzzer-beating effort of Evan Fournier to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers) or a key stop there (Jonathan Isaac‘s huge block on Joel Embiid on their way to a statement win over the Philadelphia 76ers).

Those little moments have fed into the bigger picture, and have Orlando looking like a more complete team in the Eastern Conference right now. One that a lot of other organizations would like to avoid.

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