Orlando Magic: 3 takeaways from their 2021-22 schedule

Takeaways from the Orlando Magic schedule: 2. West coast trip will be crucial

For the last number of years, the Magic have had a West coast swing near the end of the calendar year. It has served to both make them and break them, as some trips have gone well, while others have been a disaster. It seems a long time ago now, but Fultz had one of his best games ever with the Magic while playing against the Los Angeles Lakers in L.A.

This season will be no different, as the Magic will head out that way for five games between December 3rd – December 12th. They will also play two games in Cleveland and Philadelphia in the days leading up to that trip, with a home game against the Denver Nuggets in there as well, in what will be a telling time for the group.

By the time they board the plane to go West, they will have played 23 games. Of those encounters, 13 will have come against opponents who made the playoffs last year. There is every chance their record will read something like 8-15, if not worse, and they will be heading off to face the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, L.A. Clippers and Lakers. Gulp.

But that trip will be about so much more than the results of the games. It will be the first chance for the group to get away together to the other side of the country for an extended period. To really bond on the long trip and to grow as a group. All going well, and assuming the injury bug doesn’t strike again, Isaac and Fultz will be back by then as well.

There is a five-game road trip in November as well, that will the team go to Atlanta, New York, Brooklyn and then play the Milwaukee Bucks in their backyard twice in three nights. That too will bring with it a chance to come together. The record will probably look a bit nicer at that point as well. But nothing forges a group of people like adversity when far away from home. This trip will be just that and will be hugely beneficial in the long run to the Magic.