Three Keys to a Magic-al Season for Orlando
Credit: Fernando Medina - NBAE
The Orlando Magic are yet again slated to be a team on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Orlando has the 5th youngest roster in the league at an average of just over 24 years of age, per NBA.com. Their roster is led by 2022-2023 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, 6th Man of the Year candidate Cole Anthony, and Markelle Fultz, who is steadily becoming the player everyone envisioned coming out of Washington. Jamahl Mosley is going into his third year as head coach, increasing his win total by 12 from the previous season.
ESPN has the Magic’s win total at 36.5 games this season, a year after winning 34. This would place them right outside the play-in tournament for a third straight season. How can Orlando surpass this win total and sneak into the play-in and potentially the playoffs? Here are three keys to Orlando having a successful season.
Switch Up the Tempo
If Orlando wants to increase their win-total, they’re going to have to push the pace. Get out and run and create more quality shot attempts. According to ESPN, Orlando pace was middle-of-the-pack, finishing 15th with a pace of 99.66 possessions per game. With the amount of youth and athleticism Orlando has at their disposal, it would behoove them to get the ball to their playmakers in transition and run. Fultz, Anthony, Suggs, Franz, and Banchero can all push the break and get to the rim; Mosley must take advantage of these young, fresh legs and score in transition early and often.
2. Bring in Some Veteran Shooters
With Orlando being the 5th youngest team in the league at 24.2 years of age on average, the Magic have a surplus of youth and could stand to trade some of them for actual veteran shooting and leadership. The Magic drafted two more young players in the lottery, Anthony Black and Jett Howard, who are going to want minutes down the line. Suggs, Anthony, and Fultz, while all tasked with different roles, share similar qualities in their games. Orlando doesn’t have to pull any trigger just yet; however, Orlando should be fielding calls on 3-and-D players
3. STAY HEALTHY
Orlando’s biggest key to all of this is to stay healthy, and it starts and ends with one player: Markelle Fultz. Other players like Jonathan Issac and Jalen Suggs have their own challenges staying healthy, Fultz’s health is more important, as he is the engine that drives this car. Last season, Orlando was 29-28 when Fultz was on the floor. He’s finally gotten through media day and training camp without any setbacks. Combine that with the work being done by Fultz and his improved jump-shot, Fultz looks ready to take on the league and return to form. If he, Issac, and Suggs stay healthy, 40+ wins are not out of reach.