Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has often highlighted his team’s overall growth throughout his third season at the helm, which has led to this year’s success.
At the individual level, Orlando All-Star Forward Paolo Banchero became more efficient (shooting 36.2% from 3-point range compared to 29.8% a year ago) and a stronger playmaker in his sophomore campaign (averaging 5.2 assists, compared to 3 ,7).
On a group level, the Magic are 19-6 against teams below .500 (which they are expected to beat) compared to 15-16 against teams with a losing record in Banchero’s rookie season.
There are many indicators that show how far the Magic have come this year, but perhaps none are more impressive than what the team accomplished Thursday against the Jazz.
Orlando’s 8-point victory over Utah at the Kia Center marked the team’s 34th victory of the season and closed out February with a 9-3 record.
The Magic (34-26) matched their win total from a season ago – with 22 games remaining.
“A group that understands exactly what we are capable of doing but is never satisfied, that wants to continue to grow and get better,” Mosley said Thursday when asked after the game what the mark of 34 victories.
“It says a lot about this coaching staff that they have worked so hard with these guys and for themselves to be able to help them reach the highest level of success possible.”
A lot changed for the Magic in February after a dreadful January that saw them go 6-10, at one point losing seven games in nine games.
What worked for Orlando in February?
The Magic shot the ball much better.
Through 16 games the previous month, Orlando shot 45.8% from the field (36.4% from 3), which ranked 24th in the league. Through 12 games in February, the Magic’s shooting percentage jumped to 50.4% (39.5% from 3), a mark that was 6th best.
That helped bring back veteran guard Gary Harris, who was unavailable from Jan. 5-31 because of a right calf strain that forced him to miss 16 games. For 22.7 minutes in 10 games played in February, Harris shot 48.5% from 3-point range.
Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic Overcame Mistakes to Beat Jazz in Banchero’s Return
The Magic also had more success near the rim.
In February, Orlando averaged the ninth most points in the paint (52.8). In January, the Magic averaged the fifth fewest points from the paint (45.0).
What still needs work?
The Magic are far from perfect and they are the first to admit it, even after Thursday’s victory against the Jazz (27-33).
Orlando committed 15 turnovers for 25 points and missed 10 free throws against a team that is not in the top 10 in the West (a non-Play-In team).
“There is a standard,” Mosley said. “We are talking about [how] we came away with a victory, but we understand that we must continue to hold ourselves to higher standards. As we continue to grow and improve – which this team does because they recognize it – we will continue to improve throughout this.
Despite a strong performance in February, the Magic still averaged 14.7 turnovers, which placed them tied for fifth. Orlando’s 75.2% free throw percentage was third-worst in the NBA.
What’s next in March?
Home games. And lots of them.
Ten of the Magic’s 14 games in March will be played at the Kia Center, where the team is 20-7 this season. (Orlando’s overall home record of 20-8 includes a November “home” loss to Atlanta in Mexico City.)
The month begins Sunday (Bally Sports Florida, 6) against the Pistons (9-49), penultimate in the East.
While every game counts in a playoff race as tight as the East, there will be two crucial matchups against conference opponents this month: at New York on March 8 and against Indiana two days later .
Entering Friday’s games, the Magic were in sixth place in the East, above the Play-In tournament mark and ahead of the seventh-seeded Pacers (34-26). Orlando is still one game behind the fourth-seeded Knicks (35-25).
If the Magic can move up to fourth in the East, it would mean home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series.
It will be critical to continue to do more of what worked in February, while improving on what didn’t.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Magic guard Jalen Suggs said. “We had to win games when we weren’t making shots. We’ve had to win games by relying on defense and win games where we can’t get stops but we have shots falling from the outside.
“We are able to win and adapt to the flow of the game, and [Thursday] was another example.
Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
