Jalen Suggs Sounds Off on Magic Early Season Struggles
The Orlando Magic have faced a rough opening stretch this season, beginning with a 1-4 record and several tough losses. Despite this, the team remains calm and confident about turning things around. Heading into Tuesday’s road trip finale against the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando has won its last two games.
Early Season Performance
The Magic were projected to be among the stronger teams in the Eastern Conference but have not met those early expectations. New addition Desmond Bane has been underwhelming so far, averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. The team hopes to see more consistency from him as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner continue to perform as Orlando’s primary scorers, helping to stabilize the offense amid early struggles. Jalen Suggs, though not at his best yet, remains optimistic about the team’s direction.
“It’s coming along pretty well. It’s so easy to look at these things and call them ‘big, glaring problems,’ and then you forget that there’s 70-plus games left…” — Jalen Suggs, via Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel
Adjustments and Improvement
After their difficult start, the Magic implemented noticeable changes during practice, which have started to reflect in their on-court play. In the opening five games, the team allowed 122.6 points per game, with opponents shooting 48.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.
Offensively, Orlando averaged 114.0 points per game on 46.7% shooting, hitting just 31.2% from beyond the arc. However, in their two most recent wins, the defense tightened considerably, surrendering only 100.7 points per game.
Author’s Summary
The Magic endured a sluggish start, but recent adjustments and renewed confidence from players like Suggs suggest the team is regaining its rhythm and focus for the rest of the season.