The Magic are 1-3 and 11th in the East after a 129-99 loss in Toronto, with Banchero projected back around Nov. 22 and Suggs around Nov. 10. Orlando's history says a slow October is survivable, but only if the players still standing grow into bigger roles.
October 29 has rarely gone Orlando's way.
The Magic are 1-5 in games played on this date. The only win was a 95-88 home game against Philadelphia in 2002, and a year ago they lost 135-116 at Detroit. Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily pointed out that this is the second straight 1-3 start, and that last year's team began 1-4. That team still finished 45-37. That is the precedent that matters: a bad October did not decide the season.
Thin Orlando rosters have leaned on the bench before.
After Penny Hardaway was traded in 1999, Doc Rivers built a "Heart and Hustle" team around Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw and a young Ben Wallace. Armstrong had won Sixth Man and Most Improved the season before. This year's version starts with Tristan da Silva, who came off the bench in Toronto for 20 points on 8-10 shooting with 4-5 on threes and no turnovers. For a 25-year-old in his second season, that is the next step: playing like a fixture, not a fill-in. The bench outscored nothing, though. Starters had 49 points and reserves 46. Jase Richardson's 10 points in 14 minutes came with the team's best plus-minus, -5, but Rossman-Reich observed that Toronto went after him on switches.
Wagner has to grow as a creator, not just as a scorer.
The 2002 win on this date opened the season in which Tracy McGrady led the league at 32.1 points a game. Those Magic teams still lost in the first round every time, so scoring volume alone did not build a contender. With Banchero out, Wagner is the one starting the offense. In Toronto he had 15 points on 4-11 shooting and 7 turnovers. Rossman-Reich wrote that the Raptors' size and gap pressure took him away and that he could not kick out cleanly when the defense collapsed. Desmond Bane, who went 3-14, has to be that outlet on Friday.
The roster comes back in stages, and the schedule will not wait.
Jonathan Isaac is listed to return as soon as Oct. 30, the night of the Cup game. Suggs follows in November, and Banchero, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson come later that month. Anthony Black was cleared on Oct. 28 but finished -25 in 22 minutes with four turnovers. After Toronto come Boston and Washington at home, then Phoenix and Golden State on the road. The 1995 Finals team needed O'Neal and Hardaway together. This core's ceiling depends on Banchero and Wagner sharing the floor, and that is still weeks off.
When is Paolo Banchero expected back for the Magic?
He is out with a right ankle injury and projected to return around Nov. 22.
Have the Magic started 1-3 before?
Yes. Orlando Magic Daily noted this is the second straight 1-3 start, and last season's team, which started 1-4, still finished 45-37.
