Orlando hoping to build off 'Magic'-al 2018-19 campaign

Orlando Magic players (from left) Mohamed Bomba, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Terrence Ross ham it up for the cameras during a photo shoot promoting the team's upcoming season. (Associated Press)

By Mark Blumenthal

After posting records of 20-62, 23-59, 25-57, 35-47, 29-53 and 25-57 from 2012-18, finally, the Orlando Magic made a significant turnaround in the 2018-19 season.

Now, it's about going to the next level. And to hear Magic head coach Steve Clifford describe it, there's a positive nature into what should happen next.

"As I studied the team this summer, and I looked back at my notes after post-practice and post-game, the one common thing that I came back to constantly was we have a team that wants to win," Clifford said. "Professional athletes are just like you and I – they're not machines. The better players get themselves in the right place every year. We had a bunch of guys who had career years and we'll need a similar mindset this year. If we do that, the continuity will be good and if we're not ... not so much."

Compared to that recent history, this Magic team made leaps and bounds last year, going 42-40 and reaching the postseason. It was there they stunned people by winning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference opening-round series against the future NBA world champion Toronto Raptors before the Raptors righted the ship and sent the Magic packing in three games.

Still, it's made Magic players and Clifford believe there's another big act ahead.

"The only thing I care about is helping his team going out and giving it my all on offensive and defensive end, giving just doing what I need to help us win," said guard Markelle Fultz, who is still trying to work his way back into the lineup after being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in his shoulder. "I'm going to do whatever it takes (to win)."

The Magic will return a steady and sturdy lineup, starting with center Nikola Vucevic, who averaged 15.7 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. Then add in Aaron Gordon (16.0 ppg., 7.4 rbp., 3.7 assists per game), Terrence Ross (15.1 ppg., 3.5 rpg.), Jonathan Isaac (9.6 ppg., 5.5 rpg. and 1.3 bpg.) and Evan Fournier (15.1 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 3.6 apg.) and one sees a pretty balanced team that can be formidable in an Eastern Conference that is looking for a team to step up and lead after the Raptors lost Kawhi Leonard in free agency to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"This summer was big time, we all did some part, but a lot of us were here," Ross said on Monday's media day. "I saw a lot of faces working on a lot of things, making a lot of progress. It almost helps you push yourself more, you don't want to be that guy (who doesn't) ... we all took it very seriously this offseason."

Beside the core group that returns, which also includes the much traveled Michael Carter-Williams and veteran D.J. Augustin, the Magic drafted Chuma Okeke from Final Four participant Auburn. Okeke is unsigned currently.

Clifford said he is hoping to get Fultz, a talented third-year player who got traded from Philadelphia last year for Jonathan Simmons, back soon.

"Markelle needs to do, in my opinion, what he's done since he's gotten here ... have a good days," Clifford said. "That's what the best teams do, the best players do – have good days and put good stretches of days together."

The Magic officially open the 2019-20 season on Oct. 20 with a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Clifford, a former assistant with the Magic to Stan Van Gundy during the successful Dwight Howard Era a decade ago, said there's a process to how the season lines up to be successful.

"I told them I feel great about our team, about the attitude and work they put in," the 58-year-old Clifford said. "But I do know this – we should be thinking about playing good in October. When I was here with Stan and we had the two great teams, I remember sitting here and (others) saying we need to be top four, but we're not at that level.

"What we need to do is develop a way to play so we can play our way into the playoffs. To me it's like this: The offseason is to get ready for September, September is to get ready for training camp, training camp is to get ready for the regular season, the regular season is to get ready for the playoffs. Right now we need to be locked in to this moment and if we do this and have the right attitude, we'll give ourselves the best chance to get back to the playoffs and hopefully play at a higher level."