It's crazy to think the Orlando Magic were once 6-2 and one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
But now, they've just racked up their SECOND 9-game losing stream in the past month-and-a-half.
They've become entirely awful, irrelevant and unwatchable.
Welcome to the Orlando Sports Weekly Rundown, I'm David Baumann.
Back in early November, the mostly-healthy Magic were ranked 2nd in offensive efficiency, 7th in defensive efficiency, and Aaron Gordon was the NBA's 3-point leader at near 60%.
Today, the injury-ravaged Magic are ranked 24th in offensive efficiency, 26th in defensive efficiency and Aaron Gordon ranks 54th on the NBA's 3-point charts at 40.1%.
CBS Sports now has the Magic dead last in their latest "Power Rankings":
So where did it all go wrong?
I point directly at rookie Jonathan Isaac's serious ankle injury in Denver that occurred on November 11.
Orlando Sports Weekly Rundown: Orlando Magic Losing Streak Continues
It's not to say Isaac was a "key" player, but he was playing increased minutes in his role (20+ in each of the four games prior to his injury) and contributing. 24-hours before the injury, Isaac recorded his best game of the season in a win against Phoenix where he racked up 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
After Isaac's injury, everything unraveled.
The Magic went on to lose that game against the Nuggets, falling to an 8-5 record.
Isaac would sit and rehab for the next 17 games. The Magic promptly lost 14 of those games.
Meanwhile, more injuries were mounting up...
Terrence Ross was lost indefinitely to a leg injury against Oklahoma City on November 30.
Aaron Gordon sustained a concussion against Denver on December 5th, the start of another nine-game losing streak. He'd return a couple games later, then injure his calf December 15th in his first game back against Portland. He hasn't returned since.
(And considering this season is virtually a lost cause at this point, don't expect Gordon to rush back from any injuries after the Magic failed to extend his contract in October. He's set to become a restricted free agent in the coming offseason.)
Evan Fournier sprained his ankle against Atlanta on December 6th and missed the next eight games.
And Nik Vucevic broke his hand against Washington on December 23rd and just had "successful surgery," according to OrlandoMagic.com's John Denton.
"I've never been part of a team that had so many injuries," Vucevic said. "It looks like we can't catch a break from injuries at all."
Vucevic is expected to be out a couple months.
So where do the Magic go from here?
Unfortunately not up.
I'd expect the losing streak(s) to continue.
And it's safe to expect we'll be seeing more contributions from G-League (developmental league) players such as Wesley Iwundu, Khem Birch, Jamel Artis and Adreian Payne, who've all already seen time with the Magic.
There's almost no need to bring up the question, "Should the Magic 'tank' in order to get the best possible draft pick in 2018?"
With all these injuries, the team will naturally tank.
So the saving grace is this:
Hopefully, by this time next year, we'll be talking about how great Trae Young has been in a Magic jersey. Or Luca Doncic, or Marvin Bagley III, or DeAndre Ayton, or Michael Porter Jr...
Let's just hope Tankathon's simulator prediction ends up exactly like this by the end of the regular season so the Magic get their choice of the cream of the crop!
(You can click the image below to simulate a draft prediction)
David Baumann is a Sports Columnist for 407area.com and can be heard Tuesdays 7-9pm on EK Sports, 96.9 The Game. He can be seen Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30pm on Spectrum Sports 360's Face Off on Central Florida News 13, channel 1013.
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