PORTLAND – With nine new players and a new coaching staff, Frank Vogel knew full well that it might take the Orlando Magic time to come together and function at a high level.
Never, however, did Vogel imagine that the Magic would still be searching for their stride by the midpoint of the season, a milestone that came on Friday night when Orlando played its 41st game of the 82-game season.
The Magic went into Friday’s game at 16-24 and four games back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Vogel was hired last May to get the Magic back into the playoff chase and that’s exactly where he figured the team would be right now after adding veterans Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green, D.