ORLANDO – Once 20-31 in late January and seemingly headed for another frustration-filled season outside of the NBA playoffs, the Orlando Magic saved their season, head coach Steve Clifford pinpointed on Friday, with a flurry of wins right before the break for the NBA All-Star Game.
As it turns out, that stirring success of five-straight wins bred a belief inside the Magic that they had everything needed to be an elite team going forward. Success in the NBA, Clifford noted, has a way of breeding even more success, and the Magic team that dominated and demolished the rival Atlanta Hawks on Friday looked to be of the belief that it is on somewhat of an unstoppable roll now.