Fansided

Holiday wish list for every NBA team

By Ernest Shepard

Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fights for a loose ball with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fights for a loose ball with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) gets high fives from teammates forwards Evan Fournier (10) and Channing Frye (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic won 113-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) gets high fives from teammates forwards Evan Fournier (10) and Channing Frye (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic won 113-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic’s hiring of Scott Skiles signaled that the team was serious about making a push for the playoffs. It is a young team with a ton of talent. Since they are in the East the postseason is not far off. Typically, a 40-42 record would get you in the dance. Behind Elfrid Payton’s floor generalship and his growth as a player, the Magic’s potential is off the charts. He now has a coach who understands the guard position, and can give him pointers on sharing the basketball.

There are some things that have to take place for the Magic to get where they want to be.

Orlando is currently over the .500 mark and they got there with defense, rebounding and balanced scoring. The Magic ranks eighth in scoring defense, seventh on the glass and 11th in assists. This is all under Coach Skiles. Do you want to know what a difference a coaching change makes? The Magic were ranked in the bottom third in each of those three categories in the 2014-15 season.

This is being accomplished with guard Victor Oladipo struggling to get it going consistently. The player who is keeping Orlando up in the standings is center Nikola Vucevic. His 15.5 points and 8.6 boards are tops on this team which is rising.

It would be a great story if the Magic can find themselves in the postseason under Skiles. It is he who has the all-time high for most assists in an NBA game with 30 dishes, while playing for the team he coaches for. The 25th anniversary of that feat is just over a week from today. Skiles would be more than pleased to make it to the playoffs guiding the same franchise he broke the assist record with.

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