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By John Denton
Dec. 18, 2015
ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic will be home for the holidays, and that’s a good thing for them considering how well they have performed at the Amway Center so far this season.
Since opening the season with heartbreaking home defeats to Washington and Oklahoma City, the Magic (14-11) have won eight of 10 games at the Amway Center. That the third best home record in the Eastern Conference since Nov. 1, trailing only Cleveland (10-1) and Indiana (9-2).
The Magic will continue a stretch of seven home games over an eight-game span tonight when they host the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers (11-16).
“Winning at home is extremely important and for us every game is important,” said power forward Channing Frye, who has made eight of 12 3-point shots in the past two games. “For us to – I’m not going to say win back the fans – but to show the fans that we are serious. We appreciate their support and they’ve been amazing this year. They’ve definitely helped us win some games and kept us in games with a burst of energy.”
Orlando has won the last three meetings against Portland at the Amway Center, including a 111-104 decision last March when then rookie point guard Elfrid Payton outplayed close friend and all-star Damian Lillard with a triple-double performance (22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) that included four steals.
Orlando kicked off the home stretch on Wednesday with an impressive 113-98 thumping of the Charlotte Hornets. The Magic looked right at home in that game, setting season highs for field goal percentage (55.8 percent), 3-pointers made (14) and 3-point shooting percentage (58.3 percent). The Magic set up those good shots with 28 assists – nine of which set up the first nine baskets of the game.
“It’s something that we hope the guys are taking to heart,” Magic coach Scott Skiles said of the team’s sharing of the basketball. “It’s kind of how we have to play to have success. We have to get the ball moving. We can’t afford to have four out of five possessions where two people are open and we don’t see it – we just can’t afford to play that way. We have enough guys who can do things offensively and we just need to be cognizant of them and find them. When we do that, we look like a good offensive team.”
The Magic will host Southeast Division rival Atlanta on Sunday. Then, following a second trip in a week to New York – this time to face the Knicks on Monday night – the Magic will close out 2015 with home games against Houston (Wednesday), Miami (Dec. 26), New Orleans (Dec. 28) and Brooklyn (Dec. 30).
Orlando was a disappointing 13-28 at home last season – a big reason why it was unable to make major strides or put stops to extended losing streaks. This season, with the exception of the lopsided loss to Cleveland – which came immediately following an exhausting 10-day, five-game road trip – the Magic have been in the mix in every game at the Amway Center and have played well for the most part.
From the start of training camp, Skiles pressed the Magic to be a better team at home this season and they have delivered in a variety of ways. Overall, the Magic shoot better on the road (45.6 percent) than at home (43 percent), but they are better from 3-point range (37 percent compared to 34.2 percent), on the glass (46.8 rebounds per game compared to 43.8) and passing the ball (22.8 assists per game compared to 21.8) at the Amway Center.
“We want to protect our home and make it hard for other teams to come in here and get a rhythm and get going,” Magic forward Tobias Harris said. “Winning at home is important for the whole season and for the long-term goal (of making strides this season).”
