Biggest Surprises and Disappointments for Orlando Magic

The 11-20 Orlando Magic can't seem to get into any sort of rhythm. 

After losing four straight to open the 2014-15 campaign, Orlando pushed ahead and flirted with a .500 winning percentage over the next 10 games. Now, it is in the midst of a four-game slide, losing six of its last seven.

Still, with any team trying to find its way, there are positives that deserve recognition and negatives that require examination.

All hope is far from lost despite the inconsistencies and the injuries that have piled up in the interim. This is a team filled with exciting young players, some of whom have already proven to be long-term contributors, but Orlando needs stability and consistency going forward.

Let's take a look at six surprises and disappointments—three of each—for the Magic this season.

6. Aaron Gordon's Injury

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The explosive No. 4 pick in the 2014 draft, Aaron Gordon, broke his foot just 11 games into his rookie season and is expected to be sidelined indefinitely.  

It was, and still is, a punch in the gut for Orlando, as Gordon was brought in to inject energy and enthusiasm on both ends of the floor—not to mention a much-needed boost of athleticism. 

Gordon had been efficient in his 15 minutes a night, averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds on 50 percent shooting. 

According to Joshua Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Gordon is walking around sans boot for the first time since his surgery in late November—a sign of light at the end of the tunnel, so it seems. 

While his ability to really impact this season is all but lost, his long-term health is the main concern here. He's looked at as a key part of this young nucleus, and Orlando can't afford to have its do-it-all defender dealing with lingering foot issues. 

5. New Faces Producing

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Orlando made a point to spend money on offense—more specifically, shooting—in the offseason. 

Enter Evan Fournier, Channing Frye and Ben Gordon, three new additions to Orlando's long-distance repertoire. 

The Magic rank fifth in three-point percentage this season (37.4 percent) thanks in large part to this trio. Each is shooting over 38 percent, with Frye leading the bunch at 41.7. 

These three, along with marked improvements from Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo, have helped Orlando become more efficient on that end. Orlando ranks 25th in the NBA with just 18.5 three-point attempts per game, so the improved efficiency has yet to spark a shift in offensive philosophy.

A three-point barrage should be embraced considering that Orlando currently trots out the league's second-worst offense. It's something the team does well that could provide a much-needed spark. 

Nevertheless, Orlando's fresh faces have infused some life into this team from beyond the arc and have proven to be solid offseason investments. 

4. Elfrid Payton's Inconsistency

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There's no way this was what general manager Rob Hennigan envisioned when he selected Gordon and acquired Elfrid Payton in the first round of June's draft. 

While Gordon is sidelined, at least Payton is getting ample opportunities. It's just that he isn't doing much with them. 

After he was drafted out of Louisiana-Lafayette, there were concerns about Payton's shooting ability and the lack of competition at his small school. Knowing that, some still considered the 6'4" point guard with tremendous vision and deft passing skills a dark-horse Rookie of the Year candidate. 

While there don't appear to be any concerns about his passion, work ethic or vision, his shooting ability and offensive skill set has plenty of room for improvement and overall refinement.

He's shooting 38.2 percent from the field, 21.4 percent from three-point range and 47.1 percent from the free-throw line.

In Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Payton scored one point, going 0-for-7 from the field in 35 minutes. The Magic lost the game, giving Philly its third win of the season.

Performances like that make it easy to forget all the positives Payton brings to the table in other areas of his game. He's got time, but the early results are at the very least underwhelming.  

3. Tobias Harris' Ascension

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Harris should get serious consideration for Most Improved Player honors this season. 

He's hitting career highs across the board—player efficiency rating, field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, points and rebounds—while being a stabilizing force on a roster filled with new faces and young players. 

He's in the midst of the best stretch of his young career, and his teammates have taken notice. Here's Oladipo's thoughts on Harris' improvement via Joshua Robbins of the Sentinel:

"

T.B. works so hard, man. I'm glad he's on my team. After watching him this summer, and watching how hard he worked and how [much] better he's gotten, nobody in this locker room deserves it more than him.

"

Robbins goes on to say that Harris "has emerged as the Magic's most reliable, most trusted option to take a last-second shot with a game on the line" and for good reason. 

Harris looks more comfortable then ever, especially when the game is on the line. He's nailed two buzzer-beaters this season against Philly and Atlanta, respectively.

Harris and Nikola Vucevic have formed a wicked one-two punch for Orlando, and when combined with a healthy Oladipo, they give Orlando fans a reason to be optimistic about the future. 

2. Continuity Issues

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Besides the absence of Gordon, many Magic players have missed significant time this season. 

Continuity is obviously important, but it's amplified when you're a rebuilding team with plenty of new faces. It's hard to build chemistry when key contributors miss stretches of games. 

Oladipo missed the first nine games of the season with a facial fracture. Vucevic missed six games. The aforementioned Gordon will be out indefinitely. In fact, Payton is the only player to suit up in all 30 games. 

While most of the roster is healthy now, this has undoubtedly been a factor for a team constantly juggling starting lineups and managing minutes. The Magic have lost four straight and six of their last seven and are descending into a free fall.

There needs to be some stability. An injury-free period would go a long way in that regard. 

1. Road Record Improvement

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When you finish the previous season with a 4-37 record on the road, anything will be looked at as an improvement. This year's iteration of the Magic have almost doubled up that win total already, with a 7-12 mark away from the Amway Center. 

While that meager .368 winning percentage on the road might not be worth bragging about for certain championship-caliber teams, it's definitely a step in the right direction. That's especially considering the Magic's tough six-game West Coast road trip to start the month and their away games against some of the East's elite.

Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn spoke back in October about the team's approach to the early part of the schedule via Robbins of the Sentinel:

"

We see that we're going to be on the road for quite a few. I think that's why Coach is trying to make us so tough and just really, really stick to the game plan and create good habits. If we want to start our season off right, we have to get wins on the road. And, as we know, that's the toughest place to get wins.

"

Now, if they could just do something with that 3-8 record at home. 

All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and current as of December 22. Follow Stephen on Twitter: @S_Albertini.