Ecstatic Magic Maniacs out there after Friday night’s debut are hoping to see this team continue to build upon last season’s 47-win campaign.  After a dominant season-opening win over the Heat in Miami 116-97 and locking up the 116-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener, the Orlando Magic are taking the first steps commensurate with a team that could deliver on the promise of an Eastern Conference Championship berth.

Regardless of Saturday’s outcome against Memphis on the road, there are a few occurrences that the Magic hope to turn into trends. That 3rd-year star forward Paolo Banchero can muster assists as well as score at will, forward Franz Wagner improving his three-point shot percentage, and depth off the bench that can pour in points and support.

Seeing Banchero deliver 33 points in the 2nd-highest point total for an opening night in Magic history with three assists and 11 rebounds felt like another day at the office for Magic fans. Questions about  Wagner finding his three-point shot were quieted with him hitting three of his six tries beyond the arc as part of his 23-point effort. Banchero was also connected four times on eight tries from downtown.

The key to what made Orlando look like a group with a potential deep playoff run in them during Game 1 was the contribution from the bench. Guard Gary Harris did his part to make it rain threes connecting six of nine times for his 18 points in nearly 22 minutes of play. The Magic as a team dropped 18 three-pointers in 49 shots for nearly 38%. Guard Anthony Black also poured in 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Suspiciously quiet in his first performance on the Magic was guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He missed all five of his shots from distance and finished with three points. However, KCP energized the Magic early in Game 2 against Brooklyn when his first three for Orlando was also the first in the City Beautiful this season. It only seems fitting that Banchero got one of his 12 assists for that bucket to welcome the two-time champion.  While KCP finished with 10 points, it was Wagner who was the clear star outscoring his Miami performance delivering 29 points.

And again, the bench got 10 from Black and 18 points from another 18 from another player — this time Mo Wagner. Orlando finished with 15 triples sunk on 30 shots from the arc.

The Magic’s health status is relatively strong after Friday with the only big concern being Johnathon Issac sufferinga left leg contusion that kept him out of action against Miami.

We’ll see as October progresses if the Magic can continue to make these trends happen.