Orlando Magic have lost everything that made them special

The Orlando Magic survived injuries with a suffocating and tireless defense. They never quit or backed down. In Portland, the Magic not only failed to defend, they seemed to wilt under pressure.

The Orlando Magic were the talk of the NBA throughout November.

During their first West Coast road trip in November, they stunned the world with a never-say-die attitude that peaked with Franz Wagner's game-winning three to cap a come-from-behind effort against the Los Angeles Lakers.

That was only the start of their exploits.

They erased a 25-point deficit without their top three players to defeat the Miami Heat and then followed it up with a 15-point comeback win over the Boston Celtics. It was the definitive moment for this team. It was proof that they could win and compete no matter who was on the floor, that their culture and identity were deeply embedded and everlasting.

Those two games were the last time the Magic won consecutive games. Orlando has gotten its two All-Stars in Banchero and Wagner back into the lineup, and they have continued to play like stars. But, even granting Jalen Suggs missing most of January with a low back strain and now a left quad contusion, the Magic look nothing like that team.

It is hard to believe that team was the same team or the same group.