Sean Sweeney Emphasizes 'Unselfishness' in Orlando Magic's Preseason Win

The Orlando Magic opened their preseason slate with a 122-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The win featured strong offensive execution, especially in the first half, while also building confidence from three-point range as the offense looks to improve this season.

Both Franz Wagner and Tristan Da Silva had strong performances in their first preseason win, and coach Sean Sweeney is going to want to build on the win as the regular season approaches.

Here’s what Sweeney had to say after the win:

Sweeney said the Magic did a strong job of getting organized quickly and establishing their offense, particularly in the first half. Orlando maintained good pace and ball movement throughout possessions, which showed in its 35 assists and 14 turnovers. More offensive movement than seen in previous Magic offenses. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 12 assists in the first half, with Sweeney praising their ability to draw defensive attention and find the right play.

Sweeney emphasized focusing on the team's process rather than worrying about shooting results. He said the Magic need to deliver passes on time and on target, prepare properly for their shots and take the right opportunities. By continuing to execute those fundamentals, he believes the team will put itself in position to knock down more three-pointers. Sweeney said building a connected team was a major focus entering the game as Orlando works to establish its identity. He praised the players for staying together when things went wrong and responding by correcting mistakes on the next possession. He viewed their ability to communicate and remain connected throughout the game as a positive sign.

Sweeney praised da Silva's shooting and encouraged him to maintain his confidence. He wants the forward to keep shooting when opportunities arise, forget missed shots quickly and carry the confidence from made shots into future possessions. Sweeney stressed that da Silva should trust his preparation and take open looks without hesitation.

Sweeney said Wagner did an excellent job initiating the offense and creating advantages for his teammates. He praised Wagner for embracing the team's emphasis on creating opportunities collectively rather than relying solely on individual plays.

Sweeney said Morales embraced his role by doing the dirty work and making winning plays throughout the game. While his late offensive rebound and putback stood out, Sweeney noted that Morales also made several less noticeable contributions that helped the team succeed. He was pleased to see Morales rewarded for his consistent effort on the boards.

Sweeney acknowledged there is plenty for the Magic to improve and said reviewing the game film will help identify areas for growth. He plans to evaluate the team's positioning and execution within its schemes to determine what worked well and what needs to be corrected moving forward.

Encouraging signs for Magic fans too see the standard being built.