Magic's Jase Richardson Reveals Where Team Needs to Improve

The Orlando Magic's preseason got off to a good start when they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, 122-118. 

The Magic's starting lineup had its usual faces in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. However, there was a key difference: Jase Richardson occupied a starting guard role.

Richardson played a small role in the Magic's win, scoring three points, dishing out three assists, and grabbing three rebounds in nearly 23 minutes of play. During Saturday's shootaround, Richardson met with the media to talk about what he thinks Orlando needs to build on heading into Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

In Richardson’s view, it starts with maintaining consistent communication.

Richardson felt that in the game against the Grizzlies, as fatigue began to set in, aspects of their communication began to wane. Beyond that, though, he felt that it was good.

Richardson started in Jalen Suggs' place because the latter was dealing with an illness. In that starting role, Richardson said his job was made easy because of the caliber of players who were on the floor alongside him. In his role, Richardson was trying to be a playmaker for others.

Richardson said that his goal, especially with increasing opportunities, is to be reliable for his team. He wants to be in the right positions, and he wants to communicate well.

Richardson's continued development will be important as the season progresses, as there will be other points in which he may be relied upon. On the latest episode of the Full Court Magic podcast, I discussed the importance of Richardson and the Magic's other reserve players stepping up:

"What are we going to get from the bench? Are Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, are they going to take a step? Are Jevon Carter and Jonathan Isaac going to show that they can be relied upon in moments when the team may need them? 

Is Tristan da Silva going to take another leap as he heads into year three? Because, if I'm concerned the most about anything, it's the Magic's reserve unit. I am not convinced that this team has enough depth to where something happens to a key starter that they are going to be able to uphold success over a long period of time, and I would love to be proven wrong, and it's going to come down to these guys to prove me wrong."