3 keys to the Magic's hot start

Granted it's still October, but not many bettors would've picked the Orlando Magic to lay a 27-point beating on the San Antonio Spurs Friday.

To be fair, San Antonio played extremely poorly; they shot under 34 percent from the floor and just 16.7 percent from deep in a 114-87 loss. In fact, their 27-point halftime deficit tied a team record for second-worst in the Gregg Popovich era.

It's time to give these Magic some credit. Picked at best as a bubble playoff squad this season, Orlando currently sits atop the Eastern Conference at 4-1, their finest start since 2011-12 - the last time they made the postseason.

Here's why.

Ball movement

The Toronto Raptors aren't the only East team to try and adopt a more free-flowing, pass-happy approach this season. The Magic suddenly rank second in the NBA in assists per game after placing 18th last year. With starting point guard Elfrid Payton currently out with a hamstring injury, veteran D.J. Augustin has played solidly.

Evan Fournier

"Don't Google" has been the biggest beneficiary of the Magic's increased ball movement. He has shot 56 percent from beyond the arc in five games, including a perfect 4-of-4 Friday, a night where the Spurs left him wide open on the perimeter too many times. Fournier is also showing the confidence to attack the basket, and is averaging 3.8 assists per game.

Big performances

While Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon demonstrated elite talent before this season, neither have been able to consistently put it together long-term.

Vucevic already has a 41-point outing to his name in Orlando's only loss, and the 27-year-old has been a rock inside. He has vastly improved defensively in his second year under coach Frank Vogel, averaging nine rebounds while chipping in 22 points a night. Gordon, meanwhile, dropped 41 on the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday, and is shooting 71 percent from the floor in his last two games.

Do you believe in Magic?