The Magic's style of play could come into focus Sunday

By By Josh Robbins Orlando Sentinel

Oct 05, 2012 | 8:21 PM

For so much of this past offseason, the most basic of questions surrounded the Orlando Magic.

Who would be hired as the team's general manager? Who would become the head coach? Would the superstar player remain on the roster?

Those issues all have been answered, but even after training camp ended Friday, one giant question still remained: How will a Jacque Vaughn-coached team play?

A few clues should emerge Sunday, when the Magic open their preseason in Mexico City against the New Orleans Hornets.

"You'll have to wait and see," point guard Jameer Nelson said.

The offense could look much different from what Magic fans grew accustomed to when Dwight Howard, one of the sport's few remaining effective back-to-the-basket centers, patrolled the low post.

The last few days, the new-look Magic worked on initiating much of their offense from the elbows of the lane.

"There will be a lot of moving, a lot of cutting, a lot of slashing, a lot of playing through the elbow," small forward Hedo Turkoglu said. "It'll just make you be constantly moving. Even if you don't have [the ball], you're going to cut through, and it's going to open it up for the other guy.

"We don't have a big man like Dwight who totally changes everything, so we're just trying to use different ways to make our jobs easier."

Veterans such as Turkoglu and Nelson likely will play limited minutes Sunday, Vaughn said.

And with Arron Afflalo's status in doubt because of a left-hamstring injury and Quentin Richardson recovering from the stomach flu, it seems like youngsters such as point guard E'Twaun Moore, rookie power forward Andrew Nicholson and perhaps even wing Christian Eyenga will receive plenty of time on the court.

Last season, the Magic averaged 27.0 shots per game from beyond the 3-point arc. With Howard and sharpshooting power forward Ryan Anderson both gone, Orlando won't be shooting as much from long range.

Vaughn indicated he'll still give his players freedom and that he'd like his offense to run whenever possible.

"I think I've even said '3-point shooting' one time," Vaughn said. "For me, you take the best shot. If Jameer kicks it ahead to J.J. [Redick], and he shoots a pull-up 3 in transition, [that's] a good shot.

"For me," Vaughn added later, "guys know what a good shot is. Your teammate knows what a good shot is. That's all I want. Good shots."

NBA officials said they expect that Mexico City Arena will be sold out, with nearly 18,000 fans in the stands.

Vaughn plans to start Gustavo Ayón at center because Ayón will be the first Mexico-born player to play for an NBA team on Mexico soil.

"I am very happy to be playing in front of my family, in front of all the fans in Mexico in my country," Ayón said. "It's going to make history."

Most Magic players didn't know what to expect in Mexico City, which has hosted a total of 17 NBA preseason and regular-season games.

Vaughn was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs when the Spurs played an exhibition against the Los Angeles Clippers in Mexico City in 2010.

"It was great," Vaughn said. "I had octopus at the restaurant. Unbelievable. I'll go back again."

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.

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