At first, the Orlando Magic have been shedding tight video games. Now they’re struggling to maintain video games shut and compete for a whole 48 minutes.
The Magic’s 121-108 highway loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday wasn’t simply their eighth consecutive loss — it was their fifth by at the very least double figures through the slide.
And the ultimate rating made the sport look nearer than it was.
The defeat was the sixth loss wherein the Magic trailed by at the very least 20 factors within the second half. Five of these losses have come through the shedding streak.
The Magic (5-19) return to Amway Center on Monday to start out a five-game homestand vs. the Milwaukee Bucks (16-6). The matchup will tip off at 7 p.m.
“Being home with the families and being able to get a body of work in at our facility, that’s going to be huge for us,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated.
Before the Magic tackle the Bucks, there are key issues that have to be addressed:
Welcome again Fultz, Anthony
The Magic welcomed again guards Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony into the lineup in Wednesday’s residence loss to the Atlanta Hawks, giving the backcourt a much-needed increase.
Individually, every has carried out nicely.
Anthony, who missed 16 video games due to a torn proper inner indirect, has averaged 14 factors (50% taking pictures — 50% on 2s and 3s), 4.3 rebounds and three.3 assists in his final three video games (25.5 minutes). Fultz, who missed the primary 21 video games after fracturing his huge left toe late within the offseason, is averaging 8.3 factors (44% taking pictures — 47.8% on 2s), 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds in 21.7 minutes.
While their particular person successes haven’t translated to a win, it’s clear what Mosley is hoping they’ll deliver to the group and that there’s going to be an adjustment interval.
The Magic performed at a tempo — possessions per 48 minutes — of at the very least 100 when Anthony and/or Fultz have been on the ground in losses to the Hawks and the Raptors. Pace isn’t simply getting up the primary shot obtainable or taking pictures earlier within the shot clock. It’s getting up the ground extra shortly and beginning actions/units earlier — one thing the Magic have struggled with.
That urgency has pressured opponents to should defend for longer, generally serving to to create simpler scoring alternatives.
They have to be extra correct on these seems to be, taking pictures a league-worst 21.4% on their 9.3 open 3s (nearest defender 4-6 toes away) during the last three video games. Their 44.4% accuracy on wide-open 3s (the closest defender is 6-plus toes away) throughout that stretch helps, however there have been missed probabilities.
It’s clear that younger forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are adjusting to taking part in alongside ball-handling guards extra typically. Banchero (29.3%) and Wagner (24.7%) led the staff in utilization earlier than the returns of Anthony and Fultz.
With Fultz (21.9%) and Anthony (19.4%) utilizing extra possession as ballhandlers, Banchero’s utilization has dipped considerably (24%). He’s averaging fewer drives — 7.3 within the final three video games in comparison with 12.6 earlier within the season — although a few of which may be as a result of he’s getting again into the swing of issues after lacking seven video games due to a sprained ankle.
Wagner’s drives (13.2 to 12) haven’t dipped as a lot as Banchero, however each have missed photographs they normally make.
Banchero and Wagner each are good cutters and catch-and-shoot 3-pointer shooters.There have been sequences the place they’ve gotten simpler baskets due to the playmaking from Fultz or Anthony.
“Despite what’s happening in these moments of losses, this group has an unbelievable chance for so much potential and growth,” Mosley stated. “When the chemistry clicks, it’s going to be very special. It’s going to take some time to get those puzzle pieces in place, but these guys recognize it and understand it.”
Looking forward
- Against the Bucks, the Magic gained’t have to fret concerning the opposing offensive rebounding as a lot however have to be aware of Milwaukee’s taking pictures on the rim and from the midrange.
- It’s not but identified if Los Angeles Clippers star wings Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, who’ve been sidelined, can be obtainable Wednesday.
- The Magic might want to enhance their defensive rebounding in residence video games in opposition to the Raptors on Friday and Dec. 11 after permitting 12 offensive rebounds and ending with 29 complete rebounds (25 defensive) Saturday.
- They’ll should do a greater job slicing off the highest paint in opposition to Trae Young and Dejounte Murray drives in opposition to the Hawks on Dec. 14
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com