The Orlando Magic, as soon as once more, got here up quick throughout crunch time of their 116-108 street loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
A scarcity of poise by the Magic, the league’s fourth-youngest staff by age and third-youngest by the typical variety of seasons of NBA expertise, uncovered itself towards the Thunder — the league’s youngest staff in each areas.
Orlando turned the ball over 25 occasions for 30 Thunder factors and didn’t make a discipline aim after taking a 104-93 lead with 7:26 remaining.
“They got a couple of good defenders on their team and we just played into their hands,” mentioned Wendell Carter Jr., who led the Magic with 30 factors, tying a career-high he set final season towards the Thunder, and 12 rebounds. “They’re a very fast-paced team and we got sped up at times. We just didn’t take our time, especially down the stretch. We played into their hands and the exact game they wanted to play.”
After a road-heavy begin, the Magic (1-7) return to Amway Center for a season-long seven-game homestand that kicks off Thursday vs. the Golden State Warriors (3-5). It will tip off at 7 p.m. and may be watched on Bally Sports Florida/Bally Sports+ or listened to on FM 96.9 The Game.
Before the Magic tackle the defending NBA champions, there are key questions that want solutions as they give the impression of being to show their season round:
How will late-game execution enhance?
Tuesday’s disappointing end wasn’t an outlier. But was the newest — and arguably worst — instance of the Magic not closing out an in depth recreation that they had in hand.
The loss to the Thunder marked the fourth time in eight video games the Magic blew a double-digit lead and misplaced. What made the defeat extra disheartening was it was their first loss after holding a double-digit lead within the second half — main by 15 within the third quarter and 11 within the fourth.
The Magic have began video games properly. They have a optimistic web score within the first (plus-3.3) and second quarters (plus-4.1). It’s closing out video games that’s been the problem.
Their fourth-quarter web score, albeit in a small pattern of 96 complete fourth-quarter minutes, of minus-21.4 was the league’s second-worst mark getting into Wednesday’s video games , solely behind the San Antonio Spurs (minus-25.1). The Magic’s web score of minus-90.5 in a small pattern of 14 clutch minutes — when the scoring margin is inside 5 factors with 5 or fewer minutes remaining — was the league’s worst mark.
Why have the Magic struggled late in video games? There’s a couple of reply.
In most of their shut video games — outdoors of Tuesday — the Magic have been the staff making an attempt a comeback after falling behind within the third quarter.
Even when the sport has been shut, fouling, defensive lapses and poor defensive rebounding have been among the many causes.
Tuesday, it was taking — and lacking — ill-advised pictures in addition to lacking beauty. Missing open pictures has been a problem, with the Magic taking pictures under league-average percentages on open and wide-open appears.
The Magic have to be higher poised in these moments: Valuing every possession by not giving the ball away and in search of out the perfect shot. Their offensive dip late in video games has damage their protection.
“We’ve got to learn to take care of the basketball in crunch time,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “And understand the possession of the basketball is the most important thing. We’ve got to make sure we’re doing it by committee.”
How’s the zone trying?
Speaking of the protection, in the event you take a look at the numbers, it’d seem the Magic are acting on that finish of the ground at an identical stage as final season.
Their defensive score — factors allowed per 100 possessions — by means of eight video games of 111.6 ranks seventeenth.
They completed final season ranked nineteenth in defensive score with 112.1 factors allowed per 100 possessions, together with a defensive score of 111.3 of their last 46 video games (tenth throughout that timespan).
What these numbers don’t present is the Magic have taken a step again with their zone protection — a protection they’ve used ceaselessly in comparison with the remainder of the league.
The Magic have been in a zone on 8.5% of their defensive possessions, the league’s fourth-highest mark based on Synergy, or 10.3 occasions per recreation. They’ve allowed 1.161 factors per possession when within the zone, the worst mark of the 12 groups who’ve used a zone this season.
For comparability, the Miami Heat’s zone allowed a league-best 0.651 factors per possession getting into Wednesday at 14.6% frequency. The Magic allowed round .90 factors per possession when in a zone most of final season.
The Magic have been considerably higher in man protection (91.5% frequency), permitting .96 factors per possession (the league’s 14th-best mark) and forcing groups to shoot below-averaging percentages.
Why has the Magic’s zone slipped? Once once more, there’s a couple of reply.
Sometimes, the gamers on the prime of the zone — the Magic principally use a 3-2 formation — don’t make the most of their size sufficient to clog up passing lanes or present sufficient resistance on the perimeter from conserving drivers outdoors the paint/center of the ground. Once that occurs, it turns into simpler for opposing groups to power Orlando into defensive rotations.
Other occasions, they wrestle with ball and participant motion. Consistently offering assist, and serving to the helper, is an space of enchancment for them.
With their collective size and measurement, zone protection ought to be a weapon for the Magic to throw off their opponents’ offensive rhythm.
Through two weeks, that hasn’t been the case.
How necessary is that this homestand?
Very.
After enjoying the Warriors, the Magic will match up towards groups within the Sacramento Kings (Saturday) and Houston Rockets (Monday) who’ve additionally began slowly earlier than enjoying playoff/play-in contenders within the Dallas Mavericks (Nov. 9), Phoenix Suns (Nov. 11), Charlotte Hornets (Nov. 14) and Minnesota Timberwolves (Nov. 16).
It’s nonetheless early sufficient within the season to beat a sluggish begin and being at residence for the subsequent two weeks after enjoying six of the primary eight video games on the street ought to enable the Magic to regroup.
It additionally ought to give a greater concept of the place gamers stand healthwise.
Cole Anthony (torn proper inside indirect), Markelle Fultz (fractured left large toe), Gary Harris (left knee harm restoration), Jonathan Isaac (left knee harm restoration) and Moe Wagner (sprained proper midfoot) stay sidelined for Thursday, whereas Terrence Ross is questionable (left knee contusion).
Being more healthy and getting extra of their prime gamers again — particularly the guards and their skill to dictate a recreation’s tempo — ought to assist.
When that’ll occur stays unknown.
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