Deja Vu. Cold Start Dooms Magic as They Fall to Hornets 98-90
By Zach Palmer
The Charlotte Hornets put on a 22-0 run in the second quarter, dooming the Orlando Magic to another devastating home loss.
There is not much to say about Saturday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets that was not said last night when the Orlando Magic fell to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Magic repeated their abysmal effort and the result was repeated as well. The Magic fell to to a Hornets team without Lance Stephenson and Al Jefferson 98-90.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 98 | 108.8 | 47.4 | 33.3 | 13.2 | 41.0 |
| Orlando | 90 | 98.6 | 40.2 | 24.5 | 6.8 | 24.1 |
Kemba Walker (CHA) — 30 pts.; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA) — 17 pts., 12 rebs.
Victor Oladipo (ORL) — 21 pts.; Nikola Vucevic (ORL) — 20 pts., 10 rebs.
The Magic somehow managed to play a significantly worse first half than Friday night, shooting less than 30 percent including going scoreless for the final 6:58 on the second quarter. The Hornets took advantage during that 6:58 and went on a 22-0 run, putting the quarter at 30-9 in the Hornets’ favor. The Magic scored a season-low 29 points in the first half as the Hornets took a 52-29 lead into the half.
The second half was also the same old same old for the Magic as they turned up their effort level cutting the Hornet lead down to as little as seven. However, Level 25 Magic Assassin Kemba Walker would have none of it as he scored 30 points including four triples.
Game Notes:
- I’m not sure how this team is going to keep it together playing the way they have been playing. Postgame Jacque Vaughn was quoted as saying “I’m going to find a group of five guys that want to fight.” Problem is if nobody wants to fight for you then you are not going to find those guys. This is a question that has to be asked with the answer Jacque Vaughn is giving right now. Is he the issue? A trip out West could give us a clearer answer.
- The offense is a mess. The idea the Magic should continue to run pick and rolls to set up isolation plays is asinine. The Magic only managed 18 assists tonight but even more alarming the Magic only managed to accrue three secondary assists. This means the ball is not moving crisply at all. Coach Jacque Vaughn needs to add some wrinkles to his offense quickly.
- The interior defense from the Magic is a huge concern. Outside of Dewayne Dedmon Orlando interior players are struggling to deter players from attacking the rim at will.
- Offensive rebounds are killing the Magic. Nikola Vucevic whether it comes from a breakdown defensively causing him to leave his man or his lack of boxing out has been getting abused in particular. He is supposed to be one of the best rebounders in the NBA, this cannot continue to happen.
- Channing Frye left the game in the 2nd quarter due to an elbow strain. Vaughn said doctors were examining him after the game and he will get evaluated again Sunday.
- Evan Fournier and Kyle O’Quinn have performed extremely poorly since Orlando mixed up their starting lineup. Fournier scored nine points but made just 4 of 15 shots. O’Quinn had three points and missed five of his six field goals. More alarmingly, he recorded only two rebounds.
- Victor Oladipo was not as efficient as you would have liked from the field, however this was one of Oladipo’s better offensive games of the year. He came out in the third quarter and relentlessly attacked the rim and did so without hesitation. This version of Oladipo is much easier on the eyes than the one attempting to play Point Guard.
Rookie Report:
Elfrid Payton: Once again on a night where the team showed little fight Elfrid was a shining light. While Payton did not dominate the offensive end like he did last night. He did dominate the defensive end however. Payton and Victor Oladipo came out in the second half and terrorized the Hornets allowing the Magic to start a run in the early third. Payton still has a ways to go when it comes to converting shots but once he does he will be deadly.
Devyn Marble: Marble’s night was fairly forgettable as he only logged seven minutes and was in the game during Orlando’s fateful second quarter drought. The one thing you still saw in regards to Marble was his timidness offensively. He is afraid to have the ball in his hands. It is not all that shocking that a lineup that included Marble, Payton, and Dedmon could not get much going offensively.