Orlando Magic Grades: Portland Trail Blazers 103, Orlando Magic 92
The Orlando Magic did some very good things and got some very good performances as they fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
The Orlando Magic got off to such a horrible start in this game that it set Twitter ablaze and had everyone ready to bail ship and make immediate changes. The last week and a half has been such an unmitigated disaster for this team, everything seems to be questioned.
The Magic’s 103-92 loss to the Blazers is still a loss. They still had a chance to win the game and shriveled down the stretch. Turnovers from Victor Oladipo late and shots falling short as the Magic had to frenzy to get back into the game after falling behind by 19 points in the first quarter kept the Magic from pulling it out in the end. The Blazers playing half a game was enough to beat the Magic playing well for three.
But considering how poorly the Magic played Friday night against the Lakers and then how poorly the Magic started the game, the way things finished and the fact this became a game seemed like a positive sign. It felt that way at least. The Blazers are one of the best teams in the NBA for a reason and the Moda Center is never an easy place to play.
It is good to feel good about a game for a change. But it will not matter unless the Magic play with the same intensity and focus they did for the second and third quarter and most of the fourth quarter in their next game Monday.
Let’s hand out some grades: