The Magic suffered their second preseason loss in Allentown, Pa., 95-84 in a game that probably should have had the Sixers’ owner apologizing for bringing two NBA teams resting many of their “star” players. Of course, the Sixers even with Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel have made a mockery of NBA teams with their tanking schemes.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
| Orlando | 84 | 85.0 | 39.5 | 32.7 | 16.4 | 44.4 |
| Philadelphia | 95 | 90.7 | 46.1 | 25.0 | 21.8 | 37.7 |
Philadelphia took a 37-23 lead after one quarter and opened a 24-point halftime lead. Andrew Nicholson and Maurice Harkless helped lead a comeback which cut the lead to a manageable deficit. But, there was little Magic fans could probably learn from this game or from looking at the box score too closely.
Not only am I traveling and was unable to write a recap about this game, I hate to tell you these three thoughts would have been short even if I listened to it on the radio. Anyways, here we go:
1) Andrew Nicholson still has some life in him
Last year was a really rough year for Andrew Nicholson. Everyone knew he had a strong low post game after his first year. His play for Canada and then in the preseason seemed to suggest adding a 3-pointer would only make him an even better weapon. Then, the bottom dropped out for him. Nicholson was stuck on the perimeter, lost touch on his “YMCA” low-post game.
Confidence seemed to be his big issue. Add on his shaky defense, and the Magic just could not trust him out on the floor.
His regression last year is probably the biggest failure (or setback, if it is too soon for anything to be called a failure) in Jacque Vaughn‘s coaching tenure. Re-establishing his confidence is one of the big keys to the season (especially considering he is eligible for an extension next summer).
With Vaughn resting several of the Magic’s key players, seeing Nicholson drop 23 points on a relatively efficient 10-for-19 shooting is a very good sign. He took just one 3-pointer too, signalling that he operated mostly in the paint. Eleven of his 19 shots did come from the perimeter around the elbow area. He made five of those with the rest coming in the paint. At the rim, Nicholson made four of six shots.
Good performances with decent statistics should help him gain some much-needed confidence. He has to follow up this game with another strong one when the resting players return.
2) Free throws
There has been an added emphasis on the Magic’s number of free throw attempts since the near record-worst season in 2012. That team just could not get to the basket and get to the foul line. At all.
The Magic improved upon that last year. They continue to get better at getting to the line.
Now, about making those free throws.
The Magic shot 20 for 36 from the foul line. That is 16 more misses from the foul line. The main culprits were Maurice Harkless (2 for 6) and Devyn Marble (2 for 7). You would think these things are relatively simple. But it has been a recurring problem throughout the preseason.
The Magic are 93 for 140 from the foul line this preseason. That is good for 66.4 percent. Last season, the Magic shot 76.3 percent from the foul line. So while it is good to see the attempts creep up (currently at 23.3 per game), there are still some concerns about getting to the line and making free throws.
Again, this may not be too much a cause for alarm as numerous key players were out of the game. Then again, free throws do not usually change.
3) So much rest
It should bear repeating that Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris sat this game out. Channing Frye is still recovering from his knee injury as is Victor Oladipo. According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Oladipo did some full-court running and sprinting before Saturday’s game and Frye continues to work on his shooting.
Ben Gordon and Luke Ridnour also sat out this game. Aaron Gordon only played five minutes.
This is all to say that this game really did not have a lot in it for the Magic. Jacque Vaughn opted to give his guys a rest and play some players perhaps a little further down in the depth chart. Nothing wrong with that.
Just makes you wonder a few things. First, why does any NBA team schedule a back to back in the preseason. Two, why not use this game with so few bodies as a time to evaluate the training camp invitees who will be off to Erie once the month ends. Missed opportunity, I guess. Or something that was not part of the plan.
The bottom line was this game turned out to be almost completely meaningless. Just two more of these preseason games to go.