Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Week 11 Takeaways: Still rough around the edges

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 8, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Donald Sloan (15) during second half at Barclays Center. The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 83-77.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Donald Sloan (15) during second half at Barclays Center. The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 83-77.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings
Nov 21, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) calls for a pass from Magic forward Evan Fournier (10) during the second half of a basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Amway Center. Sacramento won 97-91. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

By Joe Buckley

The Magic choked. It is blunt, and I do not like saying it, but this week screamed only one thing to the rest of the league:

“We aren’t ready for the big time yet.”

The team had opportunities to play some tough, but not other-worldly teams to get some respect around the league, make themselves feel better about past woes, and most importantly jump the standings.

Most of the team, to me, looked simply uninterested in the Detroit Pistons game, and for the start of the Indiana Pacers tilt. Their performance did not reflect their capability or talents, and they’ve suffered for it.

A step back at this point means a much harder slog later on, and the fact these losses were all against Eastern teams is not going to help if the team are tied in the eventual playoff standings.

While this is not something I have learned, but rather always knew, is that Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo are incredibly important to the Magic.

Payton’s absence not only makes the team much harder to watch, it has a huge impact on their play. Half of the team’s sparkplug is gone, as well as their best pentrator and pusher. Oladipo, for his part, showed his value. Oladipo is the other half of the sparkplug. One of the most intense on defense and offense, and needs to be unleashed rather than chained.

Smaller things I have learned:

  • Mario Hezonja is an incredible passer and is figuring out how to use it.
  • Aaron Gordon is stocking up some starter’s minutes he is definitely going to be using soon. (and he can jump, really, really high. That reverse against Washington just went on forever and ever).

Next: Sharpening up