Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Grades: Miami Heat 107, Orlando Magic 77

By Spencer R. Henderson

Oct 18, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) attempts to pass the ball as Miami Heat forward Derrick Williams (22) defends during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) attempts to pass the ball as Miami Heat forward Derrick Williams (22) defends during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Magic traveled down to Miami to face the division rival Miami Heat for preseason game number six. The results were not encouraging.

VS.
1234T
Magic1927161577
Heat27292031107

These preseason results should make Frank Vogel ask one question.

What identity?

The Orlando Magic made their way to Miami, but left their identity in Orlando in what most figured would be a favorable matchup for the Magic.

The Magic lost a preseason game to a rebuilding Dwayne Wade-less, Hassan Whiteside-less Miami Heat team 107-77 at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday.

The game started off in the Magic’s favor with a strong first quarter. But then the Heat just took it to the Magic, playing without Bismack Biyombo (rest) and Aaron Gordon (ankle).

The Magic looked like a team that looked at the Heat roster and thought they could just walk out there and get a win without the type of effort they put forth the other night.

It is clear the Magic will have to protect the rim a lot better than they did tonight against a Whiteside-less Heat squad. The Heat were aggressive defensively all night long and looked like the better defensive squad. The Heat scored 54 points in the paint and shot 51.2 percent form beyond the arc, including 10 3-pointers.

This Magic team cannot afford to allow their defense to crack like it did tonight, especially against a team most critics do not have making this year’s postseason.

Fortunately these games do not count. But once Oct. 26 arrives, the Magic will need to find what type of team they want to be.

Frank Vogel said the team was moving half speed and it looked that way throughout the entire game. The defense was a step slow closing out to the 3-point line for the second straight game, and it is beginning to look like a recurring theme.

The defense cannot afford to start slow and be irrelevant if the Magic plan on making the playoffs in 2017.

B-. <strong><a rel=. F/C. Orlando Magic. SERGE IBAKA

C. <strong><a rel=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

C-. The more I watch the preseason, the more I feel like <strong><a rel=. SG. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER

The Orlando Magic failed to beat a rebuilding Miami Heat team despite the Heat playing without their $98-million center in the starting lineup and their prized draft pick from last year.<p>The Heat deserve all the credit for holding down their home court in blow out fashion. The next step for the Heat is to put it all together with the spotlight on Hassan Whiteside and the young guys surrounding him.</p><p>The Heat were excellent on the defensive end tonight as they had no problem showing effort and closing out on the Magic’s perimeter shooters. Orlando shot just 33.7 percent and made just 2 of the team’s 19 3-point attempts. The Heat can build on this preseason win by continuing to play good defense like they did tonight and hitting the three ball with consistency.</p>. . . MIAMI HEAT. A+

There are not many excuses fans are going to want to hear about developing a chemistry on the offensive end for a team lacking offensive players.

This was not a game the players will enjoy watching on film during the next film session. This was the worst loss of the preseason.

The Magic will need to show better effort on both sides of the court Thursday night versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

Next: Analyzing the Orlando Magic's first 10 games

The latter would be to enter a new season on the wrong note.