Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Meeting first quarter expectations

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) react after a basket during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) react after a basket during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic, Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks
Nov 27, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4)is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) in the second half at Amway Center. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Orlando Magic 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

What areas do the Orlando Magic need to address and improve upon in the second quarter of the season?

Iwanowski: It is not enough just to say the Orlando Magic need to improve their offense, which is 0.3 points per possession away from being last in the NBA. They need to move the ball as a team more and generate more possessions that take advantage of their balance and athleticism. They are 25th in the league in free throw attempts and pace and bad at shooting overall. I would like to see them try to run more and move off the ball more to try to get cheap buckets, which is what an offensively challenged team can do. Isolations are not effective plays for any of these perimeter players on the team. They clearly do not have the personnel to be an elite offensive team, but if they can go from awful to mediocre it would probably be enough to make the playoffs.

Jumani: Magic need to improve their offensive pace. They are 25th in the league in that category, and it has been seen a few times this season the Magic are best when they play fast. They have the young bodies to do that, but it is Frank Vogel’s preference they play slow. The Magic are not a team, where they can isolate and rely on one player to score 25-30 points on a nightly basis. They need points from every player and it is easy to score if you play faster offense, which leads to more field goal attempts per game, which is needed on an inefficient offensive team like the Magic.

Palmer: I think it has already started a bit but the Magic need to change how their offense is being run. Lately, we have seen Serge Ibaka being used a lot less in the post and more as a stretch forward and it has done a lot for Orlando’s spacing. Additionally, the Magic should look to push the tempo more. With D.J. Augustin and Elfrid Payton as your point guards, there is absolutely no reason that the Magic should be walking the ball up the court like they have.

Rossman-Reich: They have to find a way to create some consistent offense in the half court. Yes, it would be nice if they could get out in transition more and speed up the pace of play. But really, the Magic need to do a better job creating offense in the halfcourt. That means moving the ball around and creating secondary options. Right now the offense is very simple and when things break down, the Magic have nowhere else to go.