Orlando Magic seek execution, energy as the losses mount

The Orlando Magic could never get over the hump in a loss to the Indiana Pacers as they are still looking for that energy spark and bit of execution to win.

The defining play for the Orlando Magic in their 98-88 loss to the Indiana Pacers came early in the fourth quarter. The Magic were trying desperately to climb back into the game, never seeming able to get over the hump.

Orlando deflected the ball away and C.J. Watson went after it. He dove headfirst into the scorer’s table, somehow saving the ball in the process to D.J. Augustin. Augustin got to the other end of the court and found himself with an open 3-pointer.

This is the kind of play that changes games. It builds energy in the arena. The ultimate sacrifice gets rewarded. Coach Frank Vogel was even climbing into the stands to help C.J. Watson get back into play.

Then the air was let out of the balloon.

D.J. Augustin missed the three, as many other open shots for the Magic had missed before in this game. The brief bit of energy dissipated and snuffed out before it could turn into that game-clinching run.

The Magic were searching for whatever they could to get over that hump. And they never found it. Every time they had the chance to cut a six-point deficit to four or a five-point deficit to three, they missed the opportunity and gave up a basket on the other end.

Orlando finally ran out of time when C.J. Miles came around a screen and fired over Evan Fournier, ducking under the screen for an eight-point lead. there would be no final comeback in this one. The Magic just could not finish the job.

“It was frustrating,” Nikola Vucevic said. “I thought the defense was a little better. We did give up a lot of threes it feels like. Offensively, we had chances where we made runs and we couldn’t score. We just never could get all the way back. We had a bad start to the game, they built a lead and they are a good team.”

Orlando Magic

The Magic were playing from behind throughout the entire game. Their only lead came at 2-0 on one of the first possessions of the game. The Magic dug themselves a hole with some lethargic play and poor ball movement. All while the Pacers picked the team apart.

The Magic never got the deficit back to a single possession after the first quarter, try as they might. They found some energy to go on a run and keep the game close. But never enough to overtake the Pacers.

Indiana plays a bit of a methodical, slow-paced game. Using Jeff Teague in pick and rolls and Paul George in isolation, they can wear teams down with that onslaught of weapons. The Magic held the Pacers to fewer than 100 points, giving up a 104.9 offensive rating. That is at least better than the Magic’s season averages.

Orlando held Indiana to 18 points and 6-for-15 shooting in the fourth quarter. Yet, the Magic could not make up the deficit fully. They could not hit the shots they took and six turnovers in the quarter doomed any chance t a comeback.

The Magic could not find that consistent effort they needed. The few plays like Watson diving to save the ball did not come often enough. And did not build toward anything.

Momentum is indeed the next play. It never got going downhill.

“Honestly I thought [the energy] was OK, not great,” Vogel said. “The Pacers play a lethargic style of basketball. They lull you to sleep with their own energy. I thought our energy was OK. Certainly not good enough to get a W.”

As Vogel noted after the game, the Magic play with a very small margin for error. They do not have that one star to dominate and they need each other to succeed on both offense and defense. Getting the team to work on a string has been a constant battle for Vogel and the Magic throughout the season.

Monday’s game only furthers that frustration.

The Magic missed open shots when they got them despite good execution. They defended hard and gave themselves a chance to win and could not get over the hump and win. The team could not muster the energy to dig in deep and climb over the top once again.

The losses keep mounting and the reasons remain the same in each game. There is the inconsistent effort, the struggles to keep the ball moving and defensive lapses.

Orlando had moments of all three of those chronic problems. When they put it all together, it seemed too late. And the basketball would not cooperate and go in the hoop.

The Magic do seem to be playing better, even if it is just a little bit. But a little bit will not get the job done. Not with the ambitions and hopes this team had at the beginning of the season and still has for this year.

Orlando is pushing to get better still and trying to find a way to build even a little bit of momentum. The way the Magic struggled, especially to begin the game.

It is not back to the drawing board, but it is back to something for this reeling Magic team.

“That was a game I thought we were going to win throughout the entirety of it,” Aaron Gordon said. “We fought. All we can do is watch film, come back to work tomorrow and work hard.”

Next: Grades: Indiana Pacers 98, Orlando Magic 88

That is all they can do.