Orlando Magic need more than effort to compete with the best

The Orlando Magic need more than a good effort to compete with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is clear the team has a lot of work to do.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were lazing a bit through their 116-104 win over the Orlando Magic.

LeBron James would exert his will with a powerful drive through the defense for an emphatic slam or a dish to the perimeter. The Cavaliers seemingly could create offense whenever they wanted to hold off the Magic. And Orlando would keep trying to roll the stone up the hill.

As the Magic got closer, it seemed to perk the Cavaliers’ antennae up more. And that is when the onslaught would occur again. James would take over. Irving would hit a 3-pointer.

They were the Cleveland Cavaliers. The best team in the Eastern Conference. And even as they have struggled of late, the Cavaliers are still dangerous.

Frank Vogel took the podium following the game expressing some optimism and disappointment. He felt his team had done enough to win the game, despite making just 4 of 21 3-pointers. The team just could not get over the top. But it was a good game especially in light of the 40-point shellacking the team took the night before.

"“We had a much better competitive spirit about us tonight than we did last night,” Vogel told Orlando Magic Daily after Saturday’s game. “I’m disappointed that we fell short because I felt like our guys deserved a victory for competing the way they did. They really brought it and gave everything they had, we just fell short.”"

The Magic never got over the hump. But they kept fighting. When it seemed the Cavaliers were ready to pull away the Magic reeled them back in closer. Orlando kept coming, never giving in to the runs Cleveland made until time finally ran out.

The Cavaliers were always in control. The final push came thanks to LeBron James simply taking over. He bulldozed his way through Nikola Vucevic for an and-one and then whipped the ball to Iman Shumpert for an open three to double a six-point lead to a 12-point one with two minutes to go.

Orlando Magic

Game over.

Orlando was never truly in the game. They cut it to one possession a few times, but that seemed only to get the Cavs going more. As the game went on, it never felt like the Magic’s big run would come. It felt like at all times, the Cavaliers were well ahead. It always felt like their devastating run was on the horizon.

Credit the Magic, then, for keeping the game close even without a strong shooting performance and while facing down James’ ninth triple double this season.

In the wake of Friday’s 40-point defeat to the Charlotte Hornets, it seemed like a minor victory of sorts. The Magic did not embarrass themselves against one of the best teams in the league. That feels like a very low standard.

"“We just played harder and smarter,” Nikola Vucevic told Orlando Magic Daily after the game. “I thought we played them pretty well. We never really made a run. They responded with a run and we were never really to keep it, especially in the second half, a close game. It was always we would come back, tie it and they would go back and make the lead six or eight. We never could keep it close enough to have a chance in the end.”"

Orlando would come up just short on the scoreboard. As Vucevic said, the Magic never could get over the hump. But the team seemed to restore some pride in its play. The team’s energy level and focus was back to its normal level.

The Magic were far from perfect. The Cavaliers picked hem apart at times.

But Orlando was at least back playing at a consistent level. The team had 21 fast-break points. Players attacked the basket and got to the foul line. The Magic had 15 offensive rebounds.

It is unfair to compare Orlando to Cleveland. The two teams are playing different games at this point. The Cavaliers are fighting for a championship and even a mediocre game leaves them in complete control against teams like the Magic.

The Magic are far from the Playoffs these days. And it does not seem they will be getting close. Not without some major changes.

And even with major changes, like the ones the Magic made this summer, it will not happen without the basics — effort and execution. It seems the Magic are still working on those two things.

It is never a good sign to be wondering each game if the team will play with a basic “competitive spirit.” Much less to do so in March.

Orlando was clearly infuriated with its play Friday in Charlotte. They made sure not to repeat that mistake Saturday at home.

"“Last night . . . is embarrassing,” Aaron Gordon told Orlando Magic Daily after the game. “It really is. To get blown out by 40 is never a good thing. We wanted to come back and respond. It would have been nice to get a win here. It didn’t happen.”"

Orlando is still establishing that foundation to the team’s program. The Magic are still seeking to build the basics. That is what the rest of this season was always going to be about. Orlando wants to build that winning culture.

And effort, energy and intensity are the first stages to that. That was what was missing against Charlotte on Friday. The results were obvious.

The Magic had it all Saturday against the Cavaliers. Far from perfect, they kept themselves in the game just needing a bit of execution. The team could not even soundly rely on that. The Magic’s effort Saturday night is likely enough to beat most teams in the NBA.

But they are still that team that needs its best effort to compete with these teams. They are still a team that is susceptible to their own inconsistencies to devastating effect.

Orlando has unfortunately learned this season their floor is very low. Saturday, they learned their ceiling has something of a cap. At least with this version of the team.

The Magic, as just about anyone can see after this season, are in need of a talent upgrade. The Magic are not good enough to win on effort alone.  And certainly without it, they cna get embarrassed.

This simple truth is probably the biggest issue to address as the Magic being thinking about their future.

Next: Grades: Cleveland Cavaliers 116, Orlando Magic 104

Consistent effort is a start. And Saturday was a good response to Friday’s embarrassment. But the team needs something more.