Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 114, San Antonio Spurs 87
The Orlando Magic added another rout of a contending team to their ledger, trouncing the San Antonio Spurs in every phase for a big home victory.
The ball whipped around the perimeter so fast, it was sometimes hard to keep track where it was going or who was getting it next. Or, more importantly, when it would stop and the shot would finally go up.
It was, at least, for the San Antonio Spurs. Every time they seemed to get set on defense. There was no keeping up with the Orlando Magic in the Magic’s 114-87 win at the Amway Center on Friday.
That score is not a typo as Orlando dominated on both ends.
As thoroughly befuddled and confused the Spurs looked chasing around Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, D.J. Augustin and Jonathon Simmons all game, they looked just as frustrated and constricted on the defensive end.
Outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs could get no one going. They shot 33.7 percent from the floor.
Eventually, Orlando just started crowding Aldridge at every opportunity. They switched any screens involving him, using guards to front him and a big ready to help from behind. The Magic executed this game plan perfectly.
And when other Spurs players got into the lane, they found little space and a defense scrambling to pick up steals or block the shots. On this young season, the defense has rarely looked this suffocating.
San Antonio literally had no room to breathe. And Orlando kept pouring it on.
Any mistake the Spurs made, the Magic pounced on quickly. Every seeming advantage San Antonio had, Orlando took away. The Magic doubled and pressured Aldridge. They turned turnovers into fast-break opportunities. And they turned the Spurs’ slow pace to their liking.
Orlando dictated terms to San Antonio seemingly from the tip. There was very little to complain about — Orlando could have done better to defend without fouling, giving up 27 free throw attempts.
In the first two weeks of the season, the Magic have routed the Spurs and the Cavaliers. That has to mean something.
G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. A. There is something to be said for consistency. It is that thing every team can rely on night in and night out. The Orlando Magic knew they would have to work offensively by committee. They knew the team would need to find offense from somewhere each night and it may not come from the same guy. And so what <a href=
A-. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN
A. It was easy to tell <a href=. SG. Orlando Magic. JONATHON SIMMONS
B+. Everyone has been waiting for <a rel=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC
4th West. SAN ANTONIO SPURS. F. There is rarely ever any reason to be concerned about the San Antonio Spurs. They always seem to find a way and they always seem to have the right pieces in place. They take bad losses all the time — sometimes because they capitulate their starters too soon. This was still a 4-0 team playing really well entering the game.<p>Yet, the lethargic play from San Antonio and the lack of consistent support around LaMarcus Aldridge (24 points on 9-for-14 shooting) should raise some concern. In a game where San Antonio had a size and experience advantage, Orlando ran circles around the team. On both ends. It is rare to say that about any Spurs team, even at their worst in the Gregg Popovich era.</p><p>The Spurs are not in panic mode. There were fewer bad signs in this game than say in the <a href=. 4-1
Next: As offense soars, Orlando Magic know defense must improve
The Orlando Magic next take on the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday in the start of a three-game road trip. It should be a huge test for the Magic as they look to build off this incredibly hot 4-1 start.