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Orlando Magic Grades: Philadelphia 76ers 130, Orlando Magic 111

By Philip Rossman-Reich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts a lay up against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Magic 130-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts a lay up against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on November 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Magic 130-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic were unable to get their defense going again. The Philadelphia 76ers picked the Magic defense apart yet again and outpaced them for a win.

The Orlando Magic are used to great ball movement. It is how they built an 8-2 record. It is the glue that should bind their offense — and their defense — together. This team is not good enough to do things on their own with such few isolation options.

That ball movement is the key to the Magic’s ultimate success.

Watching the Philadelphia 76ers pass and move the ball to get open shots, twisting a more energetic but ultimately futile Magic defense around. Orlando was never going to catch up to the pass.

If coach Frank Vogel needed to teach his team this lesson, he will only need to show what that passing can do to their defense. Too often, the ball whipped inside and out and around the perimeter to the open man.

And eight times that man was J.J. Redick, delivering a soul-crushing 3-pointer again and again. Orlando was chasing the lead again. And ultimately that is going to bury them. Not with the way Philadelphia moves the ball and Orlando’s general inconsistency on both ends.

The storm kept coming as the Sixers defeated the Magic 130-111 at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. Orlando has now lost eight straight and 10 of the last 12 games.

The Magic now seemingly look and feel the opposite of that stellar team that took the league by storm in the season’s opening weeks. Orlando had just 22 assists on 39 field goal makes, hitting on 45.3 percent of its shots.

More than that, Vogel put a tight leash on players to try to limit mistakes, hold the team accountable and create some energy. The team seemed to respond early with Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon getting the early pull for their poor play. They, and the team, responded in the first quarter at least.

But some energy was not enough. The team was unable to execute defensively consistently. The 76ers were able to move the ball, force help and tear up the interior defense again. The 76ers were playing target practice, able to kick out to open shooters. There is only so much the coach can do. Vogel was left searching again for options to get his team out of its rut.

They simply would not come. And Orlando is still searching for answers.

B. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON

<a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. C+

C. The Orlando Magic have come to view <a href=. PF. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

<a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MARREESE SPEIGHTS. B-

5th East. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS. A-. The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that is playing and building exactly how the Orlando Magic wanted to. They move the ball and keep defenses off balance. Sure, they have Joel Embiid, a spoke to revolve around, but this team has a deeply embedded work ethic and culture.<p>Unlike the Magic, the 76ers do not give in to struggles. This is a team that sent Orlando to the foul line 31 times and stretches where their shots do not fall. The Magic had their moments where they forced turnovers and swarmed the ball with energy. But Philadelphia kept breaking it.</p><p><a rel=. 11-7

Next: Orlando Magic must reshape rotation to regain intensity

The Orlando Magic wrap up their four-game road trip in Indianapolis against the Indiana Pacers on Monday.