The Orlando Magic again got to a close game and seemed to tighten up on both ends as their opponents stepped their game up. It led to another loss.
It was easy to see how tight the Orlando Magic were late in the game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Coming off a game where the Magic crumbled in the stretch they needed to be confident and experience success. Like Saturday’s loss to the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic had the lead for the majority of the game. They were the ones in control on the road to start the new year. Even in an ugly game, the Magic held the lead.
The Magic led by four with three minutes to go. And then slowly things got tight.
Spencer Dinwiddie hit a 3-pointer, a rare sight in this game between two solid 3-point shooting teams, and the Magic were up only one.
The Magic led by one with a minute left, able to get to the foul line and hold the Nets off. That is when Brooklyn’s small lineup took over. Caris LeVert broke Bismack Biyombo down off the dribble and got to the basket. Bismack Biyombo was late to recover and his shot-blocking instincts took over. He found LeVert from behind for the and-one. the Nets led by two.
The ensuing possession showed just how uncertain and tight the Magic had become. The Magic tried to get Evan Fournier the ball on one cut, then Aaron Gordon. The team looked lethargic and sluggish trying to execute this set. The cuts to get open and initiate the play were taking too long.
Eventually, Elfrid Payton simply forced his way into the lane and drew the foul. Consider that play lucky.
Because Orlando kept up the somewhat lethargic play down the stretch. Down by one point, Evan Fournier stared down Allen Crabbe at the top of the key and pulled up for three. On a poor shooting night for the usually reliable Fournier, it seemed a poor out-of-rhythm shot. It did not come off an assist, it was a pull-up three and a likely poor decision.
The Magic had to foul and found themselves desperately looking for a three.
This was not a collapse on the levels of Saturday’s game, but it was poor execution and poor decisionmaking down the stretch. It was another instance of the Magic costing themselves a game late. Orlando did not have the mettle to get stops or execute.
Aaron Gordon likely put it best after the game saying the team needed to mature and quickly if they want to salvage anything from this season. They need to mature and quickly just to grow as players and as a team heading into this uncertain future.
Learning how to mature is the difficult part. That is a message that has been repeated throughout much of the last five years.
The Magic have played just 16 games in “clutch” situations, a game within five points in the final five mintues according to NBA.com. Orlando is 6-10 in those games. Orlando has a -16.8 net rating in these clutch situations, the third-worst mark in the league. The Magic are struggling to execute late in games.
That is not the main reason the team is losing. But clearly, Orlando can stand to improve here and that can only increase confidence.
Instead, it seems the team dreads these moments. They are not surviving them as they were early in the season — remember that shaky finish against the Memphis Grizzlies?
Gordon certainly recognized that, saying the team needs to get on the same page and understand what they are trying to accomplish late in games. They need to work together. That is all part of the maturation process.
Figuring out how to win is a difficult process. And not something that has a clear roadmap. Experience might be the only way to do it. With success to follow. Confidence has to breed confidence.
And right now it is clear this team does not feel confidence late in games.
Late in Monday’s game, the Magic were scrapping defensively. Elfrid Payton made some nice defensive plays in a close game to help stem the tide. But constantly, Orlando was beaten by its own mistakes.
The team’s own inability to get a good shot consistently late — much less movement getting into the paint. Or its inability to defend without fouling or prevent turnovers.
Even a team like the Nets seemed to have more confidence in these situations. They were the ones taking the front foot and attacking. And, more importantly, finishing.
The Magic still are not finishing games. They are getting tight late in these games. Scars from this season and before are still haunting this team. The Magic cannot seem to get themselves over the hump.
They will have to if they want to turn things around and start moving in the right direction.
To do that, they will have to stay committed to their principles and run through their offense. They cannot afford to change anything in what they do. They cannot afford to be tight.
Right now, they are. And that is costing them games.
Next: Grades: Brooklyn Nets 98, Orlando Magic 95
All they can do is learn and be better the next time.