Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

The Orlando Magic failed to answer their questions for the second quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO, USA - DECEMBER 20: Nikola Vucevic (9) of Orlando Magic in action during an NBA basketball match between Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States on December 20, 2017. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, USA - DECEMBER 20: Nikola Vucevic (9) of Orlando Magic in action during an NBA basketball match between Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States on December 20, 2017. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 20: Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Chicago Bulls on December 20, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Can the Orlando Magic bring their defense back?

Again, the short answer is no.

The Magic were rolling defensively early in the season and that was a big reason why they were able to pile up wins. Even as their shooting started to return to normal. There were still some negative signs and some indications that the defense could collapse.

It was only surprising that the team collapsed a bit defensively facing all the injuries the team faced. it was hard to get much cohesion at all.

The Magic ended up with the fifth-worst defensive rating in the league in the second quarter of the season, giving up 109.7 points per 100 possessions. They continued to bleed points in the paint too. For the entire season, the Magic give up a league-high 49.6 points in the paint. That included giving up 72 points in the paint against the Washington Wizards on Friday.

That suggests defensive failures on many levels. the Magic are not a good defensive team. it is hard to point to much positive on the defensive end.

Almost certainly, the Magic’s inability to defend consistently is a big reason why the team collapsed as it did. Of course, it is not the only reason why.

The offense had a lot to do with things too. That was perhaps even worse than the defense.

Sure, injuries played a role. The team was never whole and its best offensive weapons were always seemingly on the shelf. The Magic had to play without its top two scorers in Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier for a fairly long stretch in the season. Players like Jonathon Simmons and Elfrid Payton could not pick up the slack around Nikola Vucevic.

And then, of course, Nikola Vucevic went down with an injury too.

Things just kept piling up. But, in all, the Magic had a league-worst 101.4 offensive rating in this time frame. That did not help matters.