Orlando Magic asking players to step up, none moreso than their remaining starters

The Orlando Magic are facing major injuries once again as the season comes to a close. That has left them asking even more from their players to step up.

Nothing can be the same when a team faces a major injury. When they face two at the same time, the task feels almost impossible.

Few teams can survive when a key player goes down. When it is a team like the Orlando Magic, an already small margin of error shrinks even more. A lot of things have to fall into place.

The next man up mentality is a necessary one in the course of an 82-game season. Every team will face injuries. No team gets through unscathed. A big dividing line between the good teams and the great teams and the OK teams from the bad ones is how they manage those injuries. Who can survive the 82-game season as much as who can win each game.

The Magic have faced their share of injuries this year. More than that. In many ways, it has defined the season. Players are used to having to do more and getting asked to do more than the original roles coach Frank Vogel outlined for them at the beginning of the season.

Some relish it. Some shrivel in it. And that very well might be the difference in the Magic’s season.

Once again without Evan Fournier (sprained MCL) and Aaron Gordon (concussion symptoms), the Magic had to find energy somewhere. More than that, they needed players who remained on the roster to step up. Against anyone, the Magic needed players to play a bit above their station.

Someone had to answer that call.

Jonathon Simmons certainly was. He followed his 25-point effort against the Sacramento Kings with an equally impressive 24-point, 7-for-13 effort in the Orlando Magic’s 113-105 loss to the LA Clippers. Jonathon Simmons added in seven assists, distributing the ball.

It felt like the Magic finally unleashed Simmons. Without any other players to take up possessions, Simmons was the one in charge. He was the one driving and attacking and creating for his teammates.

Orlando Magic

Simmons was the driver. All this from a guy averaging 13.5 points per game and shooting 47.0 percent from the floor. Simmons has had a breakout season. But has been up and down too. He is seemingly starting because of injuries to other players on the roster too. His whole career has been a series of chances that he took advantage of.

Now fit into this role where he can put his one-on-one play on display he is succeeding individually. And, if not for him, the Magic could have easily been embarrassed in these two games.

Simmons embraces that next-man-up mentality.

But the Magic need more. The key to those sentences — the Magic lost. Orlando needs to ask more from its players.

Even with Shelvin Mack scoring 16 points and helping drive the offense in his minutes. Even with Jonathan Isaac stepping up and showing the flashes defensive that has coach Frank Vogel beaming. And even with D.J. Augustin continuing to score points craftily and provide some much-needed shooting.

Mario Hezonja has stepped up when he got his opportunity earlier this year thanks to injuries. Those opportunities come very rarely in the NBA. And when a player takes advantage of them it is extremely rewarding. Hezonja earned his playing time with his ability to step up and step in.

Yet, it is still not enough.

At the very basic level, the Magic need at this point with their top two scorers out of the lineup their biggest players to step up. The remaining starters have to pick up the slack as much as their bench player do.

The bench stepped up in the second quarter to help Orlando take the lead. But that group let it down in the fourth. That is when the Clippers took over the game.

But it still takes more. More especially from Nikola Vucevic.

When the Magic last faced massive amounts of injuries, Nikola Vucevic turned in his best play perhaps of his career. He averaged 22.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in the eight games preceding his hand injury. He shot 49.7 percent from the floor.

His play was sublime. And his defensive effort and energy were also strong. Vucevic’s efforts were not enough to deliver the wins the Magic needed. There is still so much to overcome. But Vucevic was a key part to keeping the team afloat.

Vucevic has hardly struggled since returning from his injury — 17.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game entering Saturday’s game. He is shooting the ball well. Yet his last two games have not quite gotten enough from him.

He scored 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting Friday night and 17 points on 8-for-20 shooting in Saturday’s game. Those are fine efforts, but not the kind of “stepped-up” effort the Magic need when facing all the injuries. The kind of effort Vucevic put forward the last time the team was in dire straights with injuries.

This is not to put a whole lot more on Vucevic. He has another level to his game and the Magic are better when he is aggressive and looking for his shot while keeping the ball moving. He can be a fulcrum offensively. But he can also step up a lot more defensively.

It is easy to see in the last two games — especially Saturday’s game — how just one piece not pulling this extra weight can cause everything to slow down. Orlando trailed 10-0 early on with Vucevic as the central focus offensively. It was a sloppy, lethargic start on both ends.

Orlando built its lead with Vucevic and Simmons attacking and playing at a level beyond their season averages.

Next: Grades: LA Clippers 113, Orlando Magic 105

That is what it will take to steal a few victories with the shrinking margin of error with the team’s top two scorers out.