Orlando Magic Grades: San Antonio Spurs 100, Orlando Magic 81
The Orlando Magic saw their offense fall flat as they concluded their preseason against the San Antonio Spurs. Is it a sign of concern or something passing?
100. 29. 81. 38. Final
The box score was not likely something anyone with the Orlando Magic wanted to see. It would tell them just how much the team struggled offensively.
The highlights: 10 first-quarter points, 37.1 percent shooting and 5-for-26 shooting (19.2 percent) from beyond the arc. There were missed shots from all over, even when the Magic were getting good looks. The San Antonio Spurs did their job defensively forcing the Orlando Magic off the 3-point line and contesting shots around the rim.
The strong ball movement that characterized Orlando’s offense throughout the preseason seemed to dry up. There were still 24 assists on 33 field goal makes. That is still a solid number, just nowhere near the efficiency the Magic will need.
Everyone seemed to struggle from the beginning. Orlando made just five of its first 23 shots. Aaron Gordon missed his first 10 shots. Open shots would not fall and the Magic were missing looks at the basket.
Orlando Magic
Their defense stood fast as long as it seemed like it could. The Spurs struggled for much of the first half too. But eventually, San Antonio pulled away. Their defense kept the Magic from ever finding a rhythm. The Spurs lead grew to as much as 28 points.
It would be concerning if any of it mattered, of course. There was a bit of a “last day of school” vibe to the whole contest. The Magic put their work in and gave a good effort but seemed to lose some focus as the game went on. That is not likely to make Steve Clifford happy.
That is probably why the Magic kept most of their starters to the very end. Orlando was trying to get at least something positive from the game. Aaron Gordon did at least making a few shots.
But this felt like both a warning for the Magic and an inconsequential moment. A warning that it will take supreme focus and execution for the Magic to succeed. But the team has shown plenty encouraging signs before in the preseason to provide some level of faith.
No one will really know until the season starts Wednesday.
C-. Aaron Gordon had a bad night. There is no getting around it. He scored four points on 2-for-13 shooting. He missed his first 10 shots. And it got to a point where he was searching for his shot and just trying to get anything to fall. It was one of those random nights for him.<p>It was not that Gordon was taking bad shots at all. His shot selection was generally fine. He only started forcing shots when he got deeper and deeper into the hole. Gordon was trying his best to keep things moving and take the shots the team needs him to take. It was not for lack of trying.</p><p>The reality is with Gordon that the expectation is for him to play at a consistent level every night. That requires a bit of efficiency and production that he did not provide in this game. Gordon is still going to go through growing pains. This game was part of it. But these games need to become rare. At least, it felt like Gordon was playing within the offense he just missed shots.</p>. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON
B+. The lone player for the Orlando Magic who seemed to shoot the ball any way decently was actually the one player the Magic wanted to see shoot the ball well. <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
B. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA
C+. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC
B. The San Antonio Spurs were hit with a small haymaker at shootaround when they announced <a href=. . . SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Next. Orlando Magic lack drama entering 2019, and that is good. dark
The Orlando Magic will open the regular season Wednesday against the Miami Heat.