Orlando Magic Grades: LA Clippers 106, Orlando Magic 96

The LA Clippers wore down the Orlando Magic as the shots would not fall for the Magic and the defense could no longer hold the team up.

Final
Orlando Magic
96
Los Angeles Clippers
106

Coach Steve Clifford did not have chance to review the game film immediately after the Orlando Magic lost 106-96 to the LA Clippers at STAPLES Center on Sunday. He suspected he would like most of what he saw. A team that was working to get generally good shots and a team that played solidly defensively aside from a few critical mistakes down the stretch.

Still, at the end of the day, the game has one point — to make shots. And while he, like former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, would say that a coach cannot control whether his team makes or misses shots. That is still what has to happen in the end.

Up by 15 once again in the first half, Orlando could not generate enough offense to maintain the lead. Even with a defense that was playing admirably, it too would eventually crack with the Clippers’ depth.

Lou Williams, mired in shooting struggles for much of the game, broke through with 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and the Magic could not hit much of anything — 9 for 21 from the floor in the quarter. Eventually, everything cracked and the Clippers extended their lead out to 15.

Orlando shot 37.1 percent from the floor and 9 for 31 from beyond the arc. The team was never really able to get itself going. The Magic got stops and got to the foul line early to boost their play. But that no longer was sustainable into the final stages of the game.

There Orlando made the mistakes it had done so well to avoid. The team went under on several screens from Williams, allowing him to get free for open shots. He has been terrorizing the Magic like that for years.

The strong rebounding that helped Orlando stake its lead evaporated as Montrezl Harrell attacked the paint and the glass more effectively.

But it all came back to the Magic’s inability to hit shots. The Clippers recognized this and packed the paint, daring the Magic to make shots. They could not. And the game went out that simply.

Nikola Vucevic continues to put up some major numbers. He had 16 points and 24 rebounds in the game. The 24 rebounds were part of the Magic’s dominant start to the game. Nikola Vucevic quickly had 10 rebounds in the first quarter. His rebounding early in the game was vital to the team building the lead. He gobbled up every available rebound and locked down the paint.

But, as seems to be the trend of late, Vucevic fell back into bad habits. He was hanging back a bit too much and allowing penetration. While he was able to anticipate and recover better throughout the game, it did let Tobias Harris get to the basket for instance.

Vucevic still had a solid game. He also had eight assists, helping move the ball. The Magic tried to get him going in the post but the Clippers did a good job doubling and preventing the Magic from getting good shots through him in the second half.

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NIKOLA VUCEVIC

C, Orlando Magic

B-

Nikola Vucevic continues to put up some major numbers. He had 16 points and 24 rebounds in the game. The 24 rebounds were part of the Magic’s dominant start to the game. Nikola Vucevic quickly had 10 rebounds in the first quarter. His rebounding early in the game was vital to the team building the lead. He gobbled up every available rebound and locked down the paint.

But, as seems to be the trend of late, Vucevic fell back into bad habits. He was hanging back a bit too much and allowing penetration. While he was able to anticipate and recover better throughout the game, it did let Tobias Harris get to the basket for instance.

Vucevic still had a solid game. He also had eight assists, helping move the ball. The Magic tried to get him going in the post but the Clippers did a good job doubling and preventing the Magic from getting good shots through him in the second half.

Aaron Gordon continues to put up solid all-around games. His defense on Danilo Gallinari throughout the game was largely strong. And he helped keep Tobias Harris from scoring efficiently until Harris got things going in the second quarter with Aaron Gordon out of the game. His passing is solid still too. And he attacks the boards well.

For the first time in a while, Gordon seemed to be looking for his shot a whole lot more. He took 17 shots, which is the most he has had since Dec. 31 and just the second time he has taken 17 or more shots since Dec. 21. A guy we expected to be a high-usage player has struggled to keep himself involved offensively.

This game saw him force things a bit more. And that is part of the problem with the Magic’s offense in this game. Gordon got the ball a lot in late-clock situations and tried to drive into shot situations. He made just five of his 17 shots to score a team-high 17 points. This is part of Gordon figuring out his offensive role more even as the other parts of his game round into form.

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AARON GORDON

F, Orlando Magic

B-

Aaron Gordon continues to put up solid all-around games. His defense on Danilo Gallinari throughout the game was largely strong. And he helped keep Tobias Harris from scoring efficiently until Harris got things going in the second quarter with Aaron Gordon out of the game. His passing is solid still too. And he attacks the boards well.

For the first time in a while, Gordon seemed to be looking for his shot a whole lot more. He took 17 shots, which is the most he has had since Dec. 31 and just the second time he has taken 17 or more shots since Dec. 21. A guy we expected to be a high-usage player has struggled to keep himself involved offensively.

This game saw him force things a bit more. And that is part of the problem with the Magic’s offense in this game. Gordon got the ball a lot in late-clock situations and tried to drive into shot situations. He made just five of his 17 shots to score a team-high 17 points. This is part of Gordon figuring out his offensive role more even as the other parts of his game round into form.

Jonathan Isaac‘s game. The Orlando Magic got the ball to Nikola Vucevic in the post and Danilo Gallinari was ready to crash in on him to double. The problem was Jonathan Isaac was his man and was wide open at the top of the key. This was a simple play for Vucevic. Flip the ball to Isaac at the top of the key and let him shoot. He had all the time and space in the world.

Isaac received the pass and paused. Gallinari recovered and that hesitation hurt the team. Isaac tried to take a dribble to get himself into a rhythm. And it was still no good. The biggest issue is that hesitation. The Magic had far too much of that as they missed more and more shots. But for Isaac particularly, this hesitation is bad.

Teams are starting to ignore Isaac on offense. His poor shooting percentage are catching up to him. He has to prove he can hit those shots. And that will not happen if he is not shooting confidently. It matters less that he shot 1 for 7. It is that he hesitated to keep shooting. Isaac is smart and will not be selfish with his shot selection. But when he passes up open shots, that is a problem.

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JONATHAN ISAAC

F, Orlando Magic

D

One play aptly describes Jonathan Isaac‘s game. The Orlando Magic got the ball to Nikola Vucevic in the post and Danilo Gallinari was ready to crash in on him to double. The problem was Jonathan Isaac was his man and was wide open at the top of the key. This was a simple play for Vucevic. Flip the ball to Isaac at the top of the key and let him shoot. He had all the time and space in the world.

Isaac received the pass and paused. Gallinari recovered and that hesitation hurt the team. Isaac tried to take a dribble to get himself into a rhythm. And it was still no good. The biggest issue is that hesitation. The Magic had far too much of that as they missed more and more shots. But for Isaac particularly, this hesitation is bad.

Teams are starting to ignore Isaac on offense. His poor shooting percentage are catching up to him. He has to prove he can hit those shots. And that will not happen if he is not shooting confidently. It matters less that he shot 1 for 7. It is that he hesitated to keep shooting. Isaac is smart and will not be selfish with his shot selection. But when he passes up open shots, that is a problem.

Mohamed Bamba is starting to gain some confidence on the floor and make some major strides. He recently said the coaches gave him a bit more freedom to play his game, a wise move for a young player to play more on instinct. And that is paying off.

He had eight rebounds in his first seven minutes of play and recorded eight points and 10 boards for the game. He had a strong block that sparked a fast-break alley-oop to Jonathon Simmons in the second quarter. That confidence is indeed brimming for the young big man.

Mohamed Bamba obviously still has to learn the finer points of the league and his defensive assignments and coverages. He got muscled around and outmaneuvered by players like Marcin Gortat and Montrezl Harrell. But his latest run of play is extremely encouraging that he can make a bigger impact this season and he is grasping how he can make plays and how to trust his teammates.

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MOHAMED BAMBA

C, Orlando Magic

B

On the other hand, Mohamed Bamba is starting to gain some confidence on the floor and make some major strides. He recently said the coaches gave him a bit more freedom to play his game, a wise move for a young player to play more on instinct. And that is paying off.

He had eight rebounds in his first seven minutes of play and recorded eight points and 10 boards for the game. He had a strong block that sparked a fast-break alley-oop to Jonathon Simmons in the second quarter. That confidence is indeed brimming for the young big man.

Mohamed Bamba obviously still has to learn the finer points of the league and his defensive assignments and coverages. He got muscled around and outmaneuvered by players like Marcin Gortat and Montrezl Harrell. But his latest run of play is extremely encouraging that he can make a bigger impact this season and he is grasping how he can make plays and how to trust his teammates.

LA CLIPPERS

23-16, 4th West

B

The LA Clippers can wear down any team with its depth. They have a lot of very solid players and players who understand their roles. They keep etching and etching at a team until they break down, with enough big shot makers to pull things out in the crunch. The Orlando Magic are the latest victim.

This was not a clean game for the Clippers. They shot just 43.0 percent for the game and had only 23 free throw attempts — the Magic actually took more shots from the foul line. Orlando’s defense gave the team some problems and it was an uphill climb.

But the Clippers were able and ready to make that climb. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell did a good job working the pick and roll and they made key shots when they had to. This is the Clippers in a nutshell. They keep coming at a team until they find the crack to squeeze through.

The Orlando Magic turn around and go right back to work Monday night against the Sacramento Kings as their road trip continues.