How will the Orlando Magic react to Playoff pressure?
The big question is the one that has the Orlando Magic in the crucible right now. This is something the team has never experienced before.
In the last six years, the Magic are out of the Playoffs by the fourth quarter of the season. They never felt the ever-increasing pressure that comes with every possession and every game. The Magic have to manage it all as the deadline of the end of the season approaches. Fans — and, let’s be honest, the team itself probably — are watching other teams too to see what they do.
Already since the All-Star Break, the Magic are seeing that pressure at work.
In the three games the Magic were not supposed to win, they played loose and free. It really looked like they were playing with house money.
In the three games the Magic lost against the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference, they played seemingly tight. They struggled to do the basic things they had to do and they lost focus.
Orlando is still learning how to bring the right approach to every game and the right focus to every game. That is something that has to change immediately, of course.
But you have to raise the question about whether some of this timidness comes from feeling the weight of this expectation. Maybe they feel relaxed when they go up a half game knowing they have a cushion. Maybe they play a little harder knowing they need to make up ground.
That is perhaps too speculative. The Magic do have a tendency to press when they are struggling. Someone has to create something to get this team going at times and finding that little push of confidence has been a big part of the struggle.
Usually it is veteran Terrence Ross giving the team that sigh of relief and comfort. When he does not, things get hairy.
Orlando has to find a way to keep up their confidence. Every game is going to be super important for the rest of the way. And the Magic are going to have to find a way to push through it and give the same effort and approach. A positive one at that.
Right now, the Magic are not bringing that consistent approach and seem to struggle some with the pressure.