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NBA Playoffs: 3 Keys for the Orlando Magic to win Game 1 over the Toronto Raptors

By Philip Rossman-Reich

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 1: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors battle for a rebound with Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 1: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors battle for a rebound with Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Danny Green, Toronto Raptors, Jerian Grant, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 20: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors makes the game winning the shot against the Orlando Magic, winning the game 93-91 on November 20, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Tracking the shooters

If the Orlando Magic had one weakness in the loss on April 1, it was not guarding Kawhi Leonard or Pascal Siakam. Both Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac did a number on them in that meeting.

The difference in the game rather came from the outside.

Danny Green himself had a crazy shooting night — 29 points on 7-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc. The Magic simply lost him on defense a lot with D.J. Augustin floating around too much and struggling to get around screens. Orlando’s defense as a whole that night was not good and Green took advantage.

There is rightfully a lot of focus on the big names the Raptors have on their team. But whether this series is close or turns into a blowout might very well come down to how well the Magic track the Raptors’ shooters.

If Green has a good series, that is likely a bad sign for the Magic. At the end of the day, he might be the guy the team wants to beat them. But you still have to defend him. Green, healthy after dealing with various injuries last year, has had an incredible year shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Orlando has the length usually to pack the paint and protect the middle and get back out to the 3-point line. But likely D.J. Augustin will be the one chasing Danny Green around. He is the one guy in the Magic’s starting lineup who does not have great length. That could make this matchup all the more tricky.

The other part of this is Marc Gasol. Gasol ended up shooting 44.2 percent on 3-pointers since joining the Raptors. With the Magic’s tendency to have Nikola Vucevic drop on pick and rolls, that opens the team up to giving up pops to 3-point shooting big men. Gasol will have a role to play as a pop option.

Toronto is a really good 3-point shooting team. The Raptors do a good job getting penetration and kicking it back out. And their spacing will create driving lanes. Players will have to win individual defensive matchups to keep the defensive integrity and contest shots on the perimeter.