The Orlando Magic gear up for another road game against the Toronto Raptors. And another opportunity for Nikola Vucevic to show who he has been all season.
The Orlando Magic’s best player was not their best player Saturday evening.
In Game 1 of the first round, it was D.J. Augustin who stole the show scoring 25 points and dishing out six assists. Not only was he the best player for the Magic, but he might also have been the best player on the court in Game 1, including Kawhi Leonard.
The Toronto Raptors might have played carelessly in Game 1. That team that played against the Magic on Saturday was not the best version of the Raptors.
In Game 2, we will see a desperate Toronto team that will force the issue against Orlando in an attempt to tie up the series at one apiece. Although it takes four wins to advance, this game feels like an elimination game for the Raptors. Going on the road to the Amway Center, where the Magic have not lost since the first game back from the All-Star Break feels like a daunting task.
Pace and tempo changes in the Playoffs and the game turns more into a half-court type of game. The Magic have all the tools for that type of game, as they proved late in erasing a six-point deficit and winning the game near the buzzer.
But to play that type of style demands an above-average post anchor and a scoring point guard. The Magic proved they have both.
Nikola Vucevic did not play his best game of the year Saturday. But fans in Central Florida know all too well about what he is capable of doing. This year the 7-foot-, 260-pound center had a career year averaging 20.8 points per game and 12.0 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game.
His ability to hit 3-pointers consistently is a rare trait among centers in the league and turns him into a weapon even when he does not have the ball. Nikola Vucevic’s late 3-pointer on Saturday even in a game where he did not shoot well proved to be vital to set up D.J. Augustin’s game-winning 3-pointer.
The Magic did not need him to put up his averages in a road Playoff win on Saturday, but they will need everything he has to defeat the Raptors and move on to round two.
Vucevic finished the game with 11 points, hist lowest point total since late December, and 10 rebounds. He shot just 3 for 14 from the floor. He struggled to move Marc Gasol out of position and work around him, often taking tough and contested shots or rushing to beat Gasol to his spot.
However, late in the game, Vucevic stepped up with several big plays. His 3-pointer with 4:16 left tied the game at 92. He then found Aaron Gordon for a 3-pointer after whipping the ball across the court from the far block as the defense sank in to try to double him in the post. He also made the same pass to Aaron Gordon on the wing before Gordon found Jonathan Isaac on the wing for another big 3-pointer.
Even with Vucevic struggling to score, he made an impact late in the game that helped the Magic win. He draws a lot of attention from the defense.
To be sure, though, Orlando will need a bigger contribution from their centerpiece player. It is hard to imagine them relying on Augustin to carry the entire offensive load.
Nikola Vucevic was clearly the main reason (besides Steve Clifford and his coaching staff) why this team was able to make it to the postseason and they will lean on him whenever they need a bucket.
Clifford needs to get him more involved in the offense like how he was in the regular season. One of the main reason why he only attempted 14 shots was because the Raptors were doubling him off of pick and rolls and leaving Augustin open for shots.
D.J. Augustin took advantage of Raptors coach Nick Nurse’s defensive plan to make Augustin beat them instead of Vucevic all night, scoring on multiple perimeter shots and layups at the basket.
This allowed the ball to rotate more freely and allowed open shots for the other starters, all five Magic starters hit at least one 3-pointer in Game 1.
Toronto will surely adjust coverages on Augustin that could leave Vucevic in more advantageous one-on-one situations. Clifford said during practice this week he has to find a way to get Vucevic more advantageous post positions and deeper positioning on Gasol.
Orlando will need more offensive contributions from Vucevic in order for the team to upset Toronto in this first-round series. He has to get back to scoring in the paint consistently and shooting those soft jump hooks in the lane that no one on the Raptors can defend.
If he goes back to being the best player on the roster and Augustin can continue to play well then the Magic have a real shot at upsetting Toronto.
Vucevic has to be the best player on this team for the Magic to advance to the next round, and if he can duplicate his numbers in the regular season in this series the Magic should be victorious.