NBA Playoffs: 3 Keys for the Orlando Magic to win Game 4 over the Toronto Raptors

Playing the matchups with Siakam, Leonard

Coach Steve Clifford has been patient throughout the season. He has stuck with the players he trusted and has generally been rewarded for it. He saw the big picture at times when fans were antsy for change.

Clifford has looked good at each turn, even if he waited longer to make a decision on a rotation change. His patience still paid off, turning to players at the right time

There is no big picture right now. There is only the game at hand and winning the matchup in front of him. And sometimes a matchup calls for something different.

Game 3 might have been the first time there was a clear tactical mistake with his lineup. And that is what happens when the pressure of the playoffs grow.

The biggest glaring thing from Game 3 was his decision to finish with Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier to defend Pascal Siakam down the stretch rather than Jonathan Isaac.

This is not abnormal in the long run. This was the Magic’s closing lineup for the season and one of its best lineups overall — +9.5 net rating in the regular season. Clifford is right to believe and trust in this lineup.

But with this specific matchup, it is hard to justify. Especially when Fournier was struggling to shoot so much. With the game close in the finishing minutes, Pascal Siakam dominated whoever was guarding him in the post.

Certainly, in a way, he could not with Jonathan Isaac.

Toronto Raptors

It has become increasingly clear in this series that any time someone other than Jonathan Isaac or Aaron Gordon switches onto Pascal Siakam or Kawhi Leonard, the Magic are at a severe disadvantage. Orlando has to minimize these moments.

Gordon has essentially matched Leonard’s minutes all series. Clifford ensures that Gordon is on the floor every time Leonard is and Gordon has had few minutes with Leonard on the bench.

Isaac has not matched Siakam’s minutes quite as much. Despite dominating the first quarter and keeping the Magic afloat with his defensive energy and occasional shotmaking, Isaac played in only 29 minutes in Game 3. He played in nearly 40 minutes in the Game 1 win, for what it is worth, including the finish that included his big 3-pointer to tie the game.

The numbers bear out Isaac’s impact too.

Siakam is averaging 24.3 points per game on 55.0 percent shooting in the series overall. He has been a revelation and the biggest boost to the Raptors’ offense, carrying them through Game 3 with a 30-point, 10-rebound effort.

But against Isaac, Siakam is scoring only 10.3 points per game and shooting 53.6 percent according to Second Spectrum.

Isaac has not slowed him down like he did in the regular season. Siakam is still getting his points and causing trouble for Orlando. But Isaac has gotten his licks in too and gotten deflections and blocks to slow him down some.

Certainly better than any other player.

In Game 3, where Siakam scored 30 points on 13-for-20 shooting, he scored just nine points on 4-for-10 shooting against Isaac.

Isaac has been far from perfect in this series on either end. He has looked every bit the inexperienced young player he is. And the Raptors certainly do not mind leaving him open on offense. They want him to shoot, betting he will not make it or look to attack much.

Game 3 was clearly a different story. It was clearly a game where Isaac had things working in his favor and was the only one who could slow down the Raptors’ best (and sometimes seemingly only) offensive option.

Especially with how much the Magic loaded up on stopping Leonard, they needed an option defensively they could rely on more favorably. In Game 3, Siakam scored 14 points and made all six of his shots with Fournier or Ross defending him.

Clifford is right to trust his usual closing lineup. He is perfectly reasonable to say he needs the extra offensive threats and ball handling that Fournier and Ross provide. But this is also a time to play matchups and roll with what works in the moment. The result is all that matters, there is nothing in the future to build.

In this series, it feels clear the Magic need Isaac on the floor to counteract Siakam. They need to trust he will provide offense when it is called upon from him.

Clifford does not have to completely disrupt his rotation. But he needs to be more willing to go with what is working and roll the dice on something that finds a little spark.

This is not a call for anything major — like inserting Ross into the starting lineup for Fournier to provide a spark at the beginning of the game, another suggestion that made the Internet rounds. But Clifford has to recognize this matchup.

If Isaac is playing strong defense once again, Clifford has to trust that and roll with it. He needs to be willing to roll with whatever is working as long as he can because winning is all that matters right now.