NBA Playoffs: 3 Keys for the Orlando Magic to win Game 5 over the Toronto Raptors

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Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 13: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game One of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 13, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic face elimination on the road against the Toronto Raptors. To complete this tough task, they need to go back to basics.

Coach Steve Clifford has had the same assessment it seems after the last three games — all defeats to put the Orlando Magic in a 3-1 series hole against the Toronto Raptors. The team has to be better on the ball limiting turnovers and stick with their identity on offense to keep things going.

When the Magic have had brief moments of offensive clarity, they quickly recede as the Raptors increase their pressure, buckle back down on defense and the Magic start forcing their play once again to get anything going.

As Clifford has said after the last two games, no one can fault the Magic’s effort. They have been pushing and fighting to stay in this series and struggling to have the consistency they need to get there. The problem is purely one of execution — and perhaps will — more than effort.

There is little the Magic could do more on Kawhi Leonard. He is hitting tough shots and eviscerating a defense that is loading up on him, often sending at least three bodies to trail him on every pick and roll.

The battle in this series has really been more about the Magic making sure they can get back and get set defensively to give themselves a chance in the series. That means limiting turnovers and making shots. Those are the two things the Magic have done poorly in this series.

Overall the Magic have a 110.6 defensive rating this postseason, the third-best among teams trailing in their playoff series. But that is far worse than the 107.5 defensive rating they posted during the regular season (eighth best in the league).

Orlando is turning the ball over at a significantly higher rate and giving up more points off turnovers than in the regular season — 18.3 points off turnovers in the playoffs compared to 14.7 per game in the regular season, the third-best mark in the league.

The Magic have done some odd things in this series that has hurt their defense. Game 4 was by far Orlando’s worst defensive game of the series. Their 108.8 defensive rating through the first three games is more than respectable. And it should be enough to at least make the game competitive.

The key to this series has been ever since Orlando won Game 1 whether the team could generate enough offense to keep up with Toronto.

Now, with the Magic’s backs against the walls, they are still searching for ways to score. And that is the key to everything.