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

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ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 19: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic works on plays prior to Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors on April 19, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Be flexible with the attack

Coach Steve Clifford deserves a ton of praise with the way he has built up the Orlando Magic this year. They have established a clear way of playing and a strong defensive ethos. He deserves credit for the team’s never-quit attitude that got them here.

Clifford’s main job this year was to establish a culture and identity — however anyone wants to define that — and he has done that. The playoffs are proof of that.

Perhaps he is still thinking about that culture building and a long-term vision. But he, like the team, has shown some of his tactical weaknesses in the playoffs. He is a brilliant defensive mind — all of his Charlotte Hornets team and this Orlando Magic team played above their heads defensively. But his offensive scheming seems lacking.

This postseason has shown both the shortcomings of the Magic’s offense and perhaps the shortcomings of Clifford’s tactics on that end.

Maybe that is unfair.

He has limited offensive weapons and his best offensive players — the guys he trusts the most in Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier — have had poor series by any measure. The fact Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier are combining to average 25.5 points per game on 35.8 percent shooting (40.6 percent effective field goal percentage). The two highest usage players this postseason have 22 assists against 22 turnovers.

Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

That is obviously not good.

The Magic have not changed much of their offense from the regular season despite the massive pressure they have faced. It still feels like they are running a lot of the same sets without a ton of new wrinkles.

On one hand, Clifford is right to trust what got him to this point. He should not deviate too far from the team’s sets. He just may need to add new wrinkles and seek advantages where he could.

Instead of a straight pick and roll with Vucevic perhaps they could try other pick and roll combinations, using Vucevic as a screener to spring the real screener free and then rolling Vucevic off that action. Perhaps the Magic could run more pick and rolls with Aaron Gordon, putting more size on the ball. Perhaps running 4/2 pick and rolls with Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier with Nikola Vucevic as a floor spacer and decoy.

These are the wrinkles the Magic have not quite tried yet to get their offensive going. There needs to be a bit more imagination on this front.

Clifford has been a bit too rigid both with his rotations and his strategy. He is trying to get what has worked throughout the whole season to work and the adjustments have come slow.

The Magic should not change their overall strategy too much. It is simply too late to do that. But Orlando has to find new wrinkles to catch Toronto off guard. Clifford has to work through the feel of the game better and if that means breaking his rotations, so be it.

This is not a matter of desperation. That would be wrong. He should not try any odd or untested lineups. But he has to add new wrinkles to free up the team offensively and try to relieve some of the pressure they face.