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Orlando Magic Playbook: Aaron Gordon’s defense on Kawhi Leonard wasn’t enough

By Seth Arora

The Toronto Raptors started their road to the title with a five-game series win over the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors started their road to the title with a five-game series win over the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic, D.J. Augustin, Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon
Orlando Magic starters, from left, Aaron Gordon, D.J. Augustin, Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross watch as time expires at the end of play against the Toronto Raptors during Game 2 in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The Raptors won, 111-82, to even the series. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

What’s Next?

Aaron Gordon clearly has some room to develop as a defensive player going against the best of the best. And, to be fair, Leonard is, historically, a singular postseason player.

It may have looked good in stretches during the first round, but the numbers and film tell the true tale.

Still, Gordon and the Magic struggled against him defensively, and Gordon is partially to blame for Leonard’s surge, as is Leonard’s own brilliance.

This was one of the big lessons Gordon and the team certainly got from experiencing playoff basketball for the first time.

Gordon is a big part of the Magic’s future and has shown consistent improvement during his tenure in the NBA. He shows the potential of being a very good two-way player.

With the Magic’s 2019 free agency plans at least partially complete, the team will seek internal improvement. Gordon will be called upon to defend the opposition’s premier wing players better as his career advances.

Gordon certainly should be hungry to prove himself once again in the playoffs.

His base numbers and performance showed he is more than capable of fulfilling that role.

Orlando Magic smartly agree to bring Terrence Ross back. dark. Next

But if the team wants to improve its station and Gordon wants to elevate his status in the league, he and the Magic have to do a better job of slowing down the Kawhi Leonards of the world.