The Orlando Magic have struggled offensively with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon underperforming. It is the only thing holding this team back now.
The Toronto Raptors know how vital Nikola Vucevic is to the Orlando Magic.
They understood in the playoffs when they pressured him at all times, using Marc Gasol‘s physicality to push him off his spot and often a second defender to crowd and rush him to pass out of the post. From there, they could use their length to make that pass difficult enough to allow them to reset. It is not like the Magic’s shooters are going to pose much of a threat.
Nikola Vucevic saw that style of defense throughout the Magic’s 104-95 loss to the Raptors on Monday. They crowded him and wanted him to rush his shot.
Vucevic was better against that defense this time around. He was quick to move the ball and try to get it to the open man. If not a bit imprecise with those passes back out to the perimeter. He adjusted to the way the Raptors wanted to defend him.
But he still did not do the thing he has to do against the best team. The thing the Magic absolutely need him to do if they are going to win these games and take their next steps.
Vucevic again could not hit shots. Again, he and many of the Magic’s best players were missing, sending the team scrambling to replace their production and stay competitive for a chance to win.
Amazingly, Orlando had that chance to win, leading with five minutes to play and in the game. This team is competitive despite the absence of production from some of its top players.
But that will not be enough.
End-game situations are where the best players step up and make plays. And it is no coincidence with the way this season has gone the Magic have lost both close games they have played in so far.
They are searching for that final push from their best players to get them over the top. So close is not good enough. They need their stars to step back up.
Right now, it is not for want of trying.
Vucevic had plenty of looks he would like. He got Pascal Siakam in the post twice in the third quarter. In one instance, he drew a double and dished back out — a missed catch was the only thing slowing the offense. On another, Vucevic spun baseline on Siakam and flipped in a hook shot that fell no good. That is a solid look Vucevic will take every time.
The Raptors were aggressive trying to attack him. They knew how to make him uncomfortable. And these shots just missed. But they are shots the Magic want and need Vucevic to take.
His performance Monday was not good enough for him. Coach Steve Clifford found a lineup that worked and it meant playing without last year’s All-Star center.
Vucevic’s defense is not enough to make up for his complete lack of impact offensively. He scored only five points on 1-for-13 shooting. It has been part and parcel of his year. After a solid workmanlike game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Vucevic simply has not been the reliable player for the Orlando Magic they need.
Vucevic shot 7 for 19 in scoring 16 points against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. That was a better performance, but equally as frustrating for the inefficiency of it. And that included a late block from Kevin Huerter that would have tied the game.
That absence would be fine if it did not come with the struggles for Aaron Gordon and Terrence Ross too. Vucevic is not alone in his difficulties. And that has put the Magic in the hole.
Aaron Gordon struggled to hit shots too, making only one of his six shots in the game. He played solid defense, including a vicious block of OG Anunoby, and moved the ball for a team-high five assists. The Magic trusted him defensively even if he was not scoring and he delivered on that end.
Terrence Ross caught fire in the second half and his threat still means something. He helped key a 13-0 run that gave Orlando the lead with a little less than five minutes to play. Ross finished with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. He was weaving through the lane and getting himself clean looks. That, again, just would not go down consistently.
This is the refrain throughout for these three key players. They are struggling to shoot and dragging an offense built around their contributions down with them.
Vucevic is shooting 33.3 percent from the floor through three games, Gordon is shooting 29.2 percent and Ross is shooting 28.1 percent. Only Michael Carter-Williams has a worse field goal percentage on the team.
To say the least, three of Orlando’s most important offensive players are shooting far below their career averages. And that has hurt the team’s overall production. As it would for any team.
What has been crazy is how the Magic have filled in to give themselves a chance to win despite these struggles.
Clifford was fishing for a lineup that could generate offense and play with the pace and execution he needed. He found it in a grouping of Markelle Fultz, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon. And they defended well and scored enough to threaten the Raptors.
Evan Fournier has been the lone key offensive player who has played well through the course of the Magic’s first three games. He has done a good job staying patient on his drives and weaving his way through to get good looks or paint touches off pick and rolls to kick back out.
Markelle Fultz has been the biggest revelation all season with his ability to attack and finish at the rim. And Jonathan Isaac turned in a career-best performance with 24 points and five 3-pointers to go with his swarming, impactful defense.
Orlando Magic
But Clifford cannot be lineup hunting every night. He needs to have a rotation and a group he can rely on consistently. Scrambling to find the right combinations is only going to lead to trouble.
Missing Vucevic and Gordon’s production especially is a dangerous thing for the Magic and their long-term prospects, even if they have one of the best defenses in the league.
This is a team that still is searching for offensive consistency. They felt entering the season they could rely on these players to keep the team steady. They counted on Vucevic’s consistency especially to pace their offense.
This team has some different weapons to boost their offense. Fultz especially has added a new element to the Magic’s attack. And that will make the team better.
But it still all starts with their best players. It all starts with those players giving the Magic what they expect and what they need.
Orlando has looked stellar defensively. The team has had a chance to win all three games. And even in the Magic’s win over the Cavaliers, their offense struggled.
Their success right now is based solely on those “star” players playing the way the Magic have always expected. The same level of play they got last year from them.
When that happens, the Magic could become a really dangerous team.