Orlando Magic Daily
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10 observations from the Orlando Magic’s first 10 games

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have gotten off to a slow start this season. But there are signs of hope and concern. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic have gotten off to a slow start this season. But there are signs of hope and concern. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are struggling to finish the close games they have been in without a primary shot maker like the Dallas Mavericks’ Kristaps Prozingis. (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

6. Across the Finish Line

The Orlando Magic are not the kind of team that has a player they can dump the ball to and get easy points. They do not have an isolation player who can create his own shot or get to the basket consistently. The team’s best offensive players are not those guys.

Orlando was still able to hit late-game shots last year. Evan Fournier was one of the most clutch players in the league last year. Terrence Ross could hit big shots when the team needed them too. They found ways to score and to execute.

This season has not seen the Magic executing at the same level defensively on either end. Part of that is the team’s poor shooting overall. So some of that will fix itself.

But Orlando still has struggled to execute on both ends late in games. The Magic have not won any close games in their three games. And they have given up plenty of leads in the fourth quarter and opportunities for wins late in games.

Whether it was Trae Young‘s 3-point heroics against the Atlanta Hawks. Or Kyle Lowry burying a 3-pointer after a miscommunication in the pick and roll against the Toronto Raptors. Or Nikola Jokic hitting a wrong-legged fade-away jumper against the Denver Nuggets. These were all tough shots and plays the Magic are not getting.

The Orlando Magic’s best chance to steal a win late came against the Dallas Mavericks. But Aaron Gordon committed two late charges and Nikola Vucevic’s 3-pointer fell no good.

Close games tend to be 50/50 shots. Even last year, the Magic were 22-25 in games that were within five points in the final five minutes. Eventually, the team’s close-game record should even out. The Magic should get their share of wins in those situations.

But it sure does not feel like it will be easy considering the team’s offensive struggles. And the Magic’s defense has actually been worse in clutch situations this year — 107.8 points allowed per 100 possessions in clutch situations.

It all creates a formula that is concerning for Orlando when the team gets into close games. This Magic team needs to win its close games if it wants to get back to where it was last year. And that still feels like it will be one of the team’s biggest struggles.