Orlando Magic Grades: Detroit Pistons 103, Orlando Magic 88
The Orlando Magic could not get their offense moving in the second half, scoring only 33 total points and falling to the Detroit Pistons.
88. 38. 103. 64. Final
For most of the first 24 minutes for the Orlando Magic, the ball zipped around the perimeter with speed and relative precision. The ball found outside shooters and they made shots. There was an inside-out aspect to the team’s game.
Yes, there were turnovers and sloppy defensive rotations. But the Magic had the rhythm and control of the game. The team could tighten things up and come away with a needed confidence-building win.
Mohamed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac were swarming for blocks, erasing mistakes from themselves and teammates almost instantaneously. Terrence Ross hit 3-pointers just like he did last year. The team made a living doing what it wanted.
As the Magic are learning without Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, nothing is going to be easy. Nor is it guaranteed. Certainly not as it would be with the team’s best players in the lineup (not that it is a guarantee then either).
The Magic’s ball movement suddenly stopped as the Detroit Pistons tightened their physicality. Orlando may have turned the ball over less, but the team was forcing the ball a lot more. The ball movement that got the team going stopped and frustrating shot after frustrating shot went up.
The Magic scored only 33 points in the second half. And their defense was not there enough to keep them in the game.
The Pistons needed a slow burn to pull away. But they pulled away behind a 3-point barrage from Luke Kennard, Langston Galloway and Svi Mykhailuk. Orlando found itself down big and searching for answers in a 103-88 loss at Little Caesars Arena on Monday. Those answers were not coming during this game.
The Magic shot just 28.2 percent in the second half, totaling only six assists on 11 field goal makes. It was not like the Magic had a ton of assists anyway. But without the ability to make shots, it was easy to see the lead slip away and frustration only grow.
The Magic did not rely on each other to get back. With so many key players out, it is easy to see how someone like Evan Fournier especially is trying to carry the team. That is probably not going to work. Orlando tried to create off the dribble and create space but that only got the team in more trouble.
Meanwhile, the Magic’s defense continued to struggle. And without that base, it was inevitable the team would lose. Orlando is searching for answers. And this game, it certainly did not play well enough.
C-. <a href=. G. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
Orlando Magic. MARKELLE FULTZ. B. If the Orlando Magic have one guy who has proven he can get into the lane when he wants and make good things happen, it is <a href=. PG
In the second game since the gauntlet was clearly dropped with <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA. B
C. After the game, Jonathan Isaac was quiet but determined. He did not play up to the standards the team has surely set for him with this opportunity and his team suffered for it. Isaac made only 4 of 11 shots. Isaac’s offense is still coming along and there is now a whole lot more expected of him.<p>But Isaac was more disappointed with his defense. He struggled to defend <a rel=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC
DETROIT PISTONS. B. The Detroit Pistons have had a slow start to the year because of Blake Griffin’s knee injury and they have struggled to piece together an identity. This game is not going to do too much to help them figure that out. They were sieves in the first half and lockdown in the second half. It was still a slow climb to build the lead up even with the Orlando Magic’s problems offensively.<p>The Pistons shot 43.0 percent from the floor and worked the ball well to get open shots and to the foul line. That was the strength of their attack. Their defense did a good job closing down the lane. But this was still as much about the Magic and their inability to get themselves moving.</p><p>Credit Detroit then for playing with the right energy. The Pistons stuck to their gameplan a whole lot better and played more together. Griffin made big plays when he had to and give the Pistons the lead and some cushion. They made shots. But this Detroit team is still working to find itself.</p>. 6-11. 10th East
Next. Orlando Magic are giving Evan Fournier all their attention. dark
The Orlando Magic close their road trip on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.