The Orlando Magic came out uninspired and never turned it around, losing 108-96 to the Brooklyn Nets in the second to last seeding game.
The Orlando Magic coaching staff have not been shy about communicating what the team needs to improve on. They have their eye on the playoffs and getting the team ready to play and they have not seen that effort and focus needed to succeed against the daunting Milwaukee Bucks.
Steve Clifford said on multiple occasions the team needs to rebound the ball better, get to the free-throw line, cut down on turnovers and play with pace.
The team did none of these things well in Tuesday’s 108-96 loss to the seventh-seed Brooklyn Nets. In fact, Brooklyn played more of the type of game the Orlando coaching staff have been looking for.
The Nets outhustled the Magic, attempted more three-pointers, and had fewer turnovers. Orlando shot 38 percent from the field as a team and had 17 turnovers juxtaposed to only 12 assists.
As they have done in nearly all of the seeding games so far, the Magic got themselves into a hole early in the first quarter and never climbed back out of it. It cannot be overstated how consequential team energy and aggression is coming out of the gate.
Clifford’s biggest disappointment was that players who need the time to build habits and get ready for the playoffs did not do so in this game. The only positive they can take away was getting some conditioning.
It is important to note the Magic were without Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross. This would normally be an excuse for this type of performance, but the Nets were obviously shorthanded as well, possibly even more so with four of their top six scorers inside the bubble sitting out.
Orlando missed some shots early and never truly seemed engaged in the game — even if the morning shootaround was spent going over some of Milwaukee’s sets rather than Brooklyn’s. Orlando played better in the second half, but never well enough to make a dent in the deficit.
This game was actually a small sample of the bigger story currently taking place. The Magic came into the bubble in prime position to steal the seventh seed from the Nets and avoid a match-up with the Bucks in the first round. As we covered extensively, we all expected the Magic to do so.
After a 2-0 start in the bubble, the Magic have dropped five games straight, with their effort being called into question almost every game.
On the flip side, the Nets now find themselves at 5-2 in seeding games and one of the feel-good stories so far. With a roster filled with recent signings or G-League call up’s, many Nets players have played their way onto an NBA roster for next season.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot tore things up in the first quarter for the Nets, finishing the game with 24 points. Tyler Johnson and Jeremiah Martin also got things going on the offensive end.
For the Magic, Markelle Fultz and Wesley Iwundu led the way, each with 18 points.
The Orlando Magic will wrap up the seeding games with a game versus the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, all in preparation for a first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.