The chance for an Orlando Magic win came down to one play in the end.
Jalen Johnson had the ball at the top of the key, staring down Paolo Banchero in front of him. Franz Wagner fought Nickeil Alexander-Walker as he came to the top of the key, slowing his progress and making it harder for Alexander-Walker to set the screen.
This is what the Magic want. A team that is physical and not conceding any spot, using its size to slow down offensive execution in a close game. The Magic needed a stop, trailing by two with a minute to play.
Alexander-Walker eventually got in position to set the screen. He slipped it, leaving Wagner covering Johnson to his left and Banchero to his right. Alexander-Walker popped out again near the top of the key, with Wagner still intently looking at Johnson and following him.
Banchero was too. And that is where the breakdown occurred. Johnson fired it to a wide-open Alexander-Walker to deliver the dagger three and put the Atlanta Hawks up five to seal the game.
If anything defined the Magic's opening game on Wednesday night, it was how much the team did things correctly, but how often that was not enough.
And that gap is everything for this team as they navigate the early part of this season.
"However many times it happens, we don't want to make the same mistake over and over again," Franz Wagner said after practice Thursday. "We also know these next 81 games we aren't going to be perfect either, so also playing through those mistakes. Practice was about understanding what the mistakes were and executing better."
If there was a shock to the Magic's opening night loss to the Hawks, it was how poorly the team's defense played.
Certainly, part of the issue is that the Magic are learning a new defense and getting back up to game speed. This was far from the worst defensive showing in the league and it was going against a really strong offensive team.
But no matter how improved the offense is, this is something the team needs to correct quickly.
If this team wants to win, they know that defense is where it must start.
What broke down defensively
The Orlando Magic had an inconsistent season on defense last year.
The team dropped from second in the league in defensive rating to 13th. That drop was the biggest difference for the Magic, even with the team's continued struggles on offense.
The Orlando Magic hired Sean Sweeney as much to remake the offense as they did to re-establish this defense, considering his role in building the San Antonio Spurs' defense last year.
It was surprising that this is where the Magic struggled so much. They know they can be an elite defensive team. They know that it needs to be their identity. The Magic struggled from the start.
"I think we've got to be better defensively," Goga Bitadze said after practice Thursday. "Be better in our spots, in the gaps and help each other and cover for each other. That's what we worked on today. Our offense looked great. We've just got to be better on defense, cover for each other, talk, communicate and be in better spots defensively."
The Magic gave up 118.9 points per 100 possessions, a bad number to be sure but far from the worst defensive lows of last season, or the worst in the league in the opening days this season. They gave up 60 points in the paint on 30-for-50 shooting and 36 free-throw attempts on top of that (for 30 makes, the same number the Magic made in 39 attempts).
Nothing was worse than the second quarter when Orlando gave up 44 points. The Hawks had a 146.7 offensive rating while shooting 14-for-24 from the floor and 12-for-14 from the foul line. The Magic's offense hit a rut, even while scoring 29 points in the quarter, giving away the lead.
Atlanta had 20 points in the paint alone in that quarter.
There was a lot to clean up.
"In general, I don't think we were great at sticking to our principles and doing what we've been doing in the preseason," Franz Wagner said after practice Thursday. "I think it is about honing in on that and making it a habit."
That was the concerning part of the defense. It really felt like the Magic were over aggressive, leading to more fouling and the team did not do the basics that have defined the Magic's defense during this run.
How the Magic correct the issues
The task then on Thursday was to begin correcting some of those mistakes and reinforcing those habits and principles that the team is hoping to build this team on.
There was a more serious tone to practice even if there is no panic from a first-game loss. The Magic know that they are still forming their habits.
They needed to address issues quickly.
"Definitely wnat to nip things in the bud as quickly as we can but there is always a learning process," coach Sean Sweeney said after practice Thursday. "It was the first game. The speed is up, the minutes are up, the intensity is up. So, I think sometimes you can play to the fatigue or the scoreboard or the crowd and you really just need to play to the next play."
Narrowing the focus is certainly the task. The Magic do not want to overreact.
And they know how good they can be. It is just about reaching that potential. The team is still working to create better habits.
This is a new defense. Things are still new. They need to create those habits and that takes experience and playing together. That remains the biggest thing the Magic need to do.
Until then, they are going to be fighting to get closer to their potential with each game.
"We know what we have to do, all of us here," Goga Bitadze said after Thursday's practice. "It's been very clear and detailed what we have to do. We didn't do that in some parts, and that hurt us. Teams like Atlanta, they get going, and they score the ball really well. They are going to hurt you. We've just got to get on top of everything.
"We've got to talk to each other, help each other, and that's how we're going to win games. We know we can guard. We have done it. No matter what the system is, we know we can do it. We've just go tto do it every day."
Sweeney said the team has done a good job being receptive to the coaching staff and the corrections they have needed to make.
The test will come Friday with whether they snap back to attention and regain those habits.
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