Orlando Magic: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Raptors

1. Where was the defense?

Starting on the first of February, the Magic went a surprising 21-9 to finish off the season, tied for the third-best mark during that span. The backbone of their success was their defense, one that ranked No. 1 in opponent points per game, 3-point percentage and sixth in opponent field goal percentage.

Whatever prowess this Magic squad showed defensively during the regular season was nowhere to be found in their crushing Game 4 defeat. They allowed the Raptors to shoot 53.3 percent from the field and 39.3 percent on 28 attempts from distance. Kawhi Leonard seemed unfazed by any defense that was thrown at him, as evidenced by his 12-of-20 shooting performance.

Toronto is a great offensive unit, one that ranked fifth-best in offensive rating during the regular season with a top-10 player capable of scoring 30+ on a regular basis. Defense, though, is where Orlando hung its hat all year.

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Head coach Steve Clifford didn’t have many reputable defenders to work with, but he got his guys playing hard every night at that end of the floor. It’s what helped vault Orlando into the playoff picture for the first time since 2012.

The Magic don’t have the personnel necessary to outscore the opposition. They prefer to battle it out on a below-100 slugfest on the strength of their ability to get stops when it mattered most. But if that elite level of play at the defensive end isn’t present, there isn’t anything else for this team to fall back on in order to remain competitive.