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Orlando Magic: 3 worst things from season so far

By Luke Duffy

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 26: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 26: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Their slip defensively

When head coach Steve Clifford took over in the summer of 2018, he made it clear that defending at an elite level would be this team’s identity. It was too, as the Magic used a strong showing on that end to get back to the playoffs last season. The finished the year eighth in defensive rating (107.6) including fifth (107) after the All-Star break.

With key guys in that area like Michael Carter-Williams and Birch returning this season, not to mention Bamba coming back from injury and the signing of Al-Farouq Aminu in free agency, the belief was that they were going to take another step forward in this area. Especially with Aaron Gordon having asserted himself as the best two-way player on the team.

Instead, there were too many cooks in the kitchen, and the Magic stumbled in this area. For the season overall they sit 10th (108.7), which while respectable does not tell the whole story. In the run-up to the All-Star break, something did not seem right, with the Magic leaking points and throwing away games against the likes of the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.

Since then, they sit an awful 26th (115.9), with there being no good reason why they have fallen off a cliff in this area. Aminu isn’t even back yet, so they don’t have to try and accommodate him. If anything the recent injury to Evan Fournier meant that Wesley Iwundu, who is much more defensive-minded, would get his chance to show what he can do on that end.

If you watched many of this team’s games this season, it’s hard to know why their offensive game then clicked into life. They were giving up a ton of points but were now scoring more, winning three road games in a row against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.

This is masking the frailties that have grown defensively, however, and they can’t allow this to continue into next season as well. They have a head coach and a roster that looked to be built around defending at a high level. It got them to the playoffs last season and will be key if they want to continue going back to the postseason.

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