After its leaders, the Magic must regain its regularity

In pain during its last meetings with its very diminished workforce, the Magic does not simplify the task either. Orlando missed the opportunity to take advantage of the new absence for suspension of Jimmy Butler on the Miami side. The men of Jamahl Mosley had the match in hand, before spoiling many opportunities.

This inconstancy, especially at the end of the match, begins to cost dear to the Magic, even with Paolo Banchero And Franz Wagner now capable of service.

As often lately, everything has not been to throw in the performance of the current 7th of the East Conference. With seven players at 10 points and more, the Orlando offensive collective has been able to compensate for a time the more complicated evenings of the Banchero/Wagner tandem, leaders in scoring but clumsy (respectively 17 points at 7/21 and 29 points at 10/25 ). But when concluding the case, in regulation time and then in the first extension, the two “Playchise Player” missed out: 9 points to 4/12 to the shooting for Franz Wagner in the fourth quarter and the extensions, 6 points 2/8 for Paolo Banchero. A badly unacceptable evil.

The law of bad series

“” I continue to learn every game and look for ways to improve Reacted the American-Italian, visibly blunt. “” Everyone is finding their feeling with each other. Honestly, it didn't seem so bad. They simply returned strong in the fourth quarter and extension. We made a few series over the match where we played real good basketball. »»

This last sentence sums up everything. Good basketball, with an ability to attack the circle as few teams are capable of the NBA and a stifling defense. But all on sequences, and not for 48 minutes.

Decisive in the “Money Time” against Detroit last Saturday, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were rather the opposite against the Heat.

The Magic still led 12 lengths to just over six minutes from the end of the fourth quarter, then still eight to four minutes from the buzzer. It was still at +6 with 1min45 remaining in the first extension. Before flanching, almost inevitably, in the last moments and to crack in the second extension.

Time as an ally?

“” We let this match slip »» Deplored Franz Wagner. “” We had several opportunities in the fourth quarter and the first extension. At the end of the match, we struggled offensively. In the end, we lose on offensive rebounds, communication errors on certain phases of the match, not fair in the last minutes. »»

“” It is also played in the start of the match, because you should not get there if you manage things correctly Mosley Jamahl. “” On certain moments, such as when at the time of time, you lead by ten points and you give two 3-point baskets to Duncan Robinson. These are the kinds of situations you have to look at and evoke. We just have to be better in these situations, and we will be. »»

Without being in an emergency, the Magic continues to see its room for maneuver is reduced with its main competitors. Now in the “Play-in” area, with a just balanced record (24 victories-24 defeats), Orlando only has one more victory than Detroit, and two on the ninth Atlanta. Unable to chain two victories for more than a month, has to pull themselves together. And above all find this famous constancy.