TORONTO – Back at the site of where their 2018-19 season ended with a first-round playoff defeat, the Orlando Magic are hoping to use the lessons learned from that series tonight to notch a win against the rugged Toronto Raptors.
Like in last spring’s playoffs when the Magic dropped the final four games after winning the opener, their fate tonight will likely come down to them being efficient enough offensively against a Toronto team that can be dominant defensively.
Orlando (1-1) has struggled offensively thus far while beating Cleveland in the season opener and losing in Atlanta on Saturday. Through two games, the Magic rank 28th in the NBA in scoring (96.5), 30th in field goal percentage (38.9 percent) and 30th in 3-point shooting (23 percent) – small-sample-size percentages that Orlando is confident will eventually rise.
Those numbers might conjure up bitter memories of when the Raptors shut Orlando down offensively and won 4-1 in the playoffs. Toronto went onto win the NBA title, beating Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Golden State after eliminating the Magic.
Toronto (2-1) lost defensive aces Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in free agency, but it hasn’t missed a beat defensively so far this season. Simultaneously, Orlando will have to try and get its offense going and figure out Toronto’s defense when the two teams face off at Scotiabank Arena (tip time: 7:30, TV: Fox Sports Florida).
``That (playoff series) was a good learning experience for us to see what we need to improve upon,’’ said Magic center Nikola Vucevic, who struggled throughout against the one-on-one defense of Marc Gasol and the many double teams that Toronto sent his way. ``Obviously, the regular season and the playoffs are different, and we played against the World Champs. They played great and made it hard for us, especially on the offensive end. We struggled, and hopefully we learned a lot from it that will help us this season.’’
What will help the Magic most now would be them sinking shots – particularly ones that they have worked to get with open shooters. Through two games, the Magic shot the ball well (54.3 percent) when they are what’s considered to be ``tightly guarded’’ (defender with 2 feet) and when they are ``open’’ (defender 4 to 6 feet), hitting 50 percent of their shots. What they have struggled with – for whatever reason – are shots that are considered to be ``wide open’’ (defenders 6 feet-or-more away), making just six of 39 overall (15.4 percent) and six of 36 from 3-point range (16.6 percent).
Understandably, Orlando’s players don’t put a lot of stock in those numbers. They are confident that shots will start to fall if they keep getting quality looks.
``There are going to be nights like (Saturday’s in Atlanta) and it’s a long season,’’ said Magic point guard D.J. Augustin, the hero of Orlando’s Game 1 playoff victory last spring with his game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds. ``It’s just two games into the season and we’re not panicking. It’s just a matter of us making shots and keep working on our games individually.’’
Toronto won its opener against New Orleans in overtime and rebounded from a difficult loss to Boston on Friday by smothering Chicago on Saturday. The Raptors held the Bulls to 29.9 percent shooting and rode more stellar play from breakout star Pascal Siakam.
With the Magic up next as the next opponent, Toronto power forward Serge Ibaka said he was hit with memories of the Raptors’ run to the championship starting with the first playoff series against Orlando. He said his team will have to be ready to combat a Magic defense that give his team fits.
``It feels like (the series against the Magic) was just a couple of weeks ago because the summer was so short, and here we are again back against them tonight,’’ Ibaka said. ``They’ve been getting better and better every year and last season they proved it in the playoffs. Even against us, it wasn’t easy and they’re going to keep getting better and better.
``Their length (makes Orlando good defensively), they’re so long all over the place,’’ Ibaka added. ``They’re big and that’s what makes them tough. They can switch up defenders (on pick-and-roll plays) and that makes them tough. We have to move them offensively. And they’re going to come tonight for offensive rebounds, so we have to be ready for them.’’
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