The Orlando Magic tried, even if futilely.<\/p>\n
They understood their offense has not been good enough for the five years Jamahl Mosley has been in Orlando. They acquired Desmond Bane to boost their playmaking and scoring. They hired Joe Prunty to bring some creativity offensively. They emphasized scoring in transition to capitalize on the turnovers their defense creates.<\/p>\n
In Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, they saw the fruits of all of those labors blossom.<\/p>\n
Bane scored 22 of his 34 points in the first half to pace the Magic and stake them an early lead. <\/p>\n
In overtime, trailing by two points, the Magic drew an inbounds that got the ball directly to Paolo Banchero for a post-up that ended in a game-tying dunk. In double overtime, trailing by three points, the Magic set a play up that brought newcomer Jevon Carter to the ball for a three. When he couldn’t get a clean shot, he passed it to Tristan da Silva and quickly relocated for a game-tying three with four seconds left.<\/p>\n
The Magic forced nine turnovers for 17 points, a low recently. But had 18 fast break points and were effective in transition.<\/p>\n
Orlando has improved offensively. But it is still so clear that offense is what is holding this team back. In overtime, the Magic’s unreliability on offense laid bare where this team’s shortcomings still exist.<\/p>\n
If the Magic want to beat elite defensive teams like the Suns and one day compete for a championship, their offense still needs to be so much better.<\/p>\n
Those things they were hoping to get were not there for them, and the offensive weaknesses on this team were apparent as Jalen Green hit the game-winning three in double overtime in a 113-110 Suns win.<\/p>\n
That offensive sparkplug in Bane? He fouled out with the Magic up five in overtime, sparking a 7-0 run as the Suns used turnovers and offensive rebounds — 22 of them in the game for 23 second-chance points and five for 10 in the two overtime periods — to strike back against the Magic.<\/p>\n
The Magic still cannot find consistency from deep, making only 10 of 39 in the game (25.6 percent) and 3 of 14 in the second half and 1 of 5 in overtime, allowing the Suns to answer back with threes. Orlando forced only one turnover in overtime (a 24-second shot-clock violation, at that).<\/p>\n
There are so many issues to resolve with this team. But even with Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs OUT for Saturday’s game, the same issue remained. Orlando simply does not have enough offensive firepower to function on most nights. <\/p>\n
Not against elite defenses, the kind they will need to beat to one day win a championship. That is the still the ticket they have not unlocked.<\/p>\n
Stars on the attack<\/p>\n
It is hard to find much fault in the Orlando Magic’s two stars in Saturday’s loss.<\/p>\n
Desmond Bane scored 22 of his 34 points in the first half to pace the Magic to as much as an 11-point lead. He was 5 for 9 from three as the only efficient shooter from deep. When the three was not working, Bane attacked the rim and finished around he Phoenix Suns’ defenders.<\/p>\n
Paolo Banchero was less efficient at 11-for-28 shooting. But he still accumulated 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. He filled the box score and had nine points in the second half and another eight in the two overtime periods.<\/p>\n
Banchero carried the team through overtime, especially when Bane fouled out early in the first overtime period. He was never settling and trying to get downhill. He missed some shots, but his fingerprints were all over the game.<\/p>\n