The biggest problem the Orlando Magic face in their final 10 games

The biggest problem the Orlando Magic face in their final 10 games

It is time to talk about the Magic’s Biggest problems as they get closer and closer to the playoffs what they have to prove tonight against the Clippers today on locked on Magic you are locked on Magic your daily Orlando Magic podcast part of the locked on on podcast Network your team every Day and you are indeed locked on Magic today is March 29th 2024 my name is Philip Roser Mike I’m the expert and site editor over at orlandomagic.com follow me on Twitter Philip rror OMD on today’s episode of lockdown magic we’re talk about the two biggest problems

Facing the Orlando Magic and why it is completely in their hands to fix that and prove that they can fix it the rest of the season we’ll handicap the rest of the race we’ll talk about what the magic have to do themselves as they play these

Final 10 games we’ll get to that coming up here in just a moment but first we want to thank you again for making lock on Magic part of your day every day no matter when you listen to us whether it’s first in the morning whether it’s right when we upload we truly appreciate

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Magic is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more right now new customers get $200 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet that’s 200 bucks if your bet wins visit fanduel.com lockon to get started today inevitably I have seen this point come up over the course of these games and

Throughout the course of the last few weeks you know anytime you mentioned any stat that the magic have had and you know we have to admit this to we have to talk about it say that too but anytime you talk about a stat that the magic

Have had um and how well they’ve played since the AL right they’ve won 10 of their last 14 games this this this isn’t like the time to panic about the magic but it also kind of is the time to panic a little bit about the magic time to ask like a very serious

Question why are the magic struggling against good teams like why are the magic struggling against good teams since the All-Star break they have played let’s see one two three four five six teams with winning record records They are two and four in those games and with wins over the Cavs coming

Out of the All-Star break potential playoff opponent don’t sleep on that um as well as the win over the Pelicans last week the magic are two and four since the All-Star break in games against teams with winning records for the season for the season the magic are 17 and 24 with

Against teams with records better than 500 that ranks eighth in wins among Eastern Conference playoff teams as noted as clearly believed the magic have dominated dominated teams with uh with records below 500 like they they dominate those games I think they’re 25 and I want to just stop I have my

Stats here 25 and six against teams with records below 500 only the Boston Celtics have more wins against these teams now look we’re not sitting here saying the magic should be above 500 you know there’s there’s only three teams in the entire Eastern Conference three teams in the East that have records that

Are better than 500 against teams that are better than 500 the Boston Celtics are 31 and 13 the Milwaukee Bucks at least entering Thursday’s game are 25 were 25 and 19 team the Indiana Pacers are the only other team with a winning record so to be able to consistently

Beat good teams to be able to consistently beat the teams at the very top of the standings that’s the elite stuff and so it’s worth noting and worth saying that yes the magic are struggling against good teams they’re feasting on the bad teams they’re struggling against the good teams in this

League but that’s kind of what the regular season about is finish 500 against those teams Feast on the bad teams if you do that you’re going to be they’re going to be to spot the magic ring it’s essentially what’s happened but obviously we’re getting to the playoffs obviously if the magic want

To have success if the magic and look they’ve proven they’re capable of beating Inn these games they beat Boston they beat Milwaukee they beat Denver twice they’ve beaten some really good teams this year they beat Minnesota on the road they’ve beaten some really good teams the magic are capable of winning these

Games but we are getting to the playoffs and it’s how you perform against these opponents that matters most because you’re gonna have to beat these teams four out of seven times in the series in order to advance and this is an area where the magic still have to grow they struggled

Early in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans they struggled early in the game against Sacramento Kings they struggled early against the Golden State Warriors they struggled early against the New York Knicks against you know they they were really good early against Indiana Pacers but struggled in the

Second and third quarters the magic found themselves oftentimes over pressure and sped up against these really good teams against these good teams not always really good teams but good teams and so the magic have to find a way to dictate the flow of the game to dictate the

Tempo of the game Health matters being healthy having their full lineup That Matters this is a team that as much as we want to talk about their depth and they have the fourth highest scoring bench in the league their depth gets stretched real thin when they’re missing guards as much

As we want to talk about their guard depth Cole Anthony is not a starter Caleb Houston is inconsistent um Marquel Foltz is Markel folz at this point the magic have a problem here it’s one that they’re going to probably have to wait till the offseason

To resolve as they add more dep and add more veteran leadership and add more veteran players but the offseason ain’t going to solve the problem now because the magic do have a tough schedule coming down the road they do have a tough schedule the rest of the way this game Friday night

Against the Clippers is really important if the magic won a six and2 home stand if the magic we always said coming into this home stand the magic needed to split these middle four games they’re one and two that makes Friday a must-win game they have to continue to prove that

They’re capable of beating good opponents Elite opponents when possible they’ll get their chances they will they’re going to get their chances against these solid teams we’re gonna see you know the only team you know after Memphis and Portland the only team left on their schedule with a losing

Record or this with a losing record or there’s two teams left on their schedule with a losing record Charlotte and Chicago Chicago is still playing for some and so the magic are could find themselves in the same situation that they were Wednesday night against Golden State the rest of the season there’re

Could be playing teams that are playing for something that are desperate for wins that are trying to fine-tune themselves in the same way the magic are to varying degrees and the magic have to be ready for that the magic have to be able to step up to the plate and that frankly

Does start with how they start games that starts with how they open the game up do they punch first that is that is the big question that is what will be necessary for them to take this important next step for them to be ready for the playoffs what we ultimately want

To see from them that’s what’s going to be on the line here for the magic moving forward they’re GNA have to win these games at some point like that’s that’s the truth of it and for though it’s not something that I am overly concerned of because they they’ve shown us they can

Win these games they’re struggling with it right now maybe a little too comfortable maybe sitting at home a little too much uh certainly I think that the days off hurt them against Golden State um they’ve proven they can win these games but this NBA the NBA season is about proving it consistently every

Night every night every night every game and that’s been the Magic’s problem because they don’t see these teams a lot or I haven’t seen these teams a lot during this stretch they have another chance to prove themselves Friday night the magic have another issue they need to resolve

It’s time to talk about the free throw problem we’ll get to that coming up here in just a moment but first it’s time for quick word from our friends over at eBay Motors passion drive and patience what brings home the winning trophy is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay

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State Warriors on Wednesday a big factor in their loss on Wednesday this has been a recurring issue throughout the season this has been something that has held this team back I know I’ve said it to people that I sit with at games I know I’ve said it to to everyone that I

Can think of um the magic are going to lose a playoff game because they miss free throws and maybe maybe that’s the only way this issue is going to C itself you know maybe maybe Wednesday will do it and they’ll focus a little bit more and

Make sure that those free throws go down I’m expecting a free throw game on on Friday um but the magic have to make free throws this team this team needs it and at the rate this thing is going yes a game that should be a blowout could become close

In the playoffs and like we said the margins for error in the playoffs are really small the difference between winning and losing is very small and so this stuff matters for lack of a better way to phrase it this stuff matters making free throws matters so here are the numbers for you

The Orlando Magic have spent most of the Season leading the league in free throw eight they have a 29% free throw rate which means roughly they get three free throws for every 10 field goal attempts that’s that’s pretty good that’s the tops in the league it’s been tops in the

Leag for most of the Season poo Bano gets the line for 6.9 free throw attempts per game that is 10th in the league despite the Magic’s prowess at getting to the foul line it is an essential thing in their offense the magic don’t shoot a lot of Threes they

Put a lot of pressure on the rim they put a lot of pressure on the paint getting to the foul line is essential to the offense when the magic get to the playoffs they’re going to have to get to the foul line if they don’t get to the

Foul line they’re going to be in trouble but despite getting to the foul line for 24.6 free throw attempts per game again leading the league as much as everyone wants to talk about the Lakers um the magic lead the league in free throw attempts per game maybe not different differential that that’s where

I think the Lakers lead but despite getting to the line the most times per game in the league and they’re even six with 21.3 per game since the All-Star break when fouls have started to come down the magic ranked 28th in free throw percentage they make 75.1% of their free throws that

Is that may seem small but that is leaving a lot of points on the board like leaving 10 points on the board in an eight-point game the 52.4% free throw shooting on Wednesday was not even the worst this season they shot eight for 18 in the February loss at Atlanta and granted

There was a lot of fatigue in that game a lot there was was at the end of a road trip um and a busy part of the schedule but and that game ended up being a blowout but it was close and early Miss free throws killed them just like early

Miss free throws killed them against Golden State magic were five for 11 from the foul line in the first quarter they were six for 10 for the rest of the game which isn’t good either but if the Magic in a three for 22 first quarter when they score 11 points against Golden

State on Wednesday if the magic makes some early free throws that might loosen up the offense in fact you always hear it all the time if you’re not making your jumpers get to the paint get to the foul line just see the ball go through the

Basket but now that but since the magic were missing free throws you can see how tight everybody was getting with their shots even though the magic were getting some good looks this is the problem free throw shooting may seem very small but it has humongous effects missing a free throw

At the wrong time or splitting two free throws at the wrong time stunts momentum it means you’re not getting the full point that you should get for getting to the foul line Orlando this year has had four games where it’s shot worse than 60% from the foul line they’ve had 19 games

Shooting worse than 70% from the fine now they’ve gone 11 and eight in those games so 19 games shooting less than 70% they’re 11 and eight this team can still win without it I and I and I still think that is still the humongous takeaway that the match magic despite a lot of

Shortcomings are in a lot of these games they were down they were down one with 241 to play against Golden State despite their bad shooting despite their free throws they still had a chance to win and that tells me how good this team is but the Miss free throws also tells

You how much better they should be I I I didn’t calculate this so I’m not going to pretend to know but it certainly does feel like let’s say there’s four games five games even that the magic could have flipped into a close game and an opportunity to win if

They had made their free throws maybe there’s been two games that the magic struggle to finish with the lead because they missed free throws if the magic make their free throws maybe in those five games they’re three and two three more wins three more wins puts you in the race for second

Instead of race for third or fourth this stuff matters as much as we want to talk about the big things like late game shots and all this stuff making your free throws is probably the biggest small thing you can do and as as I mentioned yesterday free

Throws have nothing to do with the defense the magic will get to the foulon we’re not worried about the magic getting to the foul free throws have nothing to do with the defense because the defense ain’t guarding you they’re free this is all about you this

Is all about the team itself this is all about the magic taking care of their business I you know I could share all these stats I can share all that for you but the fact of the matter is the magic need to make free throws like it’s it’s a simple thing

And it’s one of the biggest problems the magic have they got to make free throws just plain and simple they have got to make free throws and if the magic want to win these games against the strong opponents that they’re facing we know they’ll cover for each other we know they will

Fight effort is rarely the issue with this team this team is good enough to win and I I I know I’ve said this the last two days I want to repeat this the magic should feel like they can win every single one of their last 10 games

I’m predicting that they’re going to go six and four I think seven and three is possible I think five and five is possible if they go five and five they’re sitting in the five seed maybe six I don’t see them dropping below six I’m fairly confident about that although

Miami has a very home heavy schedule um they go six and four they might climb to four they might not the magic should feel like they can win every single game the rest of this year but it starts with them taking care of what they can take care of and that

Is free throws first and foremost above all else but like I said the magic do indeed hold Destiny in their hands talk a little bit about what’s ahead of them coming up here in just a moment but first it’s time for quick word from our friends over at Nissan are

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On this learn more at visit learn more visit www.amazon.com locked onfire TV so having said all this um I think it’s really important to remember that these games aren’t the season um you know I think I think it’s it’s really important to like let’s let’s let’s take

Some perspective here the magic have won 10 of their last 14 and yes four all four of those losses were to playoff caliber teams with only one win against playoff teams um we understand that the magic get feasted on the weak part of their schedule as they should don’t

Don’t apologize for that the record is real they’ve won 40 they’ve won 40 games they’re on track to win possibly 48 games the record is real the magic have proven they can beat good teams but we we recognize that yes they they feasted on some really bad teams

And and they’ve got a lot to learn ahead of the playoffs we’re not going to sit here and deny any of that but it’s important to remember here that despite everything else despite how down you might feel that the magic have lost some of these games at the magic haven’t gotten

Like that consistent Marquee Victory you know they lost the big game against the Thunder way back when that the magic have put themselves in a position to control where they end up Orlando is a game and a half back of Cleveland for fourth two games back in

New York for third three and a half back of Milwaukee for second after the Bucs beat the Pelicans tonight and two games ahead of Indiana for six three games ahead of Miami for seventh remember the first tiebreaker if if T to head doesn’t work is division Champions staying ahead of Miami is really

Important in essence what I’m trying to say is the magic are as close to the three seed as they are the six seed whether the magic are looking at a race where they’re trying to catch somebody or they’re fending off the team behind them it’s completely up to

Them and that’s the theme for the final 10 games of the season the theme for the final 10 games of the season is and has to be about finishing strong can the magic finish strong against quality opponents against the Clippers against the Pelicans against the the Rockets the Bucks the Sixers with Joel

Embiid can they finish strong and put a cap on a really special season I think it’s it’s very easy to try and race ahead and say what’s next and look I’m not going to sit here and say we’re we’re not in the moral Victory business being close enough isn’t good

Enough and we’ll see what how the playoff series plays out we should be disappointed if and when they lose you know yes because it should leave you hungry for more but I think everyone wants to race ahead to the next part of the F next part of the puzzle and that is figuring

Out what this team needs which again we don’t know I know I’ve said this a million times it’s hard to predict what the magic summer is going to be right now because the playoffs are going to tell them what it needs to be we’re not going to

Know we’re not going to know what this team needs to after the playoffs so I’m I’m I’m excited for the playoffs win lose or draw just to get this information just to see okay let’s see who who steps up to the plate let’s see how defenses defend this team let’s see

What we really need besides shooting But ultimately we have to start with these 10 games we have to start with proving that the magic can beat quality opponents night in and night out and especially on the road in the Minnesota game was a nice win Denver obviously was a great

Win who are the other big teams magic beaten on the road this year magic have been very good at home very very good at home but the magic this young magic team still has a lot to prove and they should be going into these games and going into these feeling like

They have that chip on their shoulder that nobody believes in them that everyone is still scoffing at the fact that they are the five seat that they are very much on track to win the Southeast Division for however much that means it means a lot for tiebreakers guys it is

Important Destiny for the Orlando Magic is completely in their hands what they make of this season where they finish and what bar they set for themselves moving forward and they should be looking to set the bar as high as they can it should be you know this this

Stuff is not supposed to be easy so set that bar High know what you can achieve and keep working to get back there the magic have 10 games left now to show us who they are to show us if they can compete at a higher level if

This group is so much better than any of us expected they have 10 games to show us what they’re capable of doing and they are capable of doing a lot I have no doubt of that I have no doubt that this magic team is going to

Be in the fight for third and not the fight for six sorry Indiana we love you hopefully we see you in the playoffs Orlando for game one um I I I do believe in this team But like everyone else they want to see this team proen these 10 games these final 10

Games however the magic want to break them down these final 10 games are the Magic’s chance to prove that they’re ready for the stage and that’s the thing none of us really know yet that we’re eager to see coming up here in the next couple of

Weeks I want to thank you all again for listening to today’s episode of lockdown manic course find me on Twitter Philip romd subscribe to the podcast and apple podcast your tuned in himay Google play Spotify Odyssey and all the fun s podcast to your podcast enabled listen

Device so lat the Orlando Magic be sure to check out Orlando Magic da.com you can find us there on Twitter at Magic daily and also be sure to check out my patreon page Orlando Magic Club you can find extra articles and content there go to patreon.com orlandomagic Club and

Always thank you for your support now that you’re done listen to us be sure check out the lockdown sports today 247 streaming Channel on YouTube and now available on Amazon Fire TV in the free Fire TV channels app lock on sports today is here for you 247 covering the

Top sports stories of the day with the local Experts of locked on plus our national shows covering every League find lockon sports today now available on the free Fire TV channels app that’s going to do it for me today though I want to thank you again for listening to

Today’s episode of lock will be back tomorrow to break down the Magic’s game against the LA Clippers and see how they did against one of those really good teams that they’re facing we’ll talk about that on tomorrow’s episode of lock on Magic but until then for Orlando

Magic daily and locked on Magic this has been Philip Rosman Wright we’ll see you again next time for another episode of lockon magic

The Orlando Magic are 10 games from the Playoffs and they have a big problem they need to solve: They are struggling to beat Playoff-level teams. How do the Magic get past that and climb the standings one last time in their final 10 games?

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