Outlets covering Orlando agree that the 129-99 loss in Toronto came down to ball security and shooting, and that the Raptors had only one Magic player to worry about. The roster supports most of that reading, and the question Orlando faces in tonight's NBA Cup rematch is how much of it can change in two days.
Ball security is the first fix the beat is demanding.
Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel wrote that the Magic want to limit turnovers in the rematch, and Desmond Bane told him Orlando did not handle Toronto's physicality well. OrlandoMagic.com blamed turnovers and poor outside shooting for the loss, and Beede's final count had Toronto at 43% from deep against Orlando's 29%. The roster explains part of the problem. Banchero and Suggs, two of the main creators, are both out, so the ball goes to players still learning to run an offense against pressure.
Toronto is loading up on Wagner, and that strategy holds as long as Banchero sits.
Orlando Magic Daily wrote that the Raptors were bottling up Franz Wagner because they saw no other Magic player attacking downhill. Wagner averages 19.5 points and 6.0 assists, but he has made 15.0% of his threes, which lets defenders sag off him. Banchero has an estimated return of November 22. Until then, Wagner's growth depends on kicking the ball out cleanly when defenses collapse. Tristan da Silva, shooting 45.2% on threes, is the obvious target for those passes.
Fan frustration has landed on Isaac, though the injury report gives no new reason for it.
Orlando Magic Daily ran a piece calling Jonathan Isaac the face of Magic fans' frustration. On the record, Isaac is out with a left knee injury and an estimated return of November 10, the same date as Suggs. Beede noted there were no surprises on Friday's injury report. Penda and Nelson are also out until November 18, so this group won't change before tonight.
The recent-history argument for patience holds up, but only partly.
Orlando Magic Daily pointed out that this is the second straight 1-3 start and that last year's team started 1-4 and still won 45 games. The 45-37 finish backs that up. What doesn't carry over is the roster: last year's comeback had Banchero, while this one has to begin without him. Orlando's current pace projects to 21-61. The payroll of $218.1M sits well above the $200.4M luxury-tax line, so help will have to come from inside the building, not from a trade.
When does Paolo Banchero return for the Magic?
Banchero is out with a right ankle injury, and his estimated return is November 22.
Why did the Magic lose so badly in Toronto?
Turnovers under Toronto's pressure and cold outside shooting were the main reasons. The Raptors made 43% of their threes to Orlando's 29% in the 129-99 loss.
