drsd wrote:This was a bad loss. This is a game good teams win. Orlando defended the lob terribly. And interior defense must be more than (failing) to get charges. There must have been at least 4 failed charge attempts in this game.
How does the Magic grow from this so that this sort of game is won next year? The simple answer is defensive intensity in the 4th quarter. And coach will preach on defense anyhow. That's true. And yes a team cannot miss 11 FTs in a close game and expect to win.
Frankly I don't know the answer. The Magic shot the three, had a very low TO game and an excellent TO-differential game (+7). That off-set being out-rebounded (-6), and indeed the Magic had both more FG attempts and FT attempts. Orlando made more threes! The eFG% for Orlando was 55.32%. Also, the Magic forced fouls and did not foul (-10 on fouls).
All I am left with is "better in-the paint defense". What else am I missing here???
Carter was out. It's basically that simple. He's a massively underrated player on this board and not having him has meant a complete and utter meltdown defensively on the interior the last three games.