Woeful Orlando should be easy pickings
We’re enough games into the NBA season to begin offering our pre-game forecasts. Prior to this, such prognostications were all but worthless, as there was insufficient data. Now there’s at least something to examine. The Orlando Magic have been irrelevant for so long it’s difficult to remember when they actually mattered. They last won a playoff series in 2010, and have made the post-season four times since then.
The team’s GM, former Raptors executive Jeff Weltman (whose seat is very warm these days), blew up the roster at last season’s trade deadline. To me, the concept of “rebuild” only applies when you’ve had a “build” already on your resume. Whatever, I don’t pay his salary.
This year’s Magic has been woeful; their only victory occurring when they surprised the New York Knicks at MSG. Their losses have been embarrassing, with double-digit margins of defeat in 3 of 4. Unsurprisingly, they are the NBA’s worst plus/minus squad, at -14.2. Orlando’s likely best player, Markelle Fultz, has had dreadful luck with his health so far in his career. He was the #1 draft pick in 2017, but has spent far more time on the sidelines than the hardwood. The Raptors won’t face him, or a bunch of others we won’t bother naming. We will bother naming Jalen Suggs, whom everyone assumed was going to be a Raptor with the #4 pick in July. However, Masai Ujiri and his team liked Scottie Barnes more, which creates an interesting match-up. Suggs has been thrust into the starting five (why not? – this team has no playoff aspirations) and has shown well to date. In fact, there are so many kids in prominent roles on the Magic that they are like Toronto South.
The Magic’s oldest starter is 23-year-old center Mo Bamba. He’s viewed as something of a disappointment so far, but they would be wise to keep the faith. Sometimes you have to wait for big men. Their top scorer is smallish guard Cole Anthony, who’s averaging 17 PPG. That’s a dismal number for their best guy. The Magic are tied with the Pelicans for the NBA’s third-lowest scoring team, averaging 100.8 PPG. At least all five members of the kiddie-corps starters are averaging double figures in scoring.
3 keys to Raptors victory
- Pressure Bamba. Sure, everyone likes the high-arcing long ball that goes swish, including me. But if the Raptors want to take command early, they will do so by attacking the paint. Bamba’s backup is veteran Robin Lopez. I don’t know how much he’s got left in the tank, but he’s only averaging 13 MPG, so I’ll take my chances.
- Take chances on D. The Raptors have been sloppy with the ball, but they haven’t committed as many turnovers as the Magic. Our guys want to put their stamp on this game early; if they can get some easy baskets off steals, that will help greatly.
- Crash the boards. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Raptors rebounding so far. They rank fourth, with 50.4 PG, far ahead of the Magic’s 43.8. Win the rebounding battle, and you win the game, more often than not.
Final thoughts
The Raptors desperately need this win, and they will get it.
Raptors 117 – Magic 99
- Tags: Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
