Portland Trail Blazers 119, Orlando Magic 90: Three Takeaways
The Orlando Magic's offense has already cratered. Now the defense is collapsing as they suffered another blowout and frustrating loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Things started so well for the Orlando Magic.
They opened their West Coast road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 10-0 run. The ball moved and players were active cutting off the ball and finding ways to attack the basket. Their defense was gritty, forcing turnovers and forcing the Blazers to be uncomfortable.
Orlando reached its peak early but the team maintained a seven-point lead heading to the second quarter. It was the exact start the Magic needed.
So what happened? How did the Magic let go of the rope so much and fall so hard that they lost this game by 29 points and trailed by as much as 30? Something like that does not just happen.
It happens because a team quits or loses the plot and game plan so much that they fall behind. They let go of the rope so much that it runs through their fingers and burns them.
A 119-90 defeat brought back all the familiar problems -- a lifeless offense struggling to create anything and to make shots -- and even some new ones -- a defense that suddenly plays without fire or intensity.