Magic vs Pacers: What Didn't Work

Despite having wonderful offensive execution for most of the night, the Magic were in a tight game in the fourth quarter thanks to their careless ball handling and soft interior defense. Here’s what didn’t go as planned for the Magic in their 122-111 victory over the Pacers.

What didn't work

1. Defense- Following a strong first quarter defensive effort in which the Magic held the Pacers to just 37% from the field, Orlando got real soft on D. Indiana finished the game at 50% from the field (41-82), and scored 111 points.

2. Free throw shooting- As a team, Orlando was a disappointing 12 of 19 from the line for just 63.2%. If you take away Dwight Howard’s 0-5, the team made 12 of 14 shots which is very good. What’s disturbing is that they shot just 19 free throws and allowed Indiana 32 attempts.

3. Ball handling- The Magic were throwing the ball all over the place for much of the game as they finished with 22 turnovers, which led to 27 Indiana points. Orlando’s sloppy ball handling almost single handedly kept Indiana in the game.

4. Foul trouble for Dwight- Howard was in foul trouble for most of the night, as he eventually fouled out with less than a minute remaining. Dwight committed 4 of his 6 fouls on the offensive end, and looked to be out of control for much of the night. If Orlando was playing a team that didn’t take as many jump shots as Indiana, they outcome could have been different.