The New Orleans Pelicans get their first taste of Florida against the Orlando Magic Friday. The Pelicans are looking for answers as they aim once again to even their record for the season. Their back to back against the Magic and the Heat tomorrow feels more important than it looks.
The Western conference currently presents a logjam. A loss Friday won’t cripple NOLA, but it isn’t a game they should lose. Frustrations are building and a loss against an unhealthy, struggling, Magic team could cause tension to boil over. For an extended view at Orlando, we asked the Orlando Magic Daily’s Philip Rossman-Reich a few questions. Hope you all enjoy the latest addition of Outsider’s Perspective.
1. Orlando got off to a hot start. They seemed to have the tools from a roster perspective to sustain success. After losing 16 of their last 19 games, what’s the biggest reason for their struggles?
Injuries are the easy answer. The Magic lost Terrence Ross to a fracture of the tibial plateau (whatever that is), then Jonathan Isaac to a sprained ankle, Aaron Gordon to a concussion (and now a calf strain), and then Evan Fournier to a sprained ankle.
You can actually trace the Magic’s collapse to losing D.J. Augustin to a hamstring strain when the Magic were already down Elfrid Payton. The team played without a point guard and things started heading downhill from there. Orlando has rarely been healthy since. So there is some hope that if they can get healthy quickly, they can recapture some of that hot start again.
But, the injuries are just an excuse. It is not the real answer. The real answer is that this team came back to earth with its shooting as expected and the defensive flaws that shooting covered up — like their points allowed in the paint and poor rebounding — became that much more apparent. This team has become more of what we thought they would be at the beginning of the year.
2. When Aaron Gordon came out of college, the Blake Griffin comparisons came with him. After the various improvements to his game, who best compares to Gordon? Is it still Griffin? Talk a little bit about his strides offensively as he’s improved in basically every major category.
I think Blake Griffin was always the wrong comparison. Gordon was never going to have the size or post-game that Griffin has. The better comparison is Shawn Marion. He is a superb athlete who can score in transition. He is now a consistent 3-point shooter and spacer. He just does a lot of little things defensively. At least when he is dialed in. This year he has started exploring his game a lot more and so we will see what he becomes.
3. Thoughts on Mario Hezonja’s recent emergence? Is he breaking out, or is this just temporary until some of the injured guys come back? What about Jon Simmons?
It is definitely encouraging to see Mario Hezonja regain some confidence. That has definitely been missing from him throughout the last few years. He is finally taking advantage of the opportunity injuries has forced upon him but I am not ready to say this is permanent. He still has a long way to go defensively and his attention to detail comes and goes. Hezonja is not quite ready to be a guaranteed rotation player. He still has a lot to work on and his time has more or less run out in Orlando.
Jonathon Simmons definitely has taken a step up. It is clear he was a good investment and a player that could take a role beyond what he was doing in San Antonio. But it is also becoming clearer that Simmons is someone who can sometimes pound the air out of the ball. In some respects, he is the perfect sixth man. And he thrived in that role. But the Magic are relying on him a lot more than they should.
4. Biggest misconception the outside has about The Magic?
That is a really tough one. I think a lot of people have this team properly pegged. They are too good to tank and not good enough to make the Playoffs. If there is one misperception it is that they have good perimeter defenders. Elfrid Payton entered the draft billed as a strong defender but he has not panned out that way. He struggles a lot defensively and much of the Magic’s defensive issues stem from him. I would also say Simmons has been a bit underwhelming defensively on the perimeter too. Gordon is a good defender but has struggled to defend the power forward position this year. Or at least, he is not the level everyone expected.
5. Outside perspective on the Pelicans.
I have not had a chance to watch the Pelicans much. I am definitely a bit surprised at how the Anthony Davis/DeMarcus Cousins duo has worked. The team, to me, still has some clear weaknesses on the wings. But the Pelicans have made it work. I am really impressed that they have stayed in the Playoff conversation. I am a bit surprised the Davis rumors are still circulating. There is clearly something working in New Orleans. Although, it is unclear if the team has a high ceiling.
Next: Three Keys To Victory Against The Orlando Magic
It was an absolute pleasure chatting with Phillip and the Orlando Magic Daily. Be sure to follow him at @philiprr_OMD and check out his content at the @OMagicDaily. Check us out tomorrow as we look deeper into the Miami Heat. We were lucky enough to chat with Allana Tachauer of @AllUCanHeat1. Stay Tuned!