The March 7th trade deadline is rapidly approaching and the Magic’s front office seems to be in panic mode. Do the Magic have a team capable of making a deep playoff run? Will Dwight stay long term with the Magic? Will Dwight be traded or flat out leave? Where did Von Wafer go?
I can at least answer the first question… no, the Magic currently do not have a team capable of making a deep playoff run. Tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was a perfect indicator as to why.
The Magic led for almost the entirety of the game, only to lose to a Durant-fueled comeback in the 4th quarter. Sure, Howard scored an impressive 33 points on 14 for 20 shooting for the Magic. And All the Magic starters scored in double digits this game. They still lost though.
Durant scored 38 points on the night for the Thunder, 18 of which were in the 4th quarter alone. He is the Thunder’s go-to-guy. The one they can rely on to show up when nothing is going their way–which it wasn’t for a majority of the game.
Until the fourth quarter happened.
“I was so down on myself. I was really going down after the first quarter,” Durant said. “But my coaches and my teammates continued to encourage me and told me they believed in me. It just clicked for me and I started to make a few shots and free throws.”
Durant quickly became a factor in the fourth quarter by doing what he does best: scoring. The Thunder turned up their defensive pressure to a level that stifled the Magic’s ability to put up a decent shot. Also, Russel Westbrook shutdown the play-making ability of the Magic’s Jameer Nelson, limiting him to 1 of 4 shooting in the quarter.
Those of you reading are probably thinking, “What’s new? The Magic can never create their own shot.” You’re right, and it’s becoming tiresome mentioning it after every Magic game.
Going back to the beginning of this story, the Magic’s front office has two choices: throw their hands in the air and pray to whatever god they believe in that someone on the Magic will learn to get open and shoot the ball on their own out of nowhere… or make a trade (clearly the crazy choice).
The Thunder clearly look like a team that is a title threat in the West coast. The Magic, on the other hand, need more–especially if they want to keep Dwight from going to… wherever it is he’s currently interested in playing (see: anywhere but Orlando).
Written by Brandon Hayhurst
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