The Orlando Magic were making a wild rally to erase a 29-point deficit on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies. They had scored 21 straight points and had a firm grasp of the momentum and a feeling of seeming invincibility if they could erase this deficit on the road.
Anthony Black had just drawn a flagrant foul to cut the deficit to eight with the Magic retaining possession. Things were starting to look very dicey for the Grizzlies in their home opener.
Then they started again. Franz Wagner got called for an illegal screen. Jaren Jackson answered with a push shot for two to extend the lead back to 10. Then Wagner committed another turnover. The Grizzlies scored on a three-pointer.
It was now a 13-point lead for Memphis. The game was suddenly out of reach again as Memphis handed Orlando its first loss of the season, 124-111.
The biggest factor? The Magic’s turnovers. That is how Orlando found itself in a deep hole and how the team’s comeback attempt was thwarted. Turnovers are momentum killers and the best way for the Magic to shoot themselves in the foot.
The final tally in Saturday’s loss was 19 turnovers for 30 Memphis points. The Magic turned it over 14 times for 21 points in the first half, when the Magic went to the locker room trailing by 26 points. This is how leads expand and grow.
“Nineteen turnovers for 30 points, you’re not giving yourself a chance,” Mosley said after Saturday’s game. “Just give Memphis credit, they kicked our butts. They came in and pushed the pace the entire time. We just have to find a way to bounce back Monday.”
The turnovers also help teams get out in transition. The Grizzlies torched the Magic on the break with 24 fast-break points and 62 points in the paint.
This is how you beat Orlando’s vaunted defense. You have to beat the Magics when they are not set and trying to get organized.
The Magic are a much-improved offensive team. Even with the frustration of Saturday’s game, Orlando entered Sunday’s games ranked ninth in the league in offensive rating. The Magic’s 15.3 percent turnover rate is 16th in the league.
But undoubtedly, turnovers will remain the team’s biggest weakness.
Orlando was 26th in the league last year with a 15.0 percent turnover rate. For a team that played at a relatively low possession count and struggled to shoot, those turnovers hurt and were killers for the team as they tried to expand their offense.
The focus throughout much of training camp and preseason was on reducing turnovers. Jamahl Mosley seemingly lamented turnovers after every preseason game. And it will be something the team – and every team – continues to refine as the early season wears on.
Orlando struggled mightily with turnovers Saturday but the team has been better in the other two games. No one should be overreacting to the results of one game, especially early in the season. But this is a reminder the Magic still have something to work on. And that turnovers could derail the team.
