A roster-building scheme has been laid down by John Hammond and Jeff Weltman, emphasizing athletes with skill sets of the future rather than their growing pains. As an example, the team has been using the approach that was employed by the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors in the past, which has propelled the Orlando Magic to be a powerhouse with a lot of size and athleticism.
However, despite their defensive prowess and youthful talent, the Magic encountered a familiar postseason obstacle against the Cleveland Cavaliers: the composition of the team. The size, trespassing, and defence were their strengths, but the faltering defence lacked guard play and shooting, which proved fatal in the series.
Similarly, unlike the Cavaliers, who strengthened their lineup with plenty of guards who could make their way inside the paint to score, the Magic found it hard to produce by getting outside of the paint. Their lack of outside shots and not being able to space the floor pumped Cleveland up as the underdogs. They paved their way to the paint and dominated from the inside.
This deficiency highlighted a crucial lesson for the Magic: making roster levelling vital for playoff success. While they prove to be an indispensable part of their victory due to their size and defence, carrying their ammunition as a team on offence by improving their guard play and shooting accuracy will be a sine qua non for their future progress.
Luckily, the Orlando Magic enjoy the luxury of cap space and trade assets at their disposal to bring in more depth in the off-season. Given their ability to go after free agents or to explore trades, they may find the missing wing shooters that their present roster needs to be enhanced and competitiveness brought to the next level.
With them in the Big Baller, Anfernee Simons, Paul George, Klay Thompson, or Malik Monk could be the solution to the Magic’s offensive problems. Whether via free agency or trades, free agency would mostly enhance financial management along with a buildup of offensive skills, both of which are vital for success.
In general, it is but the beginning of a long journey as a learning curve from the Magic’s postseason encounter with the Cavaliers. They might be able to complete the equation that they had implemented in their squad once they sorted out the imbalance in the rosters and amplified their offensive power. Young people need to socialize, share experiences, and create friendships in high school. Moreover, maintaining an active social circle can also help them cope with stress, anxiety, and depression.
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