Players hope to gain traction
No, Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford didn’t have his players wear name tags for Monday’s practice session, but the team did spend part of the workout becoming more familiar with one another.
Monday marked the first practice for Orlando since last week’s series of trades reworked the roster. In addition to just gaining more knowledge about each other’s games, the Magic used the time to work in more offense — a lot more offense.
“The coaches were big on getting organized and I think today we did exactly that,” Magic center Mo Bamba said. “We put in more offense and we just got to know each other.”
The Magic struggled to produce points for long stretches of Sunday’s 96-93 loss to the Lakers in the first game for newly-acquired players R.J. Hampton, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr.
Orlando shot 32.6% and scored 39 points in the first half that included a 1-for-16 stretch in the second quarter. Then, the Magic had just two field goals in the final 6:06 of the game.
The Lakers weren’t much better, but took advantage of some late defensive miscues by the Magic to eke out the win.
“It’s hard to play in this league when you don’t have enough offense,” Clifford said. “So we added some things today and guys did a good job with it and I think it’ll help us tomorrow.”
The Magic will complete a two-game stay in Los Angeles when they take on the Clippers at 10 Tuesday night. Fox Sports Florida will broadcast the game.
Orlando should have point guard Michael Carter-Williams back after he left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a knee contusion.
“We got lucky in that he had some swelling but he’s fine,” Clifford said of Carter-Williams.
With Carter-Williams out, Hampton and Chasson Randle handled the point guard duties the rest of the game.
Point guard depth may be improving soon. Clifford thinks there’s a chance rookie Cole Anthony could return sometime next week when the Magic get back from their five-game road trip against Western Conference teams.
“I don’t think Cole will be able to play on this trip, but I think there’s a chance that when we get back home [he could play],” Clifford said. “He’s not as far away, so I think we’re actually in pretty good shape there.”
Orlando was in position to win Sunday, taking an 82-77 lead on a Hampton 3-pointer with 7:19 remaining.
But the Magic offense dried up again as the Lakers used a 15-3 run to pull back in front.