National Basketball Association

Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 82, Detroit Pistons 108

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Orlando Magic traveled to Detroit on Friday in search of its first victory, the results were not encouraging.

VS.

	1	2	3	4	T
Magic	22	9	20	31	82
Pistons	24	30	32	22	108

What will Frank Vogel have to say about this one? Nothing but stern words and a promise to get back to work apparently.

Vogel said nobody on the Orlando Magic played good enough defense as the team gave up a 30-9 second quarter and trailed by as much as 35 points in a 108-82 loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday.

Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo‘s presence on the defensive end did not live up to its potential in their first game together. The defense looked a step slow on the majority of the game.

It got so bad Vogel was forced to call his second timeout of the game halfway through the second quarter. The Magic only scored four points with four minutes left on the clock before halftime. They finished the quarter with nine, falling too far behind and unable to dig out.

It is truly hard to tell if this Magic team’s struggles are because of the lack of chemistry that the players know exist or a lack of confidence. Or, quite frankly, a lack of talent.

At some point players are going to stop making excuses about the chemistry issues regardless if they exist or not. The expectation has been set, playoffs-or-bust. Right now the Magic do not look remotely like that kind of a team.

The Magic were getting good looks at the basket, but the shots just would not fall. The Pistons get some credit for that. Although some of the shots that were missed were good looks at the basket.

For example the Magic started off the second quarter only down two points and could not buy a bucket for more than six minutes. Few teams can survive those stretches.

If the team does have a pathetic offensive stretch like that the least the team could do is defend the basket and the perimeter with passion and aggression.

Instead the Pistons were the aggressor all night long, scoring 60 points in the paint. That is more than 130 points in the paint allowed in two games for the Magic.

The Magic are not built to make a comeback on a team. Their offensive deficiencies seem to be more glaring when the defense does not come to play. This is the second game in a row this team has been disappointed with its effort on the defensive side of the ball.

This Magic team has a long way to go if it plans on making the playoffs. It is hard to point out any improvements.

Tomorrow night the Magic play the champs that swept the Detroit Pistons last year.

Elfrid Payton

PG, Orlando Magic

This is the Elfrid Payton this team needs to see on a night to-night basis considering the lack of consistent offensive scorers on this team. Frank Vogel was surely smiling when Payton hit a three at the top of the key in the first quarter. Payton slowed down in the second as did the rest of the team but had a fairly decent night.

Payton needs to continue to grow in this area of his game. He finished with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds to lead the Magic.

Bismack Biyombo

F/C, Orlando Magic

Biyombo made his mark in the 2016 playoffs in a starting role for the Toronto Raptors against the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Frank Vogel may be compromising his talent having him come off of the bench for Nikola Vucevic.

This preseason the Bismack Biyombo/Serge Ibaka duo looked like a match made in heaven against the Atlanta Hawks. Maybe Frank Vogel needs to explore this option before the Magic dig a hole to deep to dig out of.

In any case, Biyombo was often in the way offensively or simply unavailable, forcing him to make a move when he catches the ball. This is not Biyombo’s strong suit. And his defensive impact was negligible, at best, aside from one swat out of bounds.

Evan Fournier

SG, Orlando Magic

Right now, it just feels like Fournier is forcing everything and not playing efficiently. His lack of aggressiveness on the offensive end was clear tonight. But Fournier’s confidence did not seem to waver as he continued to fire shots up in the fourth.

Fournier finished the night with eight points on 4-for-12 shooting, missing all four of his 3-pointers. That is a shot the Magic absolutely need Fournier to hit.

Once he realizes how pedestrian this offense is hopefully he will step up and lead the team with his offensive abilities. Fournier is a player who can hit the three but when he is off it significantly hurts the offensive capabilities on this team. Fournier played terrible tonight by his own offensive standards, but looks to bounce back against Cleveland tomorrow.

Aaron Gordon

F, Orlando Magic

Gordon threw down a nasty one-handed dunk over two defenders by crashing the boards in the fourth that reminded me of why Scott Skiles had him playing the power forward. Those are the type of high-flying energy plays that Orlando needs to be successful this year. But they may be fewer and further between if Gordon is out on the perimeter consistently.

Gordon was one of two Magic players finishing in double figures, the other was Payton. Gordon finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. This is the formula that the Magic need but the rest of the team needs to score with more consistency.

Detroit Pistons

1-1, 9th East

Harris looked like a man possessed early in the game, as he was jacking up every and any three that came his way. He clearly took the trade personal last year. Harris looks like an improved player and probably would be the best player on this current Magic team. It would have been interesting to see Rob Hennigan’s face after Harris’ made baskets.

Drummond looked impressive on the glass too as he finished the game with 12 points and 20 rebounds.

These Pistons look more equipped to become a top Eastern Conference team. And this was a nice bounce back from a disappointing effort against the Toronto Raptors in Wednesday’s opener.