Magic vs Bucks

The Orlando Magic open a five-game homestand as they take on a strong Milwaukee Bucks team and an eight-game losing streak.

But in the last 10 games, the Magic are 25th at 45.4 points in the paint per game. The Milwaukee Bucks’ defense is predicated on stopping these points in the paint. Orlando is now 17th in the league at 48.9 points in the paint per game. It might as well be a checklist of things the team has to do to win — and they probably needed to do four or five of the six or seven things on that list to have a chance. But this is essential for the team right now to make up for their lack of shooting. And maybe for their lack of scoring in the paint. This is the wrong opponent to try to figure that out. But during this 10-game stretch where the team is 1-9, Orlando has fallen to 10th at 27.6 percent. It is clear the team needs to make some adjustments and hope for some help. The Milwaukee Bucks are not a difficult team to figure out. But they are a difficult team to play against because they do the simple things so well. And once again, the Magic are facing a team that will hit them where they struggle the most.