NEW ORLEANS — During this season of youthful experimentation, the Orlando Magic will hit peaks and valleys. There will be emotional and physical hurdles that will test this young bunch.
Fourth-year center Wendell Carter Jr. has a solution when things aren’t exactly going the Magic’s way.
“We’ve got to be able to punch them back in the mouth,” Cartersaid of when an opponent gets comfortable.
That won’t always be the answer, however.
Some of the biggest dilemmas facing first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley will involve teaching. It won’t just be about finding those moments, but also finding a way to get those different scenarios across to his players.
Wednesday at New Orleans, Mosley found one of his first opportunities to challenge it to be better.
In the team’s second preseason game, the Magic came out clicking in all facets. They were moving the ball offensively and challenging the Pelicans defensively as Orlando jumped out to a 7-0 lead.
They maintained that cushion for the better part of the first quarter and eventually led 19-9.
Then came the teaching moment for Mosley. All things are not easily sustainable in the NBA, especially 10-point leads.
At various times during the Magic’s 104-86 loss, each team went on runs that changed the margins, and Mosley tried to let his team know that these situations will happen quite often.
“I think the score was 71-65 and coming to the huddle I was trying to explain to them, ‘Look, they went on a run, we went on a run,’ I think it was a 9-0 run for us and then there was an 8-0 run for them,” Mosley said. “Basketball is a game of runs and helping them understand ... you’re never out of it. You got to continue to play.
“One possession can change the tide of a game and as long as we can keep our mindset on that, I think we’ll be OK.”
The spirit and energy with which the Magic started the game was encouraging for Mosley. He just needs to get his players to realize maintaining that level of play is difficult over 48 minutes.
“I love the way we came out. I think we can sustain the effort, but shots not falling ... we have to make sure we keep our energy and effort on the defensive end,” Mosley said. “Because there are going to be nights that shots don’t fall.”
Carter said he could recognize the Magic’s momentum deflating.
“There was a time in the third quarter ... we were all acting like we were down by 30,” Carter said. “I want to be a leader for this team and I can’t be having my head hanging after they’ve made like two or three 3s.
“We’re got to be able to punch them back in the mouth. ... We just have to make that adjustment and [also] knowing personnel. I don’t think we did a good job of that. A lot of their great shooters got the hot hand. We want to make the other people shoot.”
Those types to things should come with time. Carter suggested players need to police each other.
“Accountability is something that we preach in the locker room and I feel like sometimes we let it slip on the court,” he said. “I’ve old my teammates, ‘If you feel I’m doing something not right, tell me.’ I’m mature enough to handle that situation and vice versa. ...
“We’re a young team ... but at the same time, that’s not an excuse. We’ve got to be able to move on from plays and I feel like we didn’t do a great job of that [against New Orleans].”
The Magic (0-2) opened the preseason with a 98-97 loss at Boston on Monday. They play again Sunday vs. the San Antonio Spurs at Amway Center.
