ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic are watching what once looked like an insurmountable lead slowly slip through their fingers. Now, the series is headed to a Game 7, and while the situation isn’t dire just yet, the margin for error has disappeared. Magic free throw issues are not well known, but they could become very important in their win-or-go-home game against the Pistons.
Magic Free Throws Issue Could Decide Game 7 Against the Pistons
The Minor Problem at the Line
Orlando have been the worst team in the playoffs when it comes to shooting from the free-throw line, converting just 71%. That’s well below the league average of 76% in the playoffs and 78% during the regular season. For a team trying to grind out wins in a tight series, that’s leaving far too much on the table.
Game 5 perfectly summed up the problem. The Magic lost by seven, yet went 16-of-30 from the free throw line. Do the math and the conclusion hits you immediately—the series could already be over. It’s a simple calculation, but not a simplistic one. The NBA is a league of margins, and even small leaks can add up.
Despite that flaw, the Magic have largely figured out the Pistons. This series has turned into more of a wrestling match than a shootout, and Orlando have shown they can hang in that kind of fight. They just need to win one more.
One Simple Swing Factor
Game 7 may not come down to anything complicated. It might be as simple as the Magic free throws, if they’re hit at a slightly better clip, being the difference-maker.
It’s not the main issue, but it’s the kind of detail that can decide a series when everything else is this close. Clean that up, and Orlando give themselves a much clearer path to closing things out.
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