The Orlando Magic gave up an astonishing 29 points in the paint in the first half of Wednesday’s 118-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
There is no excuse for that. Not the fatigue of a six-game, 11-day road trip. Not an opponent that plays at a high pace. There is no excuse.
The only reason for being so lackadaisical in the paint is a team that is disconnected from each other and not putting in the effort for each other on the defensive end. New Orleans did whatever it wanted in making 49.