Orlando Magic Needs to Fix Turnover Woes Before Playoffs

The Orlando Magic turned the ball over 15 times in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Apr 10, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) drives past Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic has lost two straight games and has fallen to fifth in the Eastern Conference. With a playoff spot locked up, getting a higher seed and fixing some regular season issues are the main priorities before the regular season ends.

Orlando lost to the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks, and is three games behind the Bucks for the second seed, after getting as close as a game for the spot. In the recent losses, Orlando averages 14.5 turnovers, which is tied with the Portland Trail Blazers for the third-worst rate on the season. Over the year, the Magic averaged 14 turnovers, good for the sixth-worst mark.

Apr 10, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder (99) looks for a shot against Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Magic is a young team, so making mistakes with the ball in their hands is to be expected. However, Orlando is trying to build itself up as a legitimate contender ahead of the playoffs, and using youth as an excuse will not fly.

"Our energy was there, our effort was there, our intentionality was there," said Jamahl Mosley after the loss to the Bucks. "We just gotta do a better job of taking care of the basketball."

The Magic is a high-effort team with one of the best defensive motors in the NBA. They take smart shots and move the ball well, but when they put the ball on the floor, bad things can happen. Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Magic will have to be firing on all cylinders to make a run, although ending the season with a win over the Bucks and a jump in the standings would be ideal.

With the defensive-minded Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference, the Magic will be hoping for a first-round matchup against a beatable team that won't make them struggle too much when they have to move the basketball.