Five things to watch in Magic’s first home preseason game
The number one question I have gotten before the first three preseason games is a simple one: Is the game on TV?
Wednesday, we can finally answer: Yes. Everyone will get a chance to watch the Magic on their televisions. If you are in the Orlando area you can attend the game at Amway Center or watch on FSFlorida. If you are not in Orlando, the game should be available on League Pass if you get it. All games are available for free on NBA Audio League Pass via NBA.com.
The first three games have been shrouded in some mystery — particularly the last two — without any local broadcast. Officially the last two games were not on TV anywhere unless you use other means (my computer is still hating me for the last week of games).
So for those of us who did get to watch some of the Magic’s games, we already have a pretty good idea of who this team is becoming. What can you expect when you get your first look at the Magic tomorrow night. Let us illuminate you a bit:
Elfrid Payton has led the Magic’s push to increase the pace this year. Photo by Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
1) The team will run. . .
This is a year where the Magic as an organization will learn a little bit more about Jacque Vaughn as a coach. Vaughn is in need of showing his growth and comfort with this team as much as any of the player are. So we will be keeping an eye on how the team performs with the focus more on winning than it might have been in the past and with the team taking on a more set identity.
In the first three games, it has been pretty clear the Magic are looking to increase the pace. They are getting the ball up the floor quicker and are trying to get out on the break more.
As I noted after practice Sunday, the Magic have clearly been focusing on quickening their pace this season. They want to push the ball at every opportunity and maximize possessions. By my crude possessions calculator, the Magic scored 97 points Monday night in Charlotte on approximately 100 possessions. Last year, the Magic came in at a pace of 93.6 possessions per game, according to Basketball-Reference.
This is a pretty big jump. It would not surprise me if the Magic are hanging around 97 or 98 possessions in the early preseason and try to get to that number throughout the season.
Look for the Magic to push the pace with Elfrid Payton or with Evan Fournier or with whoever is at point guard, even on made shots. Players like Tobias Harris will even take the ball up court if it gets it there quicker. This has enabled the Magic to get into a good flow offensively.
2) . . . The offense is more fluid
Jacque Vaughn has gotten plenty of criticism for his Xs and Os early in his tenure as Magic coach. There certainly have been some puzzling decisions and puzzling play designs. This team, again, is probably more of a test of what Vaughn can do. There are no veterans here to satisfy and placate (or showcase, as the case may be).
Jameer Nelson can run, but he is better as a half-court option. No one was getting Glen Davis to run. Sorry.
This team was built more for a different style of offense. The Magic seem to have a different energy about them on the offensive end of the floor. There is a lot more movement off the ball and cutting to the basket to support drives. Then there are multiple pick and rolls too to get the defense moving.
There will not be a ton of standing around in this offense. Vaughn is trying to deliver on something resembling the Spurs’ free-wheeling offense. There are a lot of easily moving pieces that should keep things running even if guys have to miss time and help the ball find the right matchups in the long run.
This team is really unselfish too, which is what makes things work. So when you combine transition opportunities with unselfish play that moves the ball with the pass, you get the potential for some interesting offense. The team desperately needs 3-point shooters to help spread the floor even more. But that will come with Channing Frye returning to the lineup. And we have not even seen this team with Victor Oladipo in there.
Aaron Gordon’s defense is far ahead of his offense at this point. Photo by Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
3) There is a lot of grit defensively
Rob Hennigan built a team that seemed to promise good defense. That was the clear message with the drafting of Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. The foundations of this organization were built on defense.
This team wants to defend. It is pretty clear. It is the best way to start their offense — and has been key to creating those transition points we have seen already.
This is where everything is going to start. Jacque Vaughn said he wants to see consistency in the focus on the defensive end and the attitude on the defensive end throughout the game. This is where Aaron Gordon has shined the most as he figures things out offensively. Elfrid Payton has helped kick start things on the defensive end.
The starts have been a bit off though for the Magic. Orlando is giving up 24, 27 and 36 points in the first quarter. The Magic have shown an aptitude in improving their play as the game goes on. That has to be a good sign.
There is still a lot of growing, and a young team is still prone to success.
But in the first three preseason games, the Magic have shown an athletic aptitude at playing defense. The pieces are all there for a quietly good defensive team.
4) Be patient with Aaron Gordon
There is going to be pressure on fourth overall pick Aaron Gordon. The team cannot get around that. The Magic are going to have to be patient with him. Fans will too.
Gordon is still incredibly raw offensively. His skills need some time to round into shape. And Elfrid Payton playing as well as he has is sure to put some more pressure on him to perform.
His offensive numbers are not going to look great. In the three preseason games, Gordon has scored 21 points on 7-for-19 shooting. The statistics and what you can see in a box score are not going to be where Gordon makes his mark. It is going to be a little more subtle than that.
His defensive ability and potential are as we would expect. He has good instincts defensively.
Offensively, it still feels like he is trying to use his athleticism to overwhelm players. That is not what he is going to be able to do in the NBA. He is going to have to find a way to scratch out a bit more. His offensive game appears to be rounding into form and he keeps fighting. That is going to be a theme for him for his rookie year as he learns to compete at this level.
5) Who the heck is Flamengo?
So Rio de Janeiro Flamengo are the champions of the Brazilian league. The Magic are looking to expand their footprint in Brazil by offering packages to go with the Brazilian Summer (which occurs during the NBA season). Orlando is probably going to do preseason in Brazil very soon.
This game is as much about what it could mean for the franchise’s future marketing in one of Orlando’s hottest tourism markets as it is about getting ready for the regular season. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports some of the signage at Wednesday’s game will be in Portuguese for the audience watching the game in Brazil.
Orlando is on center stage there.
So what do we know about this team?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dVNDNqRdW4
Former NBA players Walter Hermann and Derrick Caracter are on the roster. Marcelinho Machado is the team captain. The 39-year-old guard was the immediate successor to Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt and he has been a big part of Brazilian basketball’s revival.
Flamengo is coming from Phoenix where they played the Suns a few days ago. The Suns got a 100-88 win with Machado scoring 16 points. Isaiah Thomas had 18 points for the Suns in the win. Guard Nicolas Laprovittola had 12 assists.
This is a pretty good team. But the Magic will be focusing on themselves more and getting ready for the regular season as the organization looks to showcase themselves in an important market.