Orlando Magic Blitz Chicago Bulls In The Windy City

WHOA. Where did this come from? The Orlando Magic poured it on the defensive-minded Chicago Bulls in one of the most surprising results of the NBA season.

The Magic scored 121 points on 81 shots while shooting 59.3 percent from the field as the Magic snapped their six game losing streak in startling fashion Monday night.

The Magic were led by Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo who both scored 33 points apiece. The Bulls were led by Pau Gasol who scored 28 points and added 14 rebounds. Unfortunately for the Bulls, Pau Gasol was brutally murdered by a tall Montenegran man in the third quarter (more on that later).

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So how did we get to this result?

The Magic tried something they have not tried all season long. Push the tempo on every possession.

Jacque Vaughn deserves a ton of credit for that adjustment tonight. Early on in the game, Vaughn was audibly directing Elfrid Payton to keep pushing the tempo and it paid huge dividends. The Magic got looks early and never consistently let their offense stagnate in the half court as they have been so prone to doing this season.

In the fourth quarter when the Magic finally did slow down the tempo they let Victor Oladipo take over, not as point guard but as the go-to scorer. Oladipo absolutely shredded the Chicago defense, getting to the rim at will and finishing through the likes of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. Victor scored 13 points in the fourth quarter including nine of Orlando’s final 12 points.

Game Notes:

Here’s the murder I was referring to earlier.

• Something has clicked for Nikola Vucevic since he was benched in the first quarter of the last game. He has become significantly more aggressive offensively and is doing a much better job of boxing out defenders.
• Victor Oladipo looks way more comfortable since having point guard duties taken away from him. He is no longer overthinking the game, he is just doing.
• Ewing Theory anybody? The Magic have looked a lot better since Tobias Harris has been out with injury.
• In all seriousness one thing I have noticed the past two games with Harris out is how much better Orlando’s defense is helping the helper. Marble is much faster at getting to his spot and closing out the shooter than Harris is. His defensive energy makes up for some of his offensive shortcomings.
• Kyle O’Quinn looks soooooooo much more comfortable back at his home at the backup-5 spot. Kyle absolutely dominated Taj Gibson tonight.
• Willie Green was freed from his cage tonight. He actually scored seven points. I am so sorry Bulls fans.
• Maurice Harkless played power forward tonight. Something just is not right about him. He seems to be lost on about every defensive possession.

Rookie Report:

Elfrid Payton: Payton looked absolutely fantastic tonight. Early on Payton dictated how fast this game was going to be played and that was the reason the Magic won. Payton easily blew by Derrick Rose and broke down the defense leading to easy baskets for Payton who was five of seven for 10 points, and for teammates (seven assists). Defensively Payton was a pest. Derrick Rose definitely got the better of him one on one by purely out muscling Payton on drives. Payton fought back however and contested Rose’s shots well in addition to snatching a few steals from unsuspecting Bulls in the backcourt.

Devyn Marble: If you looked only at the box score Marble would not stand out but watching the game you notice a lot of little things that Marble is doing to help this team out. Marble is filling a role the Magic have not had filled this year, he is the glue guy.

Marble is not overthinking anything when he is out there. Offensively he is driving when he is given the lane, taking open shots when they are there and passing to his teammates when they are open. Defensively, Marble is a significant upgrade to Tobias Harris. Marble was able to stay in front of Jimmy Butler all night and force him to take tough shots.

From a team perspective, Marble is doing a great job of getting his hands in the passing lanes and helping the helper. Marble has also been a factor on the boards, he’s snatching up long rebounds that the Magic have been giving up this season. All in all this was easily Marble’s best game of the season and it’s going to be very hard to bench him when Tobias Harris comes back. You might even see Tobias Harris move to the power forward spot.

Next: Benching Evan Fournier has been good for the Magic