Orlando Magic Daily
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Trends or Mirages: Breaking down this year’s Orlando Magic

By Brett David Roberts

Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks, Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic
Dec 20, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) tries to block the pass to Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) from Hawks forward Paul Millsap (right) during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Trend: Orlando has a top team defense

The biggest change for the Orlando Magic as a team has to be its defense.

This year the Magic rank No. 8 in the NBA in defensive rating and hold opponents to just 98.3 points per game. The Magic have held 18 of their 25 opponents to less than 100 points, and Skiles has this team believing in the value of defense.

More than 98 percent of the teams that have finished in the top-5 of opponent’s field goal percentage have gone on to make the postseason. So playing strong defense is instrumental to a team’s success.

With the Magic allowing just 43.0 percent from its opponents, they do in fact rank tied for fifth in the league in that category. And yes, in fact, the Magic are currently situated in the playoff race even if it is early.

The Magic are a much stronger team at forcing turnovers, forcing 16.2 miscues per game from their opponents this season. The team is noticeably better at rotating on the perimeter, evidenced by the fact Orlando ranks No. 12 in the league in opponents’ 3-point percentage (33.7 percent).

With all the stats illustrating the Magic are an elite defensive team, it seems pretty safe to say that this year’s iteration is at least a very good defensive team.

That is a marked improvement from a team that ranked No. 24 in the NBA in defensive rating while surrendering 101.4 points per game (while scoring just 95.7) a season ago.

Next: The Fading Frenchman?