Frank Vogel gained a reputation for building a strong defense and an inconsistent, slow offense. That is not what he sees for the Orlando Magic.
Throughout the season last year, Scott Skiles said he wanted his team to play with pace. That meant picking up the number of possessions, but also playing quicker in the half court. Pushing the pace through player movement and ball movement.
Pace remained a buzz word throughout the year.
With such a young and athletic roster, why would the Magic not want to pick up the pace and attack the rim in transition as much as possible? It seemed the roster fit that identity.
Orlando was 18th in the league in pace in 2015 with 95.9 possessions per game. The team increased that pace to 15th in the league at 98.2 per game. Pace around the league was generally up. So the raw increase was not surprising.
Despite Skiles’ talk of increasing the pace, the Magic did not really become that much more of a speed-based team. If this is the identity the Magic want, this is not Frank Vogel’s forte.
Vogel’s teams were never known as fast-paced teams. Not in the least.
Last year, Vogel’s Pacers team was 10th in the league in pace with 99.0 possessions per game. But that was the high point — and perhaps something directed from the front office and the style of play Larry Bird wanted for his team.
It was also by necessity. Most of Indiana’s teams featured two bigs in Roy Hibbert and David West and the roster did not really fit a team that played at a fast pace.
That was what the roster called for. What Vogel envisions for this roster fits his eye more. It fits the fast-paced team Vogel always wanted to coach.
As he tells John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com, speed is really going to be this team’s asset:
"“I think this Magic team has really good speed and we can do it even better than we did in Indianapolis,” Vogel said. “I think Aaron Gordon’s ability to play at the power forward position in today’s game gives you four guys who can push it and run and that’s incredibly valuable. That’s not even mentioning what Vic can do and what Elfrid can do. Evan can run and Hezonja’s ability to run the floor and have that electricity when he attacks the basket and finishes – I think this could be an exceptional running team and that’s the style that we’re going to play.“We grinded it out a couple of years there in Indianapolis because that’s what the personnel dictated and the style of play that group needed to play with. But I believe that this game is meant to be played in attack mode. And I really believe we have the speed and athleticism to do that with this (Magic) group.”"
While certainly Vogel will have to be patient and flexible with this young roster — he also said, the growing pain phase was over for this team and it was both ready and capable to take the next step.
Exactly how they will do that will be something to work out once training camp begins and the roster is more fully formed.
It shows though just how flexible Vogel can be. The way he played in Indiana on offense was a product of his roster. At least offensively.
Vogel is a disciple of Rick Pitino. Pitino’s teams at Kentucky and Louisville rely on pressure defense and fast breaks. The Wildcats certainly have a distinct style and it is definitely something he had to put away to get the most out of his Pacers teams.
Defensively, he seems to be very sure in his principles and the methods he uses to teach defenses. He seems confident he can translate what worked so well in Indiana to this group.
With the added twist of finally picking up the pace and using the Magic’s athletes to their full advantage on offense.
There are plenty of details to fill in for sure — most of all answering the questions on the roster from last year. Hearing this specific vision for this team though certainly seems encouraging for the Magic.
The exact reason why they hired Vogel. He has thought deeply about this roster and is ready to institute a mentality and an identity for them.
Next: Frank Vogel: Orlando Magic ready to take next step
If they are willing to execute.