The Difference between the coaches: Frank Vogel vs. Scott Skiles

The Orlando Magic switched its direction after the resignation of Scott Skiles, now the Magic look to put more of a defensive focus on its core players with Frank Vogel.

This time last year, the Orlando Magic were under the impression they prepared a lineup for the future. The starting lineup featured, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Evan Fournier, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton — with Aaron Gordon champing at the bit for his opportunity.

A lot has changed since the beginning of the 2016 season. Not only has the organization found a new head coach, it seemingly found an identity. And transformed the roster in the process.

That identity was created by trading the draft rights to Domantis Sabonis, Ersan Ilyasova and Victor Oladipo for Serge Ibaka and adding in veteran free agents like D.J. Augustin and Jeff Green along with a high-priced free agent in center Bismack Biyombo.

The trade brought national debate about the offseason moves by Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan. No move Hennigan made this summer may be as big as the one bringing Frank Vogel in to replace Scott Skiles, who suddenly resigned in June.

It also brought the idea that this new team in Orlando will play a particular style of basketball, a style that Frank Vogel is more comfortable with.

Skiles wanted to focus on the defensive end as well, but never had the defensive-minded frontcourt players that Vogel will use this year.

Adding lock-down defenders like Ibaka, Biyombo and Green alone is nothing for NBA offenses to sneeze at.

Although Skiles did not have those type of lock-down defenders, he was still able to lead this young Magic team to a 19-13 record before January and help the team improve its standing defensively to 17th in the league by defensive rating.

The positives Skiles brought to the team were in plain view at the beginning of the year, thus him winning the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month award in December.

Skiles led the Magic to a 10-5 record in December, and was the first Magic coach to win the monthly recognition award since Stan Van Gundy did it in April 2010. Skiles also proved to be the first Orlando Magic coach to end December with a winning record since Stan Van Gundy.

Skiles did a remarkable job before the injury bug hit Orlando, no player played in all 82 games. Despite Skiles proving he can win when the roster was complete, he resigned after the season.

His resignation brought a lot of mixed emotions about the future of the Magic. The team was put on an uncertain course at a critical time for the team’s rebuild.

At first glance, one could understand the resignation after starting so strong in 2016, and finishing so horribly in 2017. It seemed as if the New Year was the turning point of a Magic team that was on the verge of making the playoffs to a team that had no clue on how to make the playoffs. Skiles just could not reach this team after that point for whatever reason.

The negatives of having Skiles at coach is simple.  His pass, pass, pass philosophy was not the strength of his drive-and-dish style point guard in Elfrid Payton. His benching of core players like Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Victor Oladipo was a head scratcher too.

These negatives essentially created the discussion in media circles about the future of key players, specifically Gordon and Payton. Their shooting deficiencies were on full display in Skiles’ offensive scheme. The pieces seemed to fit less and less and the Magic began shedding young players to pursue winning and fit this new vision.

For example, Gordon started the year as a bench player in Skiles’ offense before taking over as the starting power forward as Skiles began to trust his defense. But Vogel said he will be the featured offensive option in his offense. Vogel said that he plans on using Gordon like he used Paul George in Indiana at small forward. That is a big role reversal between the two coaches for Gordon.

Some of that distinction might be because of how far Gordon has developed this offseason. Or it might be a philosophical shift.

Gordon played the bulk of his minutes at the power forward under Skiles, Vogel says Gordon will start at small forward. Whether Vogel’s attempt to play Gordon at small forward equals success has yet to be seen. But Gordon’s excitement about the year is clear.

Sometimes being excited is the first step to creating energy and enthusiasm. Gordon may be able to score more efficiently if he is more active than he was last year.

Another positive from Vogel is he has been known to develop players. He developed Roy Hibbert, who made his only All-Star appearance as a player under Vogel, and transformed Paul George in to a perennial All-Star.

But Vogel is not a saving grace as a coach despite the accolades coming his way.

One negative from Vogel is he has not proved to be a great offensive coach on the NBA level. He has made his money on the defensive end. There is no guarantee that Vogel can put together a consistent scoring offense for the Magic.

But it is not like Skiles was known for his offensive acumen either.

Another negative is Vogel does not really have a great relationship with any of the core young players. He is familiar with the new acquisitions like C.J. Watson, D.J. Augustin and Jeff Green, but he will be starting from scratch with the Magic when they gather for training camp at the end of September.

Despite the relationship barrier, the organization is betting that a proven coach like Vogel can take them to a familiar place, the NBA playoffs.

Next: Previewing the 2017 Orlando Magic on Almighty Baller Podcast

And they are hoping for a better outcome on their original vision than they got from Scott Skiles last season.