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Pre-Season Questions: How have the Orlando Magic responded?

By Sam Skubala

Nov 25, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) drives between the Orlando Magic defense on the way to the basket during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) drives between the Orlando Magic defense on the way to the basket during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic, Michael Beasley, Milwaukee Bucks
Nov 21, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Michael Beasley (9) and Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) battle for a rebound in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Can the Defense Be Elite?

With Frank Vogel, Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo’s arrival, Orlando was widely expected to become a defensive powerhouse in 2017. But to start the season, this was far from being the case.

Orlando gave up more than 100 points in the team’s opening four games, and then went on to give up 112 to the Chicago Bulls and a disastrous 123 points to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But like in other areas, it was after the 119-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder — another game in which the Magic gave up far more than 100 points — there was a turnaround.

Since then, Orlando has only given up 100 points once. The team has established itself as the sixth best defense in the league, with a defensive efficiency rating of 101.4 points allowed per 100 possessions.

The defense as a whole appears to be functioning better, with opponents being limited in their number of open shots, and the team rotating well.

Even players who normally struggle defensively, such as Nikola Vucevic and the team’s leading scorer, Evan Fournier, have at times shown improvement n that end of the floor.

But, for all of the team’s success on defense, the same can not be said for the other end of the floor…