Orlando Magic Year in Review: Top 10 games of 2016

December 23, 2016

The Orlando Magic envisioned their identity for the 2017 season would be on defense. They acquired Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo to settle down the paint and protect the rim. These two players were two of the best rim protectors in the league.

That has not quite played itself out. After a two-week run as the top defense in the league, the Magic have struggled to find their footing defensively.

For one game last week, the Magic more than found their footing defensively. They dominated defensively and set a tone for the rest of the game to bury the Lakers 109-90.

Orlando recorded a franchise-record nine blocks in the first quarter. It started on the first play when Serge Ibaka ranged from the weakside and blocked Timofey Mozgov’s hook shot out of bounds. Bismack Biyombo followed with another block. And the rout was on quickly.

This was an inspired effort to make up for a poor effort the night before. And one where the Magic’s defensive backstops took the lead.

"As the Magic huddled up after pregame introductions, Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo told their guards to get up in their man and play physical. The two bigs the Magic acquired this summer to shore up their rim protection would handle everything at the rim. From the first play, that proved to be true."

The Magic’s defense was realized this evening. The power of their rim protection and shot blocking was realized. The quality of opponent was not great, of course. The Magic could assert their dominance in a new way.

The way everyone imagined.