Orlando Magic Daily
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Five concerning statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 20: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on March 20, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 20: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on March 20, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Christian Wood, Charlotte Hornets, Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 10: Christian Wood #35 of the Charlotte Hornets goes for a lay up during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 10, 2017 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defensive Rating: 109.9 (post All-Star)

Coach Frank Vogel built his reputation as a head coach on defense. In his career with the Indiana Pacers, his teams never ranked out of the top 10. It seemed like last year’s Orlando Magic team was built for him and his style. He often referenced what his teams did successfully in pitching the Serge Ibaka/Bismack Biyombo combination.

That obviously did not turn out well. Despite a hot start to the season defensively, the Magic never recovered defensively. They went from a top-five defensive team in the first quarter of the season to one of the worst defensive teams in the league the rest of the season.

The Magic opted to trade Ibaka and they had to completely remake their defense once again. and that brought its own defensive issues.

Defensive issues the Magic never fully solved.

After the All-Star Break, the Magic had a 109.9 defensive rating. That was good for 25th in the league. The focus after the All-Star Break was rightly on the Magic’s anemic offense. The team improved on that end, but they left the defense behind.

Even the team’s much-celebrated starting lineup that had a positive net rating, struggled defensively. The starting lineup with Nikola Vucevic had a 110.6 defensive rating. With Bismack Biyombo that group had a 111.1 defensive rating.

That would mean the Magic’s terrible bench was a better unit defensively than the starters — albeit their offense much, much worse.

Going from giving up 110 points per 100 possessions to a more reasonable number — even 105 points per 100 possession — is quite a huge leap. That would require some significant improvement. And it would all come from the same starting five as last year.

That is plenty of reason for caution.

Perhaps Vogel can recapture his defensive coaching chops. In the midst of the season, there is little opportunity to drill defense. And the Magic changed their style of play so much, they were adjusting on both ends of the floor. It is easy to let the defense slip.

For sure, much of training camp is going to get spent hammering out the team’s defensive schemes and rules to ensure this number does not repeat. If Orlando is giving up nearly 100 points per 100 possessions, it will be almost impossible to have a successful season.