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Five things to watch from Orlando Magic Summer League

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford stands between draft picks Mo Bamba (5) and Justin Jackson (23) during a news conference at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, June 22, 2018. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford stands between draft picks Mo Bamba (5) and Justin Jackson (23) during a news conference at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, June 22, 2018. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Steve Clifford, Charlotte Hornets
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 11: Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets looks on in a timeout in the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 11, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

Steve Clifford’s basic sets

With so little time and so few players familiar with each other playing together, there is not the chance to install a ton of sets and plays. There really is not much time to do anything than cover the basics.

But whenever there is a new coaching staff, there is always some interest in Summer League to see what kind of philosophy and roots they put down in Summer League.

Summer League playbooks are usually watered down versions of what they will run during the regular season. There are some basic philosophies and rules implemented on defense too. It is a small slice of the pie of what the team will look like tactically moving forward.

Whenever there is a new coaching staff in place, everyone gets intrigued to see what the team will look like. Even in this very basic way.

Steve Clifford will not be coaching the Summer League team. His newly installed staff will take care of the Summer League roster. But they will begin implementing the culture and the style the team will eventually play. Again, in a very basic way.

How the Magic play and what they try to do on this base level will be something Magic fans will certainly want to watch.

Clifford made a name for himself with his Charlotte Hornets teams for playing a very specific way. They were disciplined on both offense and defense, limited turnovers and protected the paint well.

How much of that can translate in Summer League? Probably not all of it. Probably not most of it.

But two key defensive figures are there. The Magic may give clues on how they want to play defense with Mohamed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac through their play in Summer League. How they set them up to succeed will be interesting to watch.