Jonathan Isaac puts Orlando Magic at ease and makes their job easier

Jonathan Isaac returned to the lineup Wednesday and did not miss a beat. He helped calm the Orlando Magic’s defense and did more than fit in offensively.

It was a scary moment in the second quarter.

Jonathan Isaac was running out after a steal, eyeing the basket in front of him, when JaMychal Green undercut him some, tripping him and sending him toppling to the ground. It is the exact play that has left Isaac’s early career snakebitten. He landed on top of the player and it seemed ripe for another roll of his ankle.

Everyone must have held their breath for Isaac, who was just returning from spraining his ankle in last week’s preseason opener.

Isaac popped up almost immediately, shaking off any notion of a potential injury or reinjury. He was back. And through the 17 minutes he played in Wednesday’s 102-86 Orlando Magic victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Isaac showed the ease in which he can impact a game.

There was no reason to hold their breath any longer. So long as Isaac is on the floor, he will make things easy.

Jonathan Isaac led the Magic in scoring with 15 points (tied with Aaron Gordon) adding eight rebounds, two steals and a block. He did all that while taking just five field goals (Aaron Gordon took 13, for reference). It was an efficient and effective night on so many levels.

He hit both of his 3-pointers, showing a comfort from beyond the arc. But he did not force anything either. The 3-pointers came in the flow of the offense. So did much of what else he did.

In transition he ran the floor, signaling at one point for a lob which D.J. Augustin obliged in a late second-quarter break. He hovered around the basket and took advantage of gaps in the defense. In one emphatic putback he made his length known.

But more importantly, he showed his incredible skill defensively. He blocked Shelvin Mack during an early stint in the second quarter, using all of his length to stymie his former teammate. And there were more than a few deflections where he just rotated to the right spot to cut off penetration and just made it hard for the offensive player to escape, even to turn back.

It is always clear Isaac is making an impact even if the counting stats do not show it. And his coach, Steve Clifford, had nothing but praise for him. And praise for the parts that truly matter. He praised his basketball IQ and team-oriented play. He said Isaac is not someone who does anything outside the norms on offense. He always plays within himself. And then he commits on the defensive end.

The Magic as a team turned in probably their best defensive game of the preseason. Outside of excessive fouling early in the game, the Magic seemed pretty tied together defensively, using it to spark a run throughout the second quarter to take control of the game.

Orlando Magic

The Grizzlies struggled to shoot throughout the entire game, finishing at 41.3 percent for the game and just 7 for 26 (26.9 percent) from beyond the arc. Memphis scored only 86.0 points per 100 possessions for the game. Isaac had a hand in that — the Magic had a 91.4 defensive rating with Isaac on the floor. It was such a strong defensive game that strong number was the worst among Magic starters.

Isaac seemed more at ease as he got his rhythm in the second and third quarters. And that is really the only thing holding him back at this point. It is purely comfort.

That is what happens when a young player simply has not played much. He appeared in only 27 games last year thanks to ankle and foot injuries. It was frustrating to watch, especially knowing the kind of impact he potentially could have.

Orlando is slowly seeing that impact clearer and clearer. Especially when he finally gets on the floor.

Gordon probably defined Jonathan Isaac’s impact best in his postgame interview with FOX Sports Florida. Gordon said Isaac just makes everyone’s job easier. His ability to cover for everyone defensively and fit in offensively with his skills just help everyone do their jobs and play their roles easier.

It is easy to see just how much Isaac can put everyone else at ease. It was something he did in his limited time last year. and it seems like he is able to do it more and more this year. And as his game expands, it feels like Isaac can do a whole lot more.

Staying healthy remains the biggest concern for him just so he can get out there and play and gain experience. That is the only thing missing.

But if Isaac turns games like Wednesday’s game into a norm, the Magic will be more than pleased with the ease at which they can play with him on the floor.