Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Christmas Lessons

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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers

ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 17: Center Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Center JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at the Amway Center on November 17, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Lakers 130 to 117. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

What is the team’s identity in your estimation?

Black: Nikola Vucevic, ball movement, efficient perimeter shooting and defense

Rossman-Reich: They clearly want it to be on defense, and the statistics are trending that direction. I still do not see a team that is absolutely killer on defense. So I think we are still figuring out who this team is from an identity perspective. They are still trying to figure out who they are. But they have seen what they need to do to be successful. Their margin for error is still pretty small. They cannot turn the ball over or be lax on offense. Everything still feels like it is on a knife’s edge.

Palmer: Not so shockingly their identity is similar to the Charlotte Hornets teams that Steve Clifford coached. Defensive-minded (albeit conservative), low turnover, good rebounding and poor offensively. Clifford believes in making sure his team does not beat itself with low IQ mistakes on both ends and you can see the Magic mostly mimic that on the floor. Their rebounding started off poor and has improved. Their defense continues to improve (though the pick and roll defense is still poor) and their turnovers have remained low — at least until recently. The only issue the Magic really have is they beat themselves with poor shots on offense. That however, may be more of a product of the players that Clifford has to work with more than the actual play of his team.

Racine: The Orlando Magic are team-first. No one player is going to beat the opposing team. If the Magic are not playing well as a whole, they are not winning games. Nikola Vucevic is the anchor of the offense and Terrence Ross is the go-to scorer on the perimeter. Defensively, they have extremely gifted players, but also play good team defense.