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Orlando Magic Playbook: Jonathan Isaac is a rising star and deserves Orlando Magic’s trust

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 16: Stanley Johnson #7 of the Detroit Pistons and Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic fight for position during the game on January 16, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 16: Stanley Johnson #7 of the Detroit Pistons and Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic fight for position during the game on January 16, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies
ORLANDO, FL – OCTOBER 10: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic rebounds the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during a pre-season game on October 10, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Delivering on Patience

Jonathan Isaac was always a player who would take time. The Orlando Magic understood that when they took him. The criticisms of him coming out of college were about his still-developing jumper and lack of aggression. He would fade into the background and defer to older players.

That is something young players eventually grow out of as they gain confidence. But it did not help with Isaac’s development into the NBA. The Magic’s biggest desire to win also probably shoehorned him into a smaller role. His injuries did not help matters.

But now Isaac has played what amounts to a full season of NBA action — 74 total games and now 39 straight games, 12 more than he played all of last year — and Isaac has looked every bit the rookie at times.

But he has also flashed plenty of his potential. Especially on defense where his length and natural instincts can take over in a way they would not otherwise.

Plays like this against Montrezl Harrell of the LA Clippers shows what Jonathan Isaac can do when he gets down in his stance and defends. His long arms allow him to reach without fouling and he is quick enough to knock the ball away from slower defenders.

This kind of defense marked Isaac’s rookie year. The team was significantly better defensively with Isaac on the floor. But it was admittedly a small sample size.

This year has seen less of an impact. The Magic have a 107.9 defensive rating with Isaac on the floor, the third-worst mark of any player on the team.

Development is rarely a straight line. And the impact he might have had defensively last year was likely a bit overstated. Certainly, with more minutes, he has a larger sample size to build from and there is less room for his flaws to hide.

Still, it is hard to ignore the good when Isaac is on.

He makes one-handed grabs of outlet passes as he deflects and disrupts passing lanes. He blocks Joel Embiid and plenty of other players at the rim. When he gets down and defends, he is extremely disciplined and tough to get by. When he makes a mistake he can recover quickly with his length.

There are plenty of highlight plays like this.

Isaac is becoming adept at reading plays off the ball and sliding over to make blocks. This was the early season highlight for Isaac. But there are plenty more subtle plays exactly like this where Isaac read what was in front of him and adjusted.

That is clearly seen in the way he has played lately. He has recorded back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his career (just the second and third of those in his career) and totaled three blocks in Saturday’s win against the Brooklyn Nets, setting a clear tone defensively.

Isaac’s biggest weakness is still awareness. He tries to help too much or he jumps on pump fakes too eager to get a block. There is a discipline he has to learn through experience. Here you have to pause and remember this is his first run through the league.

Isaac here makes a smart decision to try to defend the first pass. But takes too sharp of an angle, leaving Jayson Tatum open. While this is an example of Isaac making an OK read, it shows how he is still caught ball watching a bit and can get drawn too deep into the paint and leave open shooters on the perimeter.

Still, his defended field goal percentage is better than the average defended field goal percentage. Opponents are shooting 45.3 percent against him according to NBA.com, -1.1 percentage points better than the average when he is on the floor.

All the defensive numbers are lining up for Isaac. It is clearly where he is best and most comfortable. The question then is when are the Magic going to be ready to push him forward?