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Orlando Magic Playbook: Protecting the middle is key to Orlando Magic’s defense

By Philip Rossman-Reich

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 12: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards dribbles past Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 12: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards dribbles past Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 05: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic plays defense against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Amway Center on December 05, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

Walling off the paint

The Orlando Magic know Nikola Vucevic has improved as a defender. But the prospect of having him face a guard coming at him at full speed is not good. They have him sit back to try to stop dribble penetration and slow things down for the guard to recover around the screen. But Vucevic still lacks the athleticism to contain and slow down the speedier guards in the league.

So the Magic’s strategy relies a lot on the guards in the pick and roll forcing their man to go wide where Vucevic can use his length and positioning to contain the ball handler and scramble back to his man.

Orlando ends up loading up the strong side of the floor with Vucevic walling off the paint and the weakside perimeter defender dropping down to tag the big in case they try to throw over the top.

This limits the field of vision for ball handlers to get either decent shots or find passing lanes. Orlando’s overall perimeter length makes things even harder.

Here the Magic do a good job forcing the ball handler in the initial pick and roll to go toward the corner. There, with Khem Birch in the game, they opt to trap to keep the ball handler from turning the corner.

That starts a scramble for the Miami Heat as they try to whip the ball around the perimeter. But that initial stop has disrupted the play. Orlando is able to recover in time for these cross-court passes.

Aaron Gordon locks down Goran Dragic‘s attempts to get by and get to the middle of the lane. That leaves Josh Richardson with only timeto fire a desperation 3-point heave before the shot-clock buzzer. This is a perfect defensive play for the Magic.

Making the initial stop like that — and Evan Fournier does a great job fighting over the screen and Terrence Ross does a great job tagging down to cover Khem Birch’s man — is only the start of course. The scramble and effort afterward is really what makes this possession.

But it all starts by keeping the ball out of the middle.

Forcing the ball to the corners also helps with help-side defense. It is easier to recover and harass drivers when they are coming in from the wings. Considering the Magic’s length on the perimeter, this is a very valuable thing.

Here the Magic stop the secondary transition from Elfrid Payton and he dishes the ball to the corner. The New Orleans Pelicans are doing the right thing in trying to move the ball to the open man. But Orlando has closed out on the shooter. Kenrich Williams tries to drive into the paint but Aaron Gordon is in position both to help and to get out to his man.

He is able to get a hand on the ball and create a steal. That is the power the Magic’s length provides. Steve Clifford likes to track deflections as a sign of the team’s activity. By forcing the ball onto the wings, it cuts off half the court and creates these kind of opportunities to swipe and poke the ball away.

Not to mention make it difficult to pass the ball to the open man. That is because the Magic employ a Tom Thibodeau-style strong-side zone once they get the ball isolated. And this execution is the real key.