Orlando Magic already establishing defense as their backbone
The Orlando Magic have already shown themselves to be a strong defensive team. That backbone will help them develop their identity early.
The preseason is not supposed to seem this easy.
The offense for the Orlando Magic has seemingly flowed easily. The defense has been suffocating. Everything has worked for Orlando with everyone seemingly looking good.
Yes, the team was far from perfect. The Magic were not getting back in transition effectively enough. The team’s offense would go through stretches where it struggled to generate much flow as the pace slowed down.
Orlando is possibly working on a few other things and not running everything they will run. Shot distribution certainly is not at a regular-season level. Orlando knows it has time to iron out any issues that bubble up.
But one thing has remained consistent through three games. The one thing that Orlando needs to be at a high level to make a return trip to the playoffs. And possibly do more.
That one thing was on full display in the Orlando Magic’s 97-88 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The Magic’s defense was stifling and devastatingly so.
The Magic knew they would need their defense to feed their entire program. It was the basis for everything they did and accomplished last year. They finished the entire season eighth in the league in defensive rating and were the fifth-best defense after the All-Star Break.
If Orlando is going to make the playoffs for a second straight season and perhaps compete for home-court advantage, it will be on the strength of their defense. Offense is likely to remain one of the team’s biggest struggles.
But to be successful, the team knows it has to still play strong defense to give itself a chance to win in these moments. More than anything, that is what Wednesday’s preseason game proved in its own way.
Orlando shot just 37.6 percent from the floor. The team was worse than 30 percent from beyond the arc too. Yet, the Magic had complete control of the game — against one of the league’s more potent offenses to close last season (albeit in preseason mode without two key players in Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe).
Orlando held down Atlanta in almost every way. The Magic were feisty, chasing steals and getting deflection after deflection. The raw defensive numbers were impressive even for a preseason game — where offenses are up to this early point.
The Magic held the Hawks to 33.8 percent shooting and 11 for 40 from beyond the arc. Atlanta committed 27 turnovers. Orlando picked up 16 steals and six blocks. Those numbers are impressive even for a preseason game.
Orlando accumulated plenty more than that. They were in passing lanes and causing all kinds of chaos. The Hawks struggled to get good shots or move the ball in the way they have become accustomed to.
The defense was far from perfect, of course. The team still gave up a few too many open 3-pointers and probably were a little too aggressive trying to shoot into passing lanes. This defense is still about discipline.
But the energy never dissipated on that end. Even as shots continued to miss and miss and miss, the Magic’s defense continued to keep its vice grip.
The most difficult thing for any player to do is to stick to their defensive principles and hold onto the rope when the offense just will not get off the ground. A 46-44 halftime score felt very low as both teams struggled to get going.
This is the preseason and this is when the team has to establish its habits. This is where teams need to start establishing the core of who they are.
The Magic last year rode their defense to the playoffs. But it took them a while to find that identity. Orlando was certainly still feeling out their new coach and defining roles as the season began. That led to a slow start. Coach Steve Clifford even was finding the right combinations.
Everything seemed to click at the right moment for the team. And the results followed. That has created confidence heading into the offseason.
This year feels very different.
This year, the team has a focus about them. They are not starting from scratch and it shows. The team has confidence and knowledge of what it takes to succeed together.
It seems that understanding has evolved. The team is committed defensively right now and that has led to some positive results. Even when natural preseason fatigue and play takes over the game.
The Magic still have work to do to get ready for the regular season. That goes for both ends.
The team could still improve its rebounding consistency. The Hawks grabbed a lot of rebounds and the Magic lacked some second-effort plays for parts of the game.
The team could certainly improve its decisionmaking in transition on both ends. Orlando’s fast-break game has been a lot better, but still inconsistent. the Magic also have struggled to get organized defensively in transition situations.
But for this point of the season, Orlando is defending even when nothing else is working. As a foundational building block for the upcoming season, that is encouraging.
The Magic will not be spending the start of this season seeking an identity. They already have one. And it feels firm.