Orlando Magic Preseason: 5 things we have learned so far
The Length is Real
It has long been a joke about Jeff Weltman’s obsession with wingspan and length in players. He even quipped after the 2018 NBA Draft to the media, “Long night, long players” after drafting Mohamed Bamba, Melvin Frazier and Justin Jackson (incidentally, he is reportedly healthy and will join the Lakeland Magic this year).
Nobody can teach physical attributes. But it is how you employ them that matters.
As the Magic seemed to prioritize length over other basketball skills, everyone wondered if that could be the formation of a team. This is still a team that is trying to teach some of these long-players how to shoot and play at a NBA level.
But make no mistake about it, this team wants its defense to be its identity. And that length and versatility is a big part of it. That much is obvious during the preseason.
Jonathan Isaac has been a monster defensively, building off his instincts from last year. There is already some early all-defensive team buzz for Jonathan Isaac. It may not come this year, but surely there are some bids coming in his future.
Orlando Magic
When Jonathan Isaac is paired on the floor with Aaron Gordon, the team can switch seamlessly and close down passing lanes. That does not even get into Mohamed Bamba or Michael Carter-Williams or Markelle Fultz.
Coach Steve Clifford said Michael Carter-Williams is the best defender he has coached. That is a huge compliment considering the defensive talent on the team.
The Magic have employed a defensive swarming style that is suffocating opposing teams. Orlando has used familiarity and comfort within its defensive schemes to increase pressure and trap a bit more off screens. The Magic are corralling opponents into areas of the floor where their length can make it hard to escape.
Orlando’s defensive rating through three games is 85.1 points allowed per 100 possessions. It is preseason, so there are plenty of grains of salt to take from that. It is still third-best in the league in the preseason. So it cannot be that bad.
The Magic established a strong defensive base last year. They finished eighth in the league overall in defensive rating and were top-5 after the All-Star Break as they made their run to the playoffs. The defense is vital to this team’s ultimate success.
They have the length to be a potentially devastating defensive team. There is no doubt about this. Orlando’s strategy to collect players with physical length is a big part of that. And the effects are clear.