Orlando Magic letting defense carry them through offensive struggles

The Orlando Magic are letting their defense do the talking early in the season as they try to get their offense right and still pick up wins.

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford likes the shortened preseason in the NBA. He thinks the added rest time in the course of the season and the focus on player health ultimately benefits players and teams.

But he is a coach and he understands there is a trade-off. The trade-off being teams have much less time to prepare for the season. Teams would enter the preseason still trying to get into a rhythm and coming together.

Clifford said before Wednesday’s win over the New York Knicks that the first five, six or seven games for every team is almost a crapshoot. Indeed, early in any season, it feels like anything can happen.

The Magic are going to have to compete their way through these growing pains — especially considering Clifford said the team did not have the training camp it hoped for because of injuries, although it was not a terrible camp according to Clifford.

And a big part of that grinding their way through as they try to get their offense going is to rely even more on their defense.

"“I talked to the guys before the first game because they know,” Clifford said after Wednesday’s game. “We’re not different from the other teams. The shorter preseason, we’re finding our way here offensively. We have such good defensive talent within our roster that my thing was through these first 10-12 games, we can defend and compete our way through until we get our offense going.”"

Orlando has to hope the offense has turned a corner after Wednesday’s game. The Magic definitely want the process to speed along. But Orlando knows it has a defense it can count on.

The Magic entered the season believing they would be a strong defensive team. This group finished eighth in the league in defensive rating last year, after all. The Magic want that be their backbone again this season.

Their start to the season has been incredible on that front. Orlando ranks third in the league giving up 94.2 points allowed per 100 possessions.

Right now, it is their saving grace. The Magic are incredible on defense and have been poor on offense. Even with a 12-point win Wednesday, Orlando is still 29th in the league in offensive rating, scoring 96.7 points per 100 possessions.

The Magic have had a chance to win all four of their games this season because their defense has been so good. It is truly carrying them through this early stage of the season.

"“It has to be what we do every night,” Nikola Vucevic said after Wednesday’s win. “We have to stick to that and understand that is where our strength is and our offense is something we have to work on and get better out. If we can put both together, that is what will help us have a better year. As long as our defense is there, we can give ourselves a chance. I think our offense is going to come through and we will play better on that end.”"

Orlando still has plenty to work on defensively.

Clifford continues to point to the team’s physicality as a need the team has to resolve. The team has to be better on the glass seeking contact to secure the glass. Their raw rebounding rate may be better, but it is still a weakness that teams can exploit.

Orlando’s efforts in the second half were much better in this regard. Perhaps even the best all season.

It is this continued and sustained effort carrying the Magic right now. That is what will have to carry the team throughout the season.

"“It’s something that we pride ourselves on,” Aaron Gordon said after Wednesday’s game. “It’s something that we know we’re capable of every single night. As long as we follow the gameplan, our talent and playmakers take over.”"

Orlando has played well defensively to start the season for sure. But teams will get more organized offensively and become better on that end. And the Magic’s defense will have to stay tight.

More importantly, the Magic will have to figure out their own offense and get opponents moving. The way they did against the Knicks in the second half Wednesday. The team is going to have to score at some point to pull out wins. Especially against playoff-caliber opponents — like the two the Magic host this weekend.

Their defense can play a role in that creating transition opportunities. That has been something the Magic have not quite done well enough to boost their offense even with their defense playing well. Orlando is averaging 11.3 fast-break points. The team plays at the second-slowest pace int he league at 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes.

The Magic certainly could do better getting into their offense quicker and more effectively. Their defense would suggest they should be better than they are.

Orlando still has work to do. The team knows this on both ends.

Until the offense comes around, the defense is going to have to continue grinding. As Clifford said, the team has to compete its way to some wins while they find their rhythm.

That has given them a chance to win all four games. Defense at least can get cemented as the team’s identity. Even when the offense comes around.

"“Now we understand that’s what it has to be for us,” Nikola Vucevic said after Wednesday’s game. “The way this team is built, we have some talented guys offensively who can score. But at the end of the day, it has to be our defense. we understood that I think toward the end of the year last year. And I think it carried over to this year.”"

At least early in the season, the defense has carried the team through just as the Magic hoped. It will have to continue to do so throughout the year. Even when the offense comes around.