The Orlando Magic continue their homestand as they look to rise to the occasion again and take down the Phoenix Suns.
Orlando Magic (3-9) vs. Phoenix Suns (8-3)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line: Suns by 7
Tickets: $24-$2,410 on StubHub
Season Series: Tonight in Orlando; March 16 in Phoenix
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 97.8 | 115.3 | 106.2 | 54.2 | 29.7 | 13.6 | 26.1 |
| Orlando | 99.7 | 109.5 | 113.0 | 53.6 | 27.8 | 16.7 | 30.9 |
OMD Prediction
There is frustration among Orlando Magic fans already. It is one that is generally shared throughout the NBA. This is not something unique to the Magic. It is something actually quite common for young teams: playing up and down to their competition.
This is one of the big keys for any young team: Learning how to treat games against the worst in the NBA the same as they treat the top teams in the league. Magic fans have been left puzzled at how their team looked dominant defensively against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks but like Swiss cheese against the woeful Houston Rockets.
The good news then, I suppose, is the Orlando Magic play the Phoenix Suns. If the Orlando Magic play with the same urgency and skill they played against the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks, they should be in the game once again.
3 Keys To Watch
Eye on Pace
Pace is a funny thing to measure.
The number you see described as pace on stats pages is actually possessions per 48 minutes. The way most coaches describe pace is as the speed and intensity with which the team executes its offense. They are two very different things. A coach can think his team is high-paced but they may limit their possessions.
Orlando is starting to fall toward the bottom half of that statistical measure of pace. The Magic are trying to do better at valuing possessions (turnovers are rough for low-possession teams so that is a major impediment for the Magic).
That is one thing that has helped Orlando too, especially defensively. The Magic have not played many low-possession teams, but they perform well against those they have played against. Their defense was able to get settled despite a ton of turnovers to beat the Dallas Mavericks (last in possessions per 48 minutes). And they hung tough with the Boston Celtics (21st in pace).
The Suns are rank 26th in possessions per 48 minutes. That could be a sign the team can hang tough. At least a little bit.
What’s the point?
The Orlando Magic have been playing without a true point guard (all apologies to Jalen Suggs) for much of the season. They have had to figure out how to play their way with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner running the show. They have had their struggles. But it has also accelerated their growth. The Magic are certainly interested to see how this develops.
But the going thought about this team and around the league is that you need a true point guard. That these arrangements should only be used in emergency situations. The Magic have to be pleased with their success under these circumstances.
The Phoenix Suns are also learning how to play without a point guard. Chris Paul did not play in Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is QUESTIONABLE with right heel soreness. It is not clear whether he will play. But his absence would put Devin Booker in the point guard role.
Booker has played that point guard role before. And those struggles when the Suns were a younger team have prepared him to play in these moments. That is what the Magic are hoping to build in these early times.
Wendell Carter on defense
The Orlando Magic are still looking to establish their defense. That much is very clear. They have gone from switching to trying to drop to zone to whatever they can that works. Orlando has thrown a lot against the wall and the identity the team is trying to build has been a bit unclear.
The one constant though needs to be Wendell Carter. He is a strong defender and the Magic are indeed relying on him to do a lot of things — even some things he is still learning and uncomfortable with. Give him credit though, he played some great defense on Luka Doncic in the Magic’s switching scheme Wednesday.
Carter has been solid on defense this year. The Magic have a 108.7 defensive rating with Carter on the floor, the second-best mark on the team (behind Bol Bol). According to NBA.com’s tracking stats, opponents are shooting 47.2 percent when Carter is the closest defender, including 58.0 percent within six feet — 3.6 percentage points worse than expected.
Carter still has a lot to work on defensively with his communication on the perimeter. But he is still a very good defender.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.