Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 14, 2022): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic close their five-game homestand with a game against the injury-plagued Atlanta Hawks as they look to build a four-game win streak.
Orlando Magic (8-20) vs. Atlanta Hawks (14-14)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-HAWKS ON FUBO TV
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Line: Hawks by 2.5
Tickets: $11-$348 on StubHub
Season Series: Hawks 108, Magic 98 in Atlanta on Oct. 21; Hawks 125, Magic 108 in Orlando on Nov. 30; Tonight in Orlando; Dec. 19 in Atlanta
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 101.6 | 110.0 | 111.8 | 51.4 | 29.1 | 13.2 | 22.8 |
| Orlando | 98.1 | 109.5 | 114.5 | 53.1 | 28.4 | 16.7 | 29.5 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic are doing their best to stay level-headed. As Moe Wagner put it after shootaround on Wednesday, the team is not thinking about their season in terms of streaks — whether it is this current three-game win streak or the nine-game skid they were on before it. They are thinking about each individual game.
That is the right approach. But the team has to understand what it can carry over. The defense is a big one. Especially going up against a dormant offensive team like the Atlanta Hawks. And it will be more important because of who could be absent.
The Hawks will be without Dejounte Murray (left ankle sprain). He killed the Magic for 27 points in the meeting in Orlando a few weeks ago. John Collins is also OUT with a left ankle sprain (suffered in that win over the Magic). Trae Young is QUESTIONABLE and is a gametime decision with low back tightness after missing Monday’s game.
Atlanta will get Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic back. This is still a dangerous team offensively. But they look much different than the typical Hawks team.
Prediction. 104. 125. 108. 38
3 Keys To Watch
Focused on defense
Looking for the reason the Orlando Magic have been playing better? The team will tell you and the numbers will agree that it is about their defense.
Orlando is giving up 107.3 points per 100 possessions in the last four games, the fifth-best among teams in the last four games. They are giving up 39.0 points in the paint per game, the third-fewest in the league during the past four games.
This has been the big focus for the team in these last four games. And that is where they have put their focus:
"“It’s been key for us,” Moe Wagner said after shootaround Wednesday. “Something we have placed emphasis on in practices and meetings. It is good to see that translate into winning. It’s a lot of work. To be somewhat consistent in that is a relief.”"
That will come in handy, especially in this game. While everyone focuses on the Hawks’ 3-point shooting with Trae Young, they have actually struggled from deep making the second-fewest 3-pointers per game in the league and shoot the third-worst percentage in the league.
Atlanta makes the third-most mid-range shots (7.2 per game) in the league. Atlanta lives in the in-between, the kind of shot Orlando wants defenses to take.
Focused on themselves
The Orlando Magic are like many young teams: Susceptible to playing up and down to their competition. It is certainly easier for a team to hone its focus on marquee teams as it did in wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. It is harder and more understandable to have the same focus for lesser opponents or short-handed opponents.
But this is what teams have to learn how to do. This is what teams have to become if they are going to win consistently. And what has been impressive throughout this three-game win streak is that the Magic have brought the same attention to detail on the defensive end specifically each time out.
The focus then for the Magic is not on who the Hawks might miss, but on themselves and bringing the same focus every day.
"“We’ve tried to do the best job we can to make it about us because of the way rosters are constructed, because of injuries, because guys are in and out of the lineup,” Jamahl Mosley said after shootaround Wednesday. “We have to focus on us more than anything. Those principles of our defense have to stay the same no matter who we play.”"
That is a good approach. The Orlando Magic followed a big win over the Golden State Warriors with a dud against the Houston Rockets and a disappointing overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. They have dropped a subsequent game to the Charlotte Hornets (with a returning LaMelo Ball) and have losses to the Detroit Pistons (on opening night) and the Houston Rockets.
These are the kind of focus lapses the team needs to avoid. And this game with the Hawks short-handed is a potential trap.
Focused on the glass
While the Atlanta Hawks will be a bit shorthanded with John Collins out for this game, the Hawks still have some capable rebounders in Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu. Both dominated the offensive glass in the last meeting between the teams — 14 offensive rebounds for the team with the two centers grabbing nine.
The Magic have put a lot of emphasis on the glass during this win streak. They have a 73.8-percent defensive rebound rate in that time — up from 72.2 percent for the season and 70.4 percent during the nine-game losing streak.
Next. The underrated interior importance of Franz Wagner. dark
It is safe to say that rebounding is among the many key factors for the Magic to get a win. and one of the biggest areas of turnaround during this win streak.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.