The Orlando Magic realized the exhausting manner the significance of being locked in on the defensive glass throughout their West Coast journey.
It’s why they spent a major period of time bettering at it all through the week since getting again to Central Florida on Monday, particularly throughout Wednesday’s follow forward of Friday’s 123-110 dwelling win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Consider the teachings realized, with the Magic (17-28) holding the Pelicans (26-20) to 11 offensive rebounds for 14 second-chance factors to assist them decide up the victory.
“We’ve watched probably more clips and edits of when we do it right than we have in a long time,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned pregame. “Our guys understand those are the details we’ll need to hit home on. We’ve got to make sure our guards come back and do a great job rebounding through those free-throw line areas so it allows us to start our break. We’ve got to finish possessions out.”
The Magic not solely completed out defensive possessions strongly however in addition they closed out the sport on a excessive notice, outscoring the Pelicans 35-19 within the fourth.
Franz Wagner was obtainable and began after getting into Friday as questionable due to a sprained left ankle he suffered in Wednesday’s follow.
He led the Magic with 30 factors (10-of-16 taking pictures, 5 of seven on 3s), 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Wagner was a part of the second unit that helped the Magic take management of the sport in gentle of many of the starters struggling early.
Cole Anthony (22 factors, 4 assists and three rebounds) and Bol Bol (12 factors, 5 rebounds) led the bench, which scored 56 factors. Every bench participant that performed not less than seven minutes had a constructive particular person plus/minus whereas every starter exterior of Wagner had a unfavourable particular person plus/minus.
Mosley leaned on the reserves to shut out the sport.
Markelle Fultz (9 factors and three assists in 24 minutes), Paolo Banchero (11 factors, 6 rebounds in 25 minutes) and Wendell Carter Jr. (2 factors, 9 rebounds in 24 minutes) didn’t play within the fourth. Wagner and Gary Harris (15 factors on 4 3s) had been the lone starters to get enjoying time within the last quarter.
“You talk about by committee,” Mosley mentioned. “This was the prime example of it.”
Finishing out defensive possessions with a rebound has been a energy for many of the season however not recently — till Friday.
The Magic ranked thirteenth in defensive rebounding frequency (72.1%) and 14th in second-chance level allowed (13.5) on the season.
Their defensive rebounding price of 68% in the course of the five-game highway journey ranks twenty sixth amongst groups’ final 5 video games. This led to opponents scoring 15 second-chance factors, which ranked seventeenth.
Not grabbing defensive rebounds was particularly essential within the losses to the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets in the course of the journey.
“We usually play a good 20-22 seconds of defense and it’s the rebound that messes it up for us,” large man Wendell Carter Jr. mentioned. “We are one of the better defensive teams in this league. But we aren’t going to get that credit until we start finishing out possessions.”
Finishing out possessions on the boards was particularly vital towards a Pelicans group that entered Friday ranked eighth in offensive rebounding frequency (30.1%) — even with Zion Williamson sidelined.
Jonas Valančiūnas (20 factors, 10 rebounds) entered the sport averaging 2.8 offensive rebounds per recreation. He had 3 Friday.
“It’s the same principles,” Mosley mentioned. “It’s fundamental. Understanding when that shot goes up, you don’t watch the ball. You go find a man, get a hit and pursue the basketball. That’s a fundamental thing we’ve taught our guys.”
CJ McCollum had 23 factors and seven assists however on 6-of-21 taking pictures. Wagner restricted him within the fourth with stifling man-to-man protection. McCollum shot 1 of 6 within the last quarter.
Kevon Harris (transferred to G League as a part of his two-way contract), Caleb Houstan (G League task), Jonathan Isaac (return to competitors conditioning) and Chuma Okeke (left knee surgical procedure) weren’t obtainable.
Brandon Ingram additionally sat for the Pelicans.
The Magic recalled Isaac from the group’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, Friday. They added in a press release that Isaac will stay on the inactive record as a consequence of return-to-competition reconditioning.
“He’s responded well,” Mosley mentioned. “Overall, he’s just trying to find what he’s capable of doing and just being able to get out on the floor with those guys. Finding his rhythm. Finding a little bit of a routine in pregames. He’s done a great job of finding himself with that group and understanding what he can do.”
Isaac had 18 factors, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks in Thursday’s 125-121 highway win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The 22 minutes had been essentially the most he’s performed in his three video games with Lakeland.
“That’s what’s so great about having that connection with Lakeland and the G League,” Mosley responded when requested if there’s been a advantage of Isaac enjoying with Lakeland earlier than returning to the NBA group. “Being able to have those guys go over there, play within the same system, get coached in a different light but also understand what it takes to ramp yourself up back.”
Mosley didn’t rule out Isaac having one other stint with Lakeland. Isaac flew again to Central Florida Friday.
“It goes back to that day by day,” Mosley mentioned, “seeing how he responds, how his body responds.”
The Magic will play the Washington Wizards on the highway Saturday to cap the back-to-back.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com