Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has been constant together with his message to the workforce all season: their success might be pushed by high-level defensive play.
The Magic haven’t solely purchased into this mantra however they’ve proven how efficient they are often on that finish of the ground, particularly over the past month.
Unfortunately for them, the progress they made in that stretch didn’t carry over into Saturday’s 121-108 dwelling loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Magic’s defensive score (factors allowed per 100 possessions) of 110.3 over their earlier 14 video games ranked No. 5 in comparison with each workforce’s final 14 video games coming into Saturday.
Locking in on defending the inside (46.1 factors within the paint allowed per recreation, tied for No. 2 throughout that stretch) has been a driving power of that defensive success.
So has creating and capitalizing off turnovers.
The Magic’s 16.8 takeaways per recreation over that aforementioned stretch ranked No. 2, proper behind the Memphis Grizzlies’ 16.9. Orlando capitalizes on these further possessions, scoring 20.8 factors off turnovers, additionally No. 2 proper behind the Sacramento Kings (21.6).
“What we need to continue to do is build,” Mosley stated pregame. “That’s what it’s been about. Us being able to build and grow in that area. We’ve focused on it as much as possible. Protecting the paint and us picking up full-court has changed that. Guys are getting the basketball and making teams feel us from the beginning of the game once they get that ball inbounds.”
The Magic didn’t create those self same further scoring alternatives towards the Pacers, with Indiana solely having 10 giveaways for 13 Orlando factors.
Those scoring alternatives matter much more for a Magic workforce that’s struggled with their halfcourt offense, scoring 94 factors per 100 halfcourt possessions over their final 14 video games (No. 26 within the league), in line with Cleaning The Glass.
The Magic’s scoring struggles harm their protection.
They missed a number of layups/putbacks and open pictures from past the arc (6-of-29 on 3s), sparking the Pacers’ transition alternatives. Indiana scored 24 fastbreak factors.
“We let our offense impact our defense,” Mosley stated.
Myles Turner led the Pacers, who shot 15-of-40 on 3s (37.5%) with 24 factors and eight rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton had a 15-point, 14-assist double-double.
Indiana’s bench scored 56 factors, led by Bennedict Mathurin’s 19 and Jordan Nwora’s 18.
Forcing turnovers, stout defensive rebounding and limiting second-chance scoring alternatives are why the Magic have held opponents to 84.1 area purpose makes an attempt over the past month — the fewest within the league.
The Magic didn’t have that very same benefit Saturday, with the Pacers taking 99 pictures in comparison with Orlando’s 90. Some of this may be attributed to the Magic taking 38 free throws to Indiana’s 14.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 21 factors on 7-of-12 capturing. Paolo Banchero added 19 factors (6-of-12 capturing) and 6 rebounds.
“We played them twice earlier [in the season] and they just weren’t healthy,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated. “They didn’t have all their guys. They didn’t have [Markelle] Fultz. [Cole] Anthony [wasn’t] playing during that period of time. Those are two guys with a great nose for the ball. They both play defensively with tenacity. They have great hands. Those guys enhance their situation.”
Jalen Suggs (14 factors, 5 rebounds) and Jonathan Isaac have performed vital roles in why the Magic have been the highest workforce in defensive turnover charge over the past month. Both have a knack for ripping the ball from ballhandlers or being energetic with their fingers within the passing lanes.
Suggs led the Magic in steals per recreation over the past month at 1.4 in 22 minutes coming into Saturday.
“Suggs is always going to be a ballhawk,” Carlisle stated. “He’s one of the guys who’s really disruptive for them.”
Isaac has averaged 1.3 steals in 11.3 minutes, main the league in steals per 36 minutes (5.5) and rating third in deflections per 36 (5.5) in that stretch.
“Even though he’s playing a limited number of minutes, as his minutes grow their defense gets better,” Carlisle stated. “One of the great things about him coming into the draft was he could guard anybody, 1 through 5. He was one of those great defenders out of Florida State who could be an impactful defender and he’s showing that right now.”
Added Mosley: “JI is special defensively. Jalen in that same breath is moving his way into that regard as well. As soon as [they] step on the court, they make an immediate impact for us defensively.”
However, Isaac wasn’t obtainable for the Pacers recreation, sitting out due to left knee damage administration. He performed a season-high 16 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Detroit Pistons.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com