The Orlando Magic’s protection — which had posted the league’s worst defensive score (121) getting into Monday — was the central focus pregame forward of their homestand-opening 109-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
While they carried out higher on that finish of the ground, holding the Bucks to what coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned is a spread that sometimes qualifies for a superb defensive sport, the Magic additionally gained a greater understanding of what high-level protection seems to be like and why Milwaukee’s is the very best rated.
Very little got here simple.
Drives have been met with resistance. Passing lanes have been crowded with lively palms, forcing 14 Orlando turnovers. The Bucks obtained again in transition.
The most important space the Magic took benefit of was offensive rebounding, grabbing 15.
But in the long run, the Magic (5-20) not flattening 3s (8 of 32), even open ones, finally undid them for his or her ninth consecutive loss.
After trailing by 19 late within the third, the Magic began to get the stops they wanted to make a comeback. They lower the result in 10 early within the fourth, then 7 in the course of the quarter.
But they missed the photographs they wanted to place them over the hump, together with back-to-back Caleb Houstan and Terrence Ross misses whereas the Magic have been down 102-97 with lower than two minutes remaining.
The Bucks (17-6) cruised to the win from there.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 34 factors (12-of-21 taking pictures), 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
Franz Wagner scored a team-high 25 factors whereas Markelle Fultz added a season-high 20 factors, Paolo Banchero had 20 factors (4 of 16), 12 rebounds and seven assists and Moe Wagner recorded 19 factors, 12 rebounds and 4 assists earlier than fouling out.
In Mosley’s eyes, a superb defensive sport is permitting someplace within the vary of 107-108 factors.
The Magic allowed 114 or extra factors in 5 of their losses throughout the shedding streak.
“If you’re giving up the 120s and 115s, that’s where it becomes tough,” Mosley mentioned. “So we can talk about it cleanly — that’s 2 or 3 [fewer] turnovers. That’s one more rebound. That’s knocking down one more shot, taking away one more 3. You talk about the small gains and things you can do to help your defense get better; those are the pieces.”
Mosley added that specializing in these particulars on how you can flip issues round is how he and the teaching workers have managed to maintain up the morale.
“It goes back to those small things of helping them understand, when we talk about close, you have to give the definition of what close means,” Mosley mentioned. “It’s the one little thing that helps you understand that every team in the league is going through it like this — whether that’s two losses in a row, three losses in a row or five wins in a row. Every team is having what they’re going through, it’s how you do you continue to talk to the guys about being close and the little things that get you over the hump.”
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