With their 109-106 Tuesday win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Orlando Magic are totally entrenched within the second half of their season.
Their first 41 video games, by which they went 15-26, might be outlined with many phrases or phrases, with the principle one being affected person progress.
Here’s how the Magic fared by the season’s first half and the components that’ll make the ultimate 41 video games profitable.
The Vitals (first 21 video games):
- 5-16 document; 109.5 offensive score (twenty fourth); 115.1 defensive score (twenty seventh); minus-5.6 web score (twenty sixth);
- 57.3% true taking pictures accuracy (seventeenth — a formulation that includes free throws and higher-value 3-point photographs); 16.7% turnover frequency (twenty ninth); 28.6% offensive rebounding share (sixteenth); 72.2% defensive rebounding share (fifteenth)
The Magic’s document by the primary quarter of the season mirrored their player-availability points.
Markelle Fultz missed the primary 21 video games due to a fractured left large toe.
Moe Wagner sat the primary 18 video games due to a sprained proper midfoot.
Gary Harris suited up just for 5 of the primary 21 video games after having left knee surgical procedure in the course of the offseason. Cole Anthony performed in 4 of the primary 21. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs missed seven video games apiece whereas Wendell Carter Jr. sat for six as a part of a month-long absence that resulted in late December.
Their struggles with not having their high gamers within the rotation — particularly the guards — constantly led to hardships on the court docket.
The Magic had ball-security points, making it simpler for opponents to attain in transition. They stored video games shut however struggled to shut them out, resulting in a 3-11 document in video games that had “clutch” minutes — when the scoring margin is inside 5 factors with 5 or fewer minutes remaining.
There have been a number of particular person vibrant spots from the season’s first quarter (Banchero, the emergence of Bol Bol and Franz Wagner), however the wins didn’t come usually.
At least not till they obtained more healthy.
“What we have to really look at is being able to evaluate when we have a complete roster,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “We’ve had guys in, guys out. We’ve had different evaluations of what this team can be. When we have a full roster, it’ll be a little bit different to evaluate where we are.”
The Vitals (video games 22-41):
- 10-10 document; 112.1 offensive score (twenty third); 114.2 defensive score (sixteenth); minus-2 web score (twenty first);
- 57.6% true taking pictures accuracy (seventeenth); 14.3% turnover frequency (fifteenth); 26.6% offensive rebounding share (twentieth); 73.1% defensive rebounding share (twelfth)
The returns of Fultz and Anthony on Nov. 30 considerably altered the Magic’s season.
They’ve introduced steadier ball-handling presences to the Magic, serving to repair the turnover points and lowering the on-ball tasks for Banchero and Franz Wagner.
The Magic fee round league-average since Fultz and Anthony got here again. Orlando has been even higher since their minutes restrictions have been lifted — a 10-7 document from Dec. 5-Monday with an above-average protection.
They’ve locked in on their defensive gameplan of slicing off the inside, permitting simply 43.5 factors within the paint from video games 22-41 (third-best mark throughout that stretch).
“We can handle adversity,” Mosley mentioned when requested what he’s discovered concerning the workforce. “The things that have happened throughout the year, the ups and downs, guys being in and out. We have a group of guys that’s resilient. They want to continue to learn, grow and work for one another.”
Looking forward
The Magic obtained the second half of the season began off on the precise foot with the win over the Blazers to place them at 16-26 — 11-10 because the returns of Fultz and Anthony.
Since then, Carter, Harris and Suggs have returned from accidents, giving Orlando sparks in a number of areas, particularly defensively.
The improved well being has allowed Mosley to check out completely different lineups, together with a beginning group that will stick.
The quintet of Fultz, Harris, Banchero, Carter and Franz Wagner — the Magic’s beginning lineup within the final 4 video games — has a web score per 100 possessions of plus-23.3 (127.1 offensive score, 103.9 defensive score). That’s the one Orlando lineup that’s performed at the very least 50 minutes to have a optimistic web score.
Continued particular person development by the youthful gamers or general steadier play gained’t be the one components that make the second half of the season profitable. Cultivating extra on-court continuity and discovering extra profitable combos will even be necessary.
“Just continue to grow,” Mosley mentioned. “Continue to grow and get better. Create continuity with this group. Defensively, we talk about that being the place we want to hang our hat. Offensively, being able to share and move the basketball. We just want to continue to grow, get better and develop these young guys to be the best players they can be.”
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