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, wherein they went 15-26, might be outlined in some ways.
Here’s how the Magic fared via the primary half and the elements that’ll make the ultimate 41 video games profitable:
The Vitals (first 21 video games):
- 5-16 document; 109.5 offensive ranking (twenty fourth); 115.1 defensive ranking (twenty seventh); minus-5.6 web ranking (twenty sixth);
- 57.3% true capturing accuracy (seventeenth — a system that comes with 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 via the primary quarter 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 video games after having left knee surgical procedure in the course of the offseason. Cole Anthony performed in 4. 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 led to late December.
Their struggles with not having their prime gamers within the rotation — particularly the guards — persistently 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 brilliant spots (Banchero, the emergence of Bol Bol and Franz Wagner), however the wins didn’t come usually.
At least not till they received 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 ranking (twenty third); 114.2 defensive ranking (sixteenth); minus-2 web ranking (twenty first);
- 57.6% true capturing 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 season.
They’ve introduced steadier ball-handling presences to the Magic, serving to repair the turnover points and lowering the on-ball obligations for Banchero and Franz Wagner.
The Magic charge 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 realized in regards to the crew. “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 received the second half of the season began off on the appropriate foot with the win over the Blazers to place them at 16-26 — 11-10 for the reason that 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 which will stick.
The quintet of Fultz, Harris, Banchero, Carter and Franz Wagner — the Magic’s beginning lineup within the final 4 video games getting into Friday at Utah — has a web ranking per 100 possessions of plus-23.3 (127.1 offensive ranking, 103.9 defensive ranking). That’s the one Orlando lineup that’s performed not less than 50 minutes to have a constructive web ranking.
Continued particular person progress by the youthful gamers or total steadier play gained’t be the one elements that make the second half of the season profitable. Cultivating extra on-court continuity and discovering extra successful combos additionally shall be necessary.
“Defensively, we talk about that being the place we want to hang our hat,” Mosley mentioned. “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