Ahead of the Magic’s 109-97 preseason-opening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Monday, coach Jamahl Mosley made clear what Orlando had been specializing in throughout coaching camp.
Get again in transition defensively. Protect the paint. Move the ball whereas additionally taking good care of it.
After permitting 50 factors within the paint, 30 fastbreak factors and ending with 25 turnovers that led to 33 Memphis factors, it’s clear extra work is required.
“It was a great challenge for our guys,” Mosley mentioned. “It was an opportunity for them to understand the level of growth and the things we’re going to have to continue to do to get where we’re trying to go.”
For many of the sport, the Magic appeared like a staff that missed two days of coaching camp due to Hurricane Ian and continues to be working to grasp each other.
But Orlando’s struggles with giveaways weren’t unique to Monday.
The Magic had been one of many league’s extra turnover-prone groups final season. They usually have the appropriate cross in thoughts however try it a second or two too late. Or don’t power the protection to break down sufficient on drives and attempt to cross via clogged lanes.
A handful of Orlando’s giveaways are simply correctable: stepping out of bounds, touring and offensive fouls.
The different errors — telegraphing passes, forcing passes into tight or closed home windows, adjusting to totally different lineups — will take extra time.
The Magic, at the very least, now have sport movie to construct off of.
“A lot of us have to get used to playing with each other,” mentioned Paolo Banchero, who completed with 8 factors (2-9), 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 turnovers in his preseason debut. “I feel like our process was a little different than most teams with the way we had to deal with training camp and cancelations. Coach told us before the game to treat preseason as extended training camp, getting used to the game and each other.”
The loss was a wake-up name however the Magic maintained their perspective.
It was simply the primary of 5 preseason exhibitions.
Lots of the areas the Grizzlies, who had the league’s second-best document in 2021-22 at 56-26, dominated Orlando in — particularly factors off turnovers and within the paint — are ones they thrived in final season.
The Magic’s efficiency wasn’t all dangerous, both.
They moved the ball properly once they weren’t giving it away, ending with 23 assists on 35 subject objectives. Their halfcourt protection was stable. They created open seems to be from past the arc (18-54 on 3s) however they didn’t make sufficient of them, additionally a battle for final 12 months’s staff.
“These are great learning opportunities for each of these young men and our staff to be able to teach the things we’ll need to do to continue to grow,” Mosley mentioned. “When and where we’re making passes, transition defense, how we’re getting back. [This] is going to be great teaching tape for us.”
Watching sport movie will likely be crucial to determine methods to minimize out these errors. But what the Magic struggled at is obvious.
“You can never not learn something from film,” mentioned Cole Anthony, who led Orlando with 17 factors (6-10, 4-8 on 3s) and 5 rebounds. “The predominant factor I can say is I don’t even have to observe the movie to let you know we have to minimize down the turnovers. We had 25 for 33 factors for them. We minimize that in half and we’re taking a look at a special ball sport.
“It’s early. It’s going to be a lot of mistakes, but I think we can cut this stuff out sooner rather than later so by the time the regular season rolls around, we’re doing something, moving in the right direction and winning some games.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com