With the 2022-23 NBA season approaching, the Orlando Sentinel is unveiling a five-part sequence of Orlando Magic storylines to regulate heading into coaching camp, which kicks off on Sept. 27 at their new state-of-the-art AdventHealth Training Center.
Part One: Shooting
To say outdoors taking pictures has been a wrestle for the Orlando Magic lately could be an understatement.
The Magic’s 3-point proportion has been a bottom-six mark in each of the previous five seasons besides one: 2018-19, the lone yr Orlando has completed with a plus-. 500 report (42-40) since 2011-12.
They’re coming off back-to-back years ending within the bottom-four in 3-point proportion.
The Magic perceive how essential outdoors taking pictures is within the fashionable NBA, even when their percentages haven’t mirrored it.
Coach Jamahl Mosley, in a number of cases, has mentioned his offensive philosophy involves enjoying with tempo, area and “the pass.”
Orlando demonstrated development in these areas within the first yr beneath Mosley.
The Magic’s common of 11.8 seconds earlier than taking a shot final yr was an above-average mark (thirteenth) for the primary time for the reason that 2017-18 season, in response to Inpredictable. Their 284 passes per sport ranked 14th.
They even had an uptick in 3-point makes an attempt, taking 36.9 pictures from past the arc in 2021-22 after making an attempt 31.8 in 2020-21.
Orlando’s downside, as soon as once more, was its accuracy, with its 33.1% 3-point proportion being the league’s third-worst mark.
The Magic addressed their want for out of doors taking pictures this offseason — instantly and not directly.
They introduced again Gary Harris (38.4% on 3s) and Mo Bamba (38.1%), who had been two of the staff’s higher shooters final yr.
The late-season signing of Devin Cannady (40.5% on 3s on 7.4 makes an attempt in 5 video games) and drafting of Caleb Houstan (35.5% 3-point shooter at Michigan) in June also needs to make the Magic threats from past the arc.
Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 choose in June’s draft, and Markelle Fultz, who returned from a torn left knee anterior cruciate ligament, are the kind of dynamic playmakers who ought to be capable to create extra paint touches and open up appears to be like from past the arc.
Easier pictures ought to result in a better dialog charge.
An issue for the Magic is in addition they struggled with these simpler appears to be like, too.
Their 36.3% 3-point proportion on “wide-open” pictures from past the arc (nearest defender is over six-plus ft away) and 30.9% 3-point proportion on “open” pictures (nearest defender is 4-6 ft away) had been each bottom-four marks throughout the league.
It doesn’t assist the Magic that the gamers who had been taking a big chunk of these extra open 3-point pictures had been making them at a below-average charge, possible due to their opponent’s defensive sport plan.
Orlando entered the offseason needing higher outdoors taking pictures, and should want it.
But with the Magic already having 16 gamers signed to plain contracts and needing to chop the rosters down to fifteen earlier than the common season begins, they’ll need to depend on self-improvement as outdoors shooters.
How a lot has been made ought to develop into clear early in camp.
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