The Orlando Magic have the second-best defensive rating in the league right now, which has spurned their hot start. In this enhanced segment from the Thinking Basketball podcast, Cody and Ben break down what makes the Magic defense so good, including their size, transition effort and great play from Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac on that end.
–Full episode–
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2P5kQ7a1XY3WwuG2mu31vM
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/235-do-you-believe-in-magic-and-thunder-and-pace/id1428290303?i=1000636722487
Support at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Basketball-Ben-Taylor/dp/1532968175
Podcast: https://player.fm/series/thinking-basketball or at https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ben-taylor/thinking-basketball-podcast
Website: https://www.backpicks.com
Twitter: @elgee35
Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
Stats courtesy:
http://www.pbpstats.com @bballport
https://www.basketball-reference.com
https://stats.nba.com
—–
Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.
44 Comments
Isaac should be starting center
Love getting the game footage edited on top of the podcast. I am now consuming the same stuff twice. Can't get enough!
if anyone forgot, Magic beat Celtics back to back last season in the Garden
Thank you. I literally built a 2K team based around this and it is 100% true you just have so much length even though you might not have the height the length alone gets you steals and blocks.
saw someone describe this defense as a light skin version of the raptors 🤣
Even when Issac was injured I was talking about how great a defensive talent he is. Was hoping the magic trade him so another team could profit from him. But glad he at least getting some acknowledging for what he can do.
they need offense. and with the new Dallas owners being Jews… Kyrie and Holmes for Suggs, Isaac and Carter jr plus a 1st rounder. Just saying
goga bidatze
How are they generating so many turnovers?
When you look at their defense they are great at three things:
1) Rebounding
2) Forced Turnovers
3) Opponent FT%
Obviously the first isn't going away and the last will regress to the mean, but how real are the dead ball turnovers (i.e. not steals)
Cause its not like they have some crazy shot profile or elite rim protection. Its really the FT, TO and not allowing offensive rebounds
And here I am almost forgetting Magic team exists 😂
Where’s a Twolves video?
I hope Isaac becomes fully healthy and durable. This Magic team is gonna be so good if that happens. Only thing they're gonna be missing is a true point guard.
0:06 Ayo Pause
isn't there this one other defense
I’m gonna say this bam needs a video.
Isaac's knee ligaments are broken so he can't be more than a bench player. Sad as he was my second favourite player from the Tatum draft. I wish my Celtics tried to trade for him when he was down and out but there's still time to get him I hope.
Great content
the comments seem to be getting it right when they say JI is getting a minutes restriction. As a magic fan I will take what i can get because just seeing him back on the court after a huge injury feels so good
The visuals on the screen really help see what youre explaining. Its dope af. 🙌
Can't Jonathan play the 5? If he's inefficient shooting etc, use him as a rim roller.
This magic team has been so much fun to watch. As a Magic stan, it’s been a long time coming
Ay yo !
They gottantrade fultz and issac for some veterans or a center
EPIC. LOVE ME A GOOD DEFENSE
JI doesn’t play more mostly cuz of injuries
This is what detroit is expecting now to their team
Suggs can be a proto-jrue holiday and isaac looks reminds me of covington
Nba players are soft as baby shit
There will never be great defense
As a Bulls fan, I can't help but feel like a part of this team's success. Good job Orlando 👍🏽
I can get behind the Magic's young defensive identity and how sustainable it can be even for playoffs. Will be curious to see if Isaac finally has a full enough season with the squad to prove he's part of the long term plan or some other teams instead. But even then the length and versatility from the guards and whoever they have at the big spot sets a high floor for their defensive play. Black and Suggs defense at perimeter are like an off brand Shaun Livingston and Marcus Smart (or Jrue).
Alright…im sold on the magic ❤❤❤❤
No its the wolves. And I'm definitely not just saying that because I'm from Minnesota and happy to have a solid team for once
The best defensive nba team would be one of the worst Euroleague
But y'all ain't ready for that convo tho
0:06 AYO PAUSE!!!!! 😂😂😂
It's also about matchup..magic match up really well against Boston.. However magic lack offense.. They don't have a go get me bucket guy in their lineup..And often young players struggle offensively in first few playoffs unless there is vet who can take pressure off of them offensively..
8:25 I think everyone knows he is an elite defender, but 99 defensive rating? i mean what the actual fuck
..Trade Isaaac for Dick..Suggs, Black, Dick could be dangerous..
"Extremely big and long" was what she said
I hate to say it because I am a huge Fultz fan and I like WCJ, but I am a little worried when they come back into the rotation… MoGa (Moe + Goga) has been playing very well for us and although Black isnt a great scorer by any means hes FAR from a liability based off of hustle, IQ, and instincts. Then we have Suggs who is playing with as much confidence as I;ve ever seen from him….The only thing I ask is JI plays 60 games (probably wont happen so ill take 50 – hes already played more games this year then the 3 years prior combined). Even if its at 14-17 MPG
I had Suggs as #1 trade chip before the season because he didn´t really fit in. His development over the last 3-4 month has been insane and he became their #1 perimeter defender while also being a solid combo-guard on offense. I don´t even want them to trade for a "star"-player. I rather see them developing into a solid unit
What don't you understand JI came back from a major injury. Regardless how he performs we want him for the LONG run. And playoff contention.. not him blowing his knee out again on a meaningless play in a meaningless city on a meaningless game where we up 12pts already. We don't need him playing more we need him playing. Period.
JI isnt playing as much because Coach Mose is letting him bounce back after injury last year. easing him into it.
imagine if raps chose suggs and magic landed barnes instead to go with banchero, wagner and isaac on the wing
Why the radio silence on Minnesota? Even with the #1 record they can't get a video?