I have no idea what Isaac is on offense or if he will ever sustain even a 20-minute rotation role. No one does. Can he hit enough 3s to stay on the floor in the playoffs for an Orlando Magic team already light on shooting? Why does it feel like an adventure every time he dribbles?
But holy hell can this guy defend. He is smothering. His combination of size, speed, length and hops should not be possible. You feel visceral distress watching some poor player — it might be a point guard or a center — bust out fake after fake trying to open an inch of separation from Isaac. Nothing works. The guy can barely see around Isaac. It’s like playing against your reflection, only your reflection is bigger and meaner than you.
Isaac’s minutes are up since his return from (another) injury. He even played in a back-to-back — and started the second leg! (The Magic pulled him after eight minutes as a precaution, but still!)
And more intriguing, we are finally glimpsing some of the weirdo lineups Isaac’s skill set unlocks. We have seen the ginormous group of Franz Wagner, Isaac, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. together with a point guard. Orlando has also tried Isaac as small-ball center alongside Banchero, Franz Wagner and two guards. I am dying to see what those lineups can do — how they function on offense and all the schematic possibilities Isaac opens up on defense. Fingers crossed for good health!
-Zach Lowe
dlbags
He could be a Dennis Rodman 6th man closer shut it down type like he was on those Pistons teams.
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I was just about to share the whole story from: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/39430407/lowe-why-nba-scoring-awesome-kawhi-latest-trade-buzz
9. Is Jonathan Isaac finally happening?
I have no idea what Isaac is on offense or if he will ever sustain even a 20-minute rotation role. No one does. Can he hit enough 3s to stay on the floor in the playoffs for an Orlando Magic team already light on shooting? Why does it feel like an adventure every time he dribbles?
But holy hell can this guy defend. He is smothering. His combination of size, speed, length and hops should not be possible. You feel visceral distress watching some poor player — it might be a point guard or a center — bust out fake after fake trying to open an inch of separation from Isaac. Nothing works. The guy can barely see around Isaac. It’s like playing against your reflection, only your reflection is bigger and meaner than you.
Isaac’s minutes are up since his return from (another) injury. He even played in a back-to-back — and started the second leg! (The Magic pulled him after eight minutes as a precaution, but still!)
And more intriguing, we are finally glimpsing some of the weirdo lineups Isaac’s skill set unlocks. We have seen the ginormous group of Franz Wagner, Isaac, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. together with a point guard. Orlando has also tried Isaac as small-ball center alongside Banchero, Franz Wagner and two guards. I am dying to see what those lineups can do — how they function on offense and all the schematic possibilities Isaac opens up on defense. Fingers crossed for good health!
-Zach Lowe
He could be a Dennis Rodman 6th man closer shut it down type like he was on those Pistons teams.