ORLANDO – Whereas most teams often have one defender assigned to shadow Giannis Antetokounmpo, even checking in and out of games just as the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar does, the Orlando Magic have the luxury of throwing a variety of different players at the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Magic will have an easy time slowing down arguably the league’s most versatile and dynamic player, but they at least can give him different looks and they’re somewhat protected against foul trouble while trying to slow the 6-foot-11, 242-pound forward.
In Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and veteran reserve Al-Farouq Aminu, the Magic can run a steady stream of different defenders at Antetokounmpo, who comes into tonight’s game at the Amway Center averaging 23.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals a game. The nearly 7-foot Isaac has great length, Gordon is known for his power and Aminu offers a combination of size, grit and veteran savvy.
``I think it’s a strength of our team, having versatile defenders who can guard multiple positions,’’ said Isaac, who ranks second in the NBA in blocks a game (2.75). ``We’ll see how we do. I thought we did all right (against Antetokounmpo last season). We put up a good fight and we had a good game. It’s just about coming ready tonight and with the mindset of being ready to fight and being ready to go and then put the best 48 minutes out there.’’
Tipoff between the Magic (2-2) and the Bucks (2-2) is just after 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by Fox Sports Florida. In two games against the Magic last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 65.5 percent from the floor.
Orlando has had to rely mostly on its defense thus far as its offense has sputtered early in the season. While the Magic rank at or near the bottom of the league in points per game (95.8, 30th), field goal percentage (39.5 percent, 30th), 3-point field goal percentage (28.8 percent, 29th) and offensive rating (96.7 points per 100 possessions, 29th), they have been one of the league’s best units defensively. They rank second in points allowed per game (93.8), sixth in field goal percentage allowed (41.3 percent), second in 3-point field goal percentage allowed (26.1 percent) and third in defensive rating (94.2 points per 100 possessions).
``We understand this is what it has to be for us,’’ Magic center Nikola Vucevic said of his team winning with its defense. ``Last year, we finally got that this is how this team is built and we have some talented guys who can score, but at the end of the day it has to be about our defense. We understood that last year and I think it carried over to this year. In four games our defense has been really good, and I think it can get even better.’’
Tonight’s game is the start of Orlando’s first and possibly most difficult back-to-back set of games of the season. After facing the Bucks tonight, the Magic will host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night at the Amway Center. Milwaukee was the NBA’s lone 60-win team last season, while Denver notched the No. 2 seed in the rugged Western Conference by winning 54 games last season.
Further complicating matters is the fact that Denver should be well-rested for Saturday’s game after having Friday night off. The Nuggets were throttled in New Orleans on Thursday night and were expected to arrive into Central Florida on Friday.
``You know what, it’s good because we’re going to have to play well at both ends of the floor,’’ Magic coach Steve Clifford said. ``That’s good for you any time in the year, but early in the year it gives you the best indicator of what you’ve got to work on.’’
The Magic will have their work cut out trying to slow down a Milwaukee offense that ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring at 119.3 points per game and sixth in field goal percentage at 47.1 percent. When the Bucks aren’t riding the strength and length of Antetokounmpo while driving to the rim, they hurt foes with their 3-point shooting. Milwaukee ranks second in the league so far in 3-point makes a game (16) and second in 3-point attempts a game (45.8). Antetokounmpo, of course, doesn’t factor into Milwaukee’s long-range attack, making just two of 14 tries from beyond the arc so far.
Orlando’s hope is that Isaac, Gordon and Aminu can hold up, for the most part, one-on-one versus Antetokounmpo so that others don’t have to leave 3-point shooters open while providing help defense. Khris Middleton (3.3), Kyle Korver (2.5), Wesley Matthews (2.3), Pat Connaughton (2.0) and center Brook Lopez (1.8) all make more than one 3-pointer a game on average.
Clifford is just happy that his team has three elite-level defenders to throw at Antetokounmpo so that his squad can play the Bucks as straight up as possible.
``What really helps, to be honest – and it’s already happened in preseason and in the season – it helps with your subbing rotations,’’ Clifford said having three wing defenders against Antetokounmpo. ``When you don’t have more than one guy who can guard him, you have to say, `When he goes out our guy goes out.’ We don’t really have to do that.
``The hardest thing is (Antetokounmpo) makes the right play,’’ Clifford added. ``He’s a terrific scorer, he scores in a lot of ways and they do a terrific job in how they utilize him. You have to help or he’s at the rim. But if that second defender comes, he’s big and he can really pass. He passes and then a lot of their 3-point line is him kicking it out. There are a lot of reads involved.’’
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