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Magic Showing Poise in Crunch Time
So far this season, the Magic have taken 21 shots in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter when the score differential was within five. They’ve made 13 of them, which is 61.9 percent. Among the 19 teams who have attempted at least 10 shots in these time and score circumstances, that’s the second-best mark. In the NBA Cup game on Friday at Toronto, Orlando went 6-for-8 from the field in the last eight minutes while the score was within five. In that time, Franz Wagner made a driving layup and floater; Jamal Cain also hit a floater; Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva each made 3-pointers; and Wendell Carter Jr. connected on a dunk off a drop-off pass from Jase Richardson. The Raptors, meanwhile, made just one of their five floor shots in that same stretch.
Paint Touches Leading to Great 3-Point Looks
The Magic are generating quality perimeter shots because of their ball movement, spacing, and execution. Tracking data shows that they have taken the second most 3-pointers per 100 possessions when the ball has touched the paint. Even more impressive is that Orlando is shooting a league-best 59 percent from beyond the arc directly off kickouts from the paint. Black is a perfect 4-for-4 on these shots; Carter Jr. is 2-for-2; and da Silva is 7-for-12. Da Silva’s 12 attempts are third most in the league. The Magic are 8-of-12 on threes taken off spray-outs from the paint when Wagner is the one dishing out the pass. When they’ve taken a three on a possession where the ball did not touch the paint, the Magic are shooting a league-worst 19.2 percent. What’s good, though, is that they’ve only taken 26 threes in that fashion, second fewest in the league. The bottom line is that there is a massive difference between taking a feet-set uncontested or lightly contested three versus one off the dribble or without proper ball movement and spacing.
Franz’s Playmaking is Elite
Few players, if any, are better at surveying the floor when making a move toward the basket than Wagner. He’s dished out the third-most passes in the league so far this season off drives with 37 of them. His teammates have taken 30 shots on those possessions, making 13 of them. What’s most impressive about it all is that he’s one of the few players that can break down a defense without blazing past his initial defender off the dribble. He perennially has one of the lowest blow-by percentages on drives, and yet his ability to score or pass on drives is elite. Paolo Banchero is similar in that regard, although with his blend of power and finesse, he draws fouls a lot more on his drives.
Quote of the Night
“Big-time response. I thought we executed our coverages. Our intensity was way better. Great energy, even through their runs, especially there in the fourth. We showed great poise I thought. Everybody that played was ready to come in and contribute.” – Wagner on his team’s NBA Cup win in Toronto
The Magic are now 12-4 all time in NBA Cup play. Last year, they went 4-0 in group play and finished 5-1, with their lone loss coming in the semifinals against the eventual cup and season champion New York Knicks. Orlando’s other in-season tournament group play games this year are against the Bucks and Pistons at home and against the Nets at Brooklyn. This year, the quarterfinal and semifinal games will be played at the home arenas of the higher-seeded teams, while the final will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.