SALT LAKE CITY - The Orlando Magic’s defense has been as advertised.
Through a week of the season, the Magic are among the leaders in just about every defensive stat category.
In the most basic of them all, nobody is better, as the Magic are No. 1 in opponent scoring, giving up an average of just 101.8 points.
Other areas that stick out include opponent points in the paint (fourth), opponent fast break points (fifth), opponent points off turnovers (eighth), and opponent second chance points (11th). Orlando is the only team right now that ranks in the top 11 in each of those categories.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, Magic players talked repeatedly about being a top 10 defensive team, with some even saying top five is well within reach. While it’s obviously way too early to come to any conclusions, it’s clear that Orlando isn’t just talking the talk; it is walking the walk.
“That’s what we pride ourselves on – defense,” forward Paolo Banchero said. “It’s always good to know that we can count on that side of the ball.”
The only quarter this season in which the Magic have slipped a bit was the third of Tuesday’s loss to the L.A. Clippers when they gave up 41 points. Otherwise, the Magic’s defense has been shatterproof.
The first quarter of the same game was a great example of just how smothering Orlando can be when it is fully locked in. The Clippers made only four of their 22 shot attempts in those 12 minutes, with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook going a combined 0-of-12 from the field in that span.
The night before against the L.A. Lakers, the Magic – with both Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac doing much of the heavy lifting as his primary defenders – LeBron James made only seven of his 17 floor shots.
The way the Magic stifled James on Monday and the Clippers’ trio in the first half on Tuesday is proof they are capable of going toe-to-toe against the league’s premier teams and players.
“I think we did a great job; great players are going to make shots,” said Magic guard Jalen Suggs, who is tied for second in the league in deflections with five per contest. “Continue to do us. Continue to build on our principles and do what we’ve been doing. We’ve been doing great defensively.”