dan savage

Josh Cohen

Obviously, the Magic would love to be top five in offense and top five in defense during the NBA seeding games. But for debate purposes, if they can only be top five in one or the other, which would be more impressive/important to do? OrlandoMagic.com's Dan Savage and Josh Cohen each take a side.

When basketball philosopher Josh Cohen approached me with the aforementioned question, my natural inclination was to reply with a quip, “why not both?” After all, NBA statistics have proven in the modern era that balance is as important as having a dominant defense or offense when it comes to winning a championship.

But once the appeal of being a wise … uh … fella … wore off, my memory reflected on some of my favorite teams of all-time to watch. The 1994-95 Orlando Magic and the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns, the inspiration for “:07 Seconds or Less” (which was written about the subsequent year’s team), both hold a special place in my basketball viewing heart. I found myself about to agree with Mr. Offense, Josh Cohen, the pick-up equivalent of Kyle Korver – trust me don’t leave him open.

However, just as I was about to utter words of agreement, the logical side of my brain kicked in. This isn’t about sentimentality or offensive creations that can easily appeal to the basketball masses. This is a question that at its heart is about science and engineering. It’s about maximizing the talent of a particular group.

Any unit equipped with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac, both fully capable of making NBA All-Defensive teams, that’s invested significant draft capital in Mo Bamba, whose combine record-setting wingspan and college career project him to be a high-level shot blocker in the league, and that possesses versatile gritty defenders like Michael Carter-Williams should have its identity centered around defense.

"We’re big from the one through the five, we can switch on anybody (and) we’re very versatile," James Ennis said.

Even when you look at the back of the Magic’s rotation, players like Wes Iwundu, Gary Clark, Melvin Frazier Jr. all offer tremendous defensive potential.

“People talk about the shots I make or being a shot maker or a three-point shooter, but really my calling is (if) I play really good on defense,” Clark said. “(Defense) is big for me, because coach is raving about defense, defense, defense, (which) gets me excited.”

We haven't even mentioned some of Orlando's underrated defenders like Nikola Vucevic, whose positioning and low foul rate make him much better at that end of the floor than he gets credit for, but I'm not going to name every player on the roster here.

With that in mind, to say that this team should prioritize offense over its defense would be rejecting its natural engineering. For example, the Porsche 928 has incredible towing capacity, but it’s not why it was designed. Instead, it was created to have a combination of power, poise and handling with the refinement that would make it one of the premier luxury sports cars of its era. We'll take the improving offense, but let's celebrate this squad's defensive design.

Plus, this formula has led to team success in the past. Orlando broke its playoff drought last season due to stellar play on the defensive end.

In their final 31 games last season, 22 of them wins, the Magic owned the NBA’s best defensive rating, reflecting their dominance in the number of points allowed per 100 possessions. That ferocious finish bumped them up to eighth overall in this category for the entire season.

That mark consistently proves to be extremely valuable. As my counterpart once pointed out, since 2000, only three teams – the 2001-02 Miami Heat, the 2010-11 Milwaukee Bucks and the 2012-13 Washington Wizards – had losing records despite finishing with top five defensive ratings. Three other teams – the 2005-06 Indiana Pacers, the 2014-15 Bucks and the 2016-17 Chicago Bulls – went 41-41. That means 94 of the 100 teams in the top five in this area so far this century posted winning records, with many of them recording over 45 victories.

When you consider that this restart season comes after a four-month-plus layoff and teams just had a few weeks of practice and only three scrimmage games, you could argue that defense will be even more important than in the past. Finding a consistent shooting rhythm will likely be a challenge for any team, thus making it imperative to rely on defensive effort and intensity night in and night out.

Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford has spent an extensive amount of time during Orlando’s restart practices focusing on the team’s ball pressure as well as their high and side pick-and-roll defense because of how pivotal it will be during the team’s seeding games.

So for my final point, I’ll just turn it over to him.

“For our team, our calling card has to be the defense,” Clifford said. “We’re going to have to play well at both ends of the floor to win a series, but again, defense for us is where it has to start.”

Picking offense over defense will likely anger most coaches – not just in basketball but any sport really. Mike D’Antoni, coach of the Houston Rockets, probably is one of the few exceptions, so I appreciate his assumed support.

Nobody will disagree that to go far in the NBA playoffs a team must play elite defense. It’s been proven time and time again that to win big you have to step it up on the defensive end. The NBA champs of the last few years – the 2019 Raptors, the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Warriors, the 2016 Cavs, the 2014 Spurs and the 2012 and 2013 Heat all played great defense in the postseason.

But this debate is strictly focused on the seeding games, or regular season games for all of you who prefer more conventional NBA lingo. For the Orlando Magic, specifically, how well their offense flows will likely determine whether they end up as the No. 7 seed or not in the playoffs. If the Magic do eclipse the Brooklyn Nets, their first opponent during the seeding games, for that seventh spot, they will be guaranteed a second straight playoff berth and likely dodge the 53-12 Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

In no way shape or form does that ignore the effort they must give on defense. But, if their offense is smooth, that will likely make it easier for the Magic to excel defensively, too.

Considering five of their seven opponents (they play the Nets twice) rank in the top 10 in defense this season, including the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers who are all in the top six, having a top five offense during the seeding games would be quite a remarkable achievement.

From Feb. 10 until the league shutdown, when it won eight of 12, Orlando had the NBA’s No. 1 offense. It ranked No. 1 in points (120.8), No. 2 in assists (29.1), No. 4 in turnovers (12.2) and No. 13 in 3-point percentage (37.0). Taking it a bit further, the Magic ranked in the top 10 in that period in points off turnovers, second chance points and points in the paint. Going deeper into the numbers, the Magic during that stretch ranked No. 2 in screen assists points, with their starting center Nikola Vucevic racking up the second most behind Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis. Their hustle on the offensive side was detectable as well. Over those final 12 games, Orlando averaged the seventh most offensive loose balls recovered.

It was just a scrimmage game, but Orlando’s sharp ball movement, effective execution and team unselfishness against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night was another example of just how good the Magic are when their offense is crisp. Six Magic players scored in double figures, as a team they made 18 of their 37 3-point attempts (48.6 percent) and they collectively dished out 30 assists.

The one main commonality among the three exhibition games at Disney was the Magic’s strong bench play, which was also mighty after the All-Star break. Obviously, Terrence Ross is a key piece to the puzzle, but D.J. Augustin, despite starting in the three scrimmages with Markelle Fultz working his way back to game shape, Michael Carter-Williams, Mo Bamba and Gary Clark, who was sensational in a starting role against Denver with 17 points, will be just as critical once the games start to count toward the regular season standings.

Orlando’s bench over the Magic’s last 12 games averaged 44.7 points, sixth most in the league in that time. Even more interesting and impressive was that they averaged a league-most 6.8 3-pointers made.

Playing against three of the best defensive teams in the NBA in their scrimmages likely helped the Magic get ready for the restart. The Lakers had the third best defense before the stoppage, the Clippers were fifth and the Nuggets 12th.

So, what are some specifics of what the Magic will need to do to thrive offensively during their eight seeding contests? Probably the most important thing is taking advantage of their collective versatility. Especially if Jonathan Isaac plays big minutes, the Magic will have so many interchangeable parts. They can play big. They can play small. They can be more methodical. They can play more up-tempo.

Speaking of tempo, the Magic played at a much faster pace over those final 12 games before the hiatus. They went from 28th in pace pre-Feb. 10 to 12th post-Feb. 10. It will likely be beneficial for them to continue playing at a more rapid pace, and that doesn’t necessarily have as much to do with speed but rather getting into their sets quicker and not being stagnant.

“Offensively, it’s just more sustainable ball movement, quick decision, if you don’t have anything move it, cut, create space and get to the next action – whether it’s pick-and-roll, dribble handoff, flash game, post it, no matter what it is,” Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford said recently.

The bottom line is if the offense is clicking, shots are falling and they are trusting one another by sharing the rock, their defense will likely be solid, too.

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Jump Ball: Top 5 Offense or Top 5 Defense for Magic During Seeding Games?

OrlandoMagic.com's Dan Savage and Josh Cohen debate which player will be the most improved in 2017-18. Stay tuned for more "Jump Ball" features throughout the season.

Could this be the season that Mario Hezonja takes the next step in his development?

That’s one of the major questions facing the Orlando Magic as they head into their 2017-18 campaign.

It’s easy to be down on the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After all, career averages of 5.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game are hardly what’s expected of such a prized prospect.

However, it’s easy to forget all the adversity Hezonja’s had to manage in his short time in the league.

In just two full seasons, he’s had multiple coaches, had to learn several systems, and watched his playing time go up-and-down like a yo-yo, all while adjusting to a new country and life away from much of his family and friends.

But the tide could be turning for Hezonja. Now in his second year under the tutelage of Magic Head Coach Frank Vogel, Hezonja has exhibited greater comfort on the court and flashed aggressiveness as a scoring option.

"He needs to be aggressive because in that second unit we need him to score and have some shooting there along with Jonathon Simmons," Payton explained. "J-Simms is going to get into the paint, so we need somebody like Mario to spread the floor and knock down shots. He's confident and he's never lacking that, but he's got to continue to work."

Although Vogel is still evaluating his regular season rotations, if Hezonja is one of the first players off the pine – as he’s been much of the preseason – through minutes alone, he could possess the largest statistical percentage jumps on the roster. His preseason stats of 7.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg. and 1.6 apg. are all well above his career average.

In order to maintain his place in the rotation, he’ll need his shooting percentage to improve and cut back on the negative plays that have plagued him much of his career.

But with his coach’s confidence behind him, both as a scorer and now a playmaking forward, Hezonja is extremely encouraged by his role.

"It’s easy for me to be confident individually, but you still need that confidence from the coach," he added. "(The continuity) is a great thing because (Vogel) knows us now and as he says, we are building from where we ended last year and I really like that."

Last season was a roller coaster for Aaron Gordon, who erupted for 30-plus points in four games, played outstanding individual defense and showcased his elite athleticism. He also struggled from 3-point range for extended stretches and had trouble adapting to a small forward assignment.

The switch to the four, however, spurred AG and he flourished after the All-Star break. In the 24 games he appeared in to close out the season, Gordon averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and delivered several electrifying performances.

A fourth overall draft pick in 2014 by the Magic, Gordon showed that he’s far more valuable as a roll-man in pick-and-roll situations. AG shot 51.2 percent (58.5 effective FG percentage) when he was the screener and scoring target. In contrast, the four-year veteran shot 34.7 percent (38.4 effective FG percentage) when he was the ball handler and attacker.

The two-time slam dunk contest participant has a knack for cutting and slashing inside. With his long strides, agility, mobility and activeness, AG does a superb job eluding defenders. Gordon shot an incredible 88 percent from the field when he cut to the basket and he had an 11.4 percent AND-1 rate on these possessions.

Adding more muscle to his frame, which by the looks of it it appears he did, and becoming a more reliable 3-point shooter were at the forefront of his development.

Especially if he’s playing the four on a permanent basis, it’s essential that he has the strength and resistance to defend more physical, post-oriented players. It would also help him absorb and initiate more contact on his drives to the rim.

Gordon has worked tirelessly on his outside jumper as well. If he can bump that 28.8 percent 3-point shooting mark last year to, let’s say, 33 or 34 percent, AG will be a far more efficient offensive player. He has good form and mechanics and a fairly quick release but sometimes he’s not balanced when he squares up to the hoop.

Highly disciplined and a true gym rat, the gifted athlete is confident all his hard work will pay off.

“The offseason you work on skill after skill after skill and you do drill after drill after drill, footwork, ball handling, shooting, a lot of different things,” he said about his offseason workouts. “In the game you get to let that kind of flow naturally out. Over the course of the season, you guys are going to see, oh wow, Aaron put that in his game or he’s doing that more smoothly.”

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Who Will Be the Magic's Most Improved Player in 2017-18?

Jose Fremaint

OrlandoMagic.com's Dan Savage and Josh Cohen debate which offseason acquisition will help the Magic the most in 2017-18. Stay tuned for more "Jump Ball" features throughout the season.

It’s a risky proposition selecting Jonathan Isaac as potentially the most impactful addition to the Magic this season, especially with such valuable veterans as Jonathon Simmons, Arron Afflalo, Shelvin Mack and Marreese Speights coming aboard.

Isaac comes into the league far from a finished product, unquestionably needs to add more weight to his slender frame and will have to earn his way into the rotation by hurdling veterans who are familiar with the NBA game.

The Magic will also likely ease Isaac into action, so betting on him is going to require incremental growth from Orlando’s prized prospect over the course of the season.

“This year is going to be about bringing him along at the right pace,” Magic Head Coach Frank Vogel explained.

But with all that said, Isaac possesses a number of natural gifts, you just can’t teach.

Early on, expect his biggest impact to come on the defensive end of the floor. With his 7-foot wingspan and quick lateral movement, Isaac has the innate ability to interfere in the passing lanes, which has been evident throughout training camp. His athleticism and 6’10” stature will also allow him to reject a number of shots, building upon his 1.5 blocks per game in college.

“He looks great,” Aaron Gordon said. “First thing I noticed is just the deflections. Defensively he’s so long, he’s always in the passing lanes.”

On the other end of the floor, Isaac will likely rely on athleticism, opportunities generated in transition and putbacks to make an early impact. His ability to space the floor with 3-point range should be evident as well.

“He made some plays on both ends of the floor that get you really excited about what he’s going to be,” Vogel explained.

Isaac’s responsibilities will increase throughout the season, and as the cerebral youngster wraps his head around the pro game, he’ll continue to become even more menacing on both ends. His impact in year one is without a doubt the hardest to predict at this point, but it’s a stock worth investing in.

The Magic needed someone with innate toughness, resilience and hunger. They needed a player who has defied odds his whole life and refuses to tolerate failure.

Jonathon Simmons’ unimaginable NBA rise speaks to his value and resolve. His physical tools – athletic, agile, strong and relentless – along with his mental makeup – determined, gutsy and fierce – gives the Magic exactly what they’ve lacked in recent years.

Sure, Simmons has his shortcomings. He’s a below average 3-point shooter and sometimes plays with blinders on. However, his attitude, intensity and passion should supersede those limitations.

Once just a random G League tryout hopeful, Simmons will also give the Magic two very important tangible on-court skills. He’s very confident scoring in isolation and he’s a tenacious individual defender.

While sometimes it looks like he’s going to crash into straight-on traffic, Simmons is very crafty and excels swerving his body to avoid charges. He’s ultra-aggressive, which helps him accelerate all the way to the hoop.

Of his 184 drives that led to a shot attempt in the regular season and playoffs combined in 2016-17, 163 of them were taken near the basket. Only 21 of them resulted in a pull-up jumper. Read more about that here.

Many marveled at Simmons after his insistent defense on James Harden in the final two games of San Antonio’s series with Houston.

With Kawhi Leonard out, Simmons became the Harden-stopper. He had two crucial steals on “The Beard” in overtime of Game 5 and then helped limit the MVP runner-up to 2-of-11 shooting from the field in Game 6.

The Magic will rely on Simmons to be this stifling on a consistent basis.

“I bring defense first of all, I bring toughness, I bring the edge to this team,” he said. “I’m just here to help by any means. I’m not trying to do anything spectacular. I’m just trying to win games.”

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Which Summer Addition Will Have Greatest Impact in 2017-18?

ORLANDO -- There is so much anticipation and excitement brewing in Orlando about the promising young backcourt of Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. While Oladipo enjoyed a sensational rookie season, Payton shined at Summer League this past July and showed off his versatility and defensive prowess.

Many believe this tandem will eventually form into one of the best in the league, especially when you consider how athletically gifted and confident they both are.

So what is each of their greatest strengths and what areas of their games do they need to improve the most? Watch a debate below and vote.

What do you think is Victor Oladipo's greatest strength?

What do you think is Elfrid Payton's greatest strength?

great-debate-greatest-strength-area-to-improve-for-oladipo-payton

Great Debate: Greatest Strength/Area to Improve for Oladipo, Payton

ORLANDO -- The outcome of the games is insignificant but just about everything else during the preseason has implications. Amongst the returnees, who will demonstrate the most improvement from last season? Amongst the newcomers that arrived via free agency or trades, who will blend in the best? Amongst the rookies, who will appear the most ready to have an immediate impact?

Perhaps it is cliché to say, but the exhibition schedule actually has value and every coach and player needs that time to explore all options. It will allow Jacque Vaughn to experiment with different lineups. It will give Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton a taste of the big leagues. It will give Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris a chance to juggle multiple positions and defensive assignments.

Though the preseason is important in some way for every player on the roster, who has the most to gain/lose from it? Watch a debate below and vote on whom you think has the most to prove in the preseason.

Who do you think has the most prove in the preseason?

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Great Debate: Who Has Most to Prove in Preseason?

ORLANDO -- Who will be the main voice in the locker room to provide motivation? Who will step up when things seem bleak and challenging to deliver inspiration and guidance? Who will keep his head high and not show weakness? Who will lead the Magic through the good times and bad?

For the first time in a while, these questions are a bit of a mystery. Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson had carried that torch for so long and with both gone these days, there will inevitably be a new spearhead in the locker room and on the court.

Watch a debate below for some analysis and vote on who you think is best cut out to lead the Magic this season.

Who do you think should be the Magic's team leader?

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Great Debate: Who Will Lead the Magic?

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Great Debate: Magic Team Leader?

ORLANDO -- Regardless of where you win, a victory is a victory and it counts the same in the standings. However, sometimes it’s important to have a more concentrated outlook. Do the Magic prefer to be unconquerable at Amway Center and make Orlando one of the most difficult places for opponents to thrive? Or, do the Magic want to become one of those rare teams that storms into other buildings and rips the hearts out of opposing team’s crowds on a somewhat regular basis?

The Magic were a satisfactory 19-22 at home last season – a seven-game win improvement from the prior year. However, Orlando struggled mightily on the road, prevailing in just four away contests. The Magic will play 17 of their first 25 games on the road, including some daunting trips to Cleveland, Washington, Toronto, Brooklyn, Golden State and Los Angeles (Clippers). By Christmas, though, the schedule eases up and home stands will be frequent.

Is it more critical for the Magic to protect the home court early in the season or establish success on the road? Watch an analysis below and vote on what you think is more important.

What do you think is more important for the Magic to start the season?

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Great Debate: Protect Home Court or Establish Road Success?

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.