film room

Josh Cohen

ORLANDO – The first, and maybe most important, thing that stands out about James Ennis, the Orlando Magic’s newest addition, is his corner 3-point shooting.

The Magic have no problem getting the ball into the paint, which is what Head Coach Steve Clifford wants his team to routinely do, but they’ve struggled to knock down their open kick-out 3-point attempts. Ennis, a 29-year-old from Ventura, California, will certainly help improve that as he’s made nearly 43 percent of his threes from the right corner and 40 percent of them from the left side this season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Last year, he made 44 percent of his left corner triples and 37 percent from the alternate corner.

Although it currently ranks No. 4 in paint touches, Orlando ranks last in the league in corner kick-out 3-point attempts, making just 32 of its 101 tries, per Second Spectrum tracking data. Ennis has a knack for running to the corners, which will help create more space when Markelle Fultz, Evan Fournier or Aaron Gordon drive into the paint or when Nikola Vucevic posts up.

Another one of Ennis’ strengths is his cutting. He’s good moving without the ball and will occasionally score when he accelerates toward the hoop. The former second round draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks has made 29 of his 35 cutting layup attempts this season, per data. He also gets fouled quite a bit on those plays, which is something the Magic haven’t done enough of to this point of the season.

Maybe the most underrated aspect of Ennis’ game is his explosiveness, especially when he gets a full head of steam in transition. One of last decade’s most memorable dunks in the NBA was when Ennis, who was with the Miami Heat at the time, dunked over Rasual Butler. He had a few monster jams in Philadelphia this season as well.

a-look-at-james-ennis-main-strengths

A Look at James Ennis' Main Strengths

ORLANDO – Throughout training camp and the preseason, Orlando Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford emphasized to the media just how important it would be this year for his team to score consistently off their defense, something they didn’t do enough of last season despite being such a good defensive team.

In the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Magic showed what they are capable of when they get out in transition after coming up with big defensive stops.

Momentum shifted in the Magic’s direction midway through the final frame largely because they were able to push the pace and score easy baskets off their stifling defense. In fact, Orlando scored 11 of its 32 fourth-quarter points off Philly’s seven turnovers during the period.

The Magic, looking a lot like they did near the end of last season when they won 11 of their final 13 games to clinch a spot in the playoffs, played with a sense of urgency down the stretch. Philly had no space to operate, and that was mostly a result of Orlando’s smothering defense and intensity.

Over their last three games, the Magic have averaged 19 points off turnovers, nearly three more than what they averaged in their first eight games, and 15 fast break points, about five more than the prior eight contests.

What’s also impressive is that Orlando is the only team in the NBA that currently ranks in the top 10 in each of the following defensive categories: opponent second chance points, opponent points off turnovers, opponent fast break points and opponent points in the paint.

That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, though, considering the Magic were one of only two teams last season – the Milwaukee Bucks being the other – who ranked in the top 10 in all of those categories.

Orlando’s defense in the fourth quarters of games this year has been outstanding. In fact, the Magic rank No. 1 in fourth-quarter defensive efficiency, nearly eight points better than the Clippers, who rank No. 2 in this area.

magic-create-offense-off-their-defense-against-sixers

Magic Create Offense Off Their Defense Against Sixers

ORLANDO – On Wednesday in Dallas, Jonathan Isaac, the Orlando Magic’s blossoming third-year forward, became the third NBA player since 1983-84 to record at least 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, six blocks and four steals in a single game. The only other players to accomplish this feat during this period were a pair of Houston Rockets legends, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

What made this achievement even more extraordinary was that he compiled those stats against one of the NBA’s premier power forwards, Kristaps Porzingis. The 7-foot-3 Latvian, largely because of Isaac’s stifling defense, was held to 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point range.

Orlando’s 22-year-old, arguably an early-season favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, currently leads the NBA in blocked shots with 24 of them. He also has 13 steals, tied for eighth in the league with Russell Westbrook.

Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford noted earlier this week that Isaac’s individual defense has significantly improved from last year. More recognized for his help defense in 2018-19, the 6-foot-11, 234-pounder has virtually shut down every opponent he’s been matched up against so far this season.

Opponents, per Second Spectrum tracking data, are shooting 29.2 percent from the field when Isaac is the closest defender. Among players who have defended at least 70 shots so far this year, that ranks No. 1 in the league. In fact, only two players – Isaac and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis – are holding opponents below 30 percent shooting with at least that many shot attempts guarded.

Taking it one step further, opponents are shooting 26.5 percent when the Magic’s versatile forward contests the shot, truly an extraordinary statistic.

The million-dollar question on Isaac moving forward is whether his offense will ever catch up to his defense by the time he reaches the prime of his career. He has shown flashes in the early portion of this season that it could eventually happen. The key will be patience and continued hard work.

Another player, although obviously with far fewer opportunities because he plays less minutes, that is standing out defensively is Michael Carter-Williams, who played one of his best games since joining the Magic late last season during Orlando’s loss in Dallas. Opponents, per data, are shooting 33.3 percent when he is the closest defender this season. MCW, whom Clifford said when Orlando first signed him that his on-ball and pick-and-roll defense is, on a scale of 1-10, an 8 ½ or 9, blocked three shots and had two steals against the Mavs.

The Magic’s defense has been as advertised early on and there’s no reason to believe it will dissolve any time soon. This team was built to be elite defensively and they have delivered on that end of the floor. They have lost six of their first eight games mostly because of their poor outside shooting. Once that improves, and logic says it will, the Magic have the potential to be a top-tier team.

isaac-joins-exclusive-company

Isaac Joins Exclusive Company

OKLAHOMA CITY – The way-too-early-list of 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year candidates must include the Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac, who has shut down virtually every opponent he’s been matched up against in the early portion of the season.

Through six games, per Second Spectrum tracking data, opponents are shooting 29.7 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent from 3-point range and 34.5 percent from within six feet of the hoop when he is the closest defender.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York’s Julius Randle, Atlanta’s John Collins and Denver’s Big Three of Nikola Jokic, Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray were a combined 2-of-14 from the field in that early-season stretch when Orlando’s 22-year-old contested their shot attempts.

Noteworthy as well is Isaac’s defensive anticipation and timing. The 6-foot-11, 234-pound versatile forward has come up with 23 deflections, 15 blocked shots and nine steals so far – stats that all rank near the top of the league in each of those categories.

It’s not a huge surprise that Isaac is doing as well as he is defensively considering that was one of his main strengths even before the Magic made him the No. 6 overall draft pick in 2017.

Also not a surprise is how good Orlando as a team has been on that end of the floor. The Magic currently rank No. 3 in opponent points in the paint, No. 4 in opponent second chance points and No. 6 in opponent points off turnovers. They are also one of only five teams – the Lakers, Jazz, Thunder and Heat being the others – who have a defensive rating under 100.0.

Another Magic player thriving on the defensive side, despite him struggling on the other end, is Terrence Ross. Opponents are currently shooting 24.3 percent from the field, per data, when the 6-foot-7, 205-pounder is the closest defender, just 13 percent from beyond the arc.

isaac-already-a-dpoy-candidate

Isaac Already a DPOY Candidate?

TORONTO – Two games in and one thing is clear: Jonathan Isaac is a special defender.

That’s not breaking news, though, as the recently-turned 22-year-old has been great defensively from the moment he arrived in Orlando.

But there’s just something different now about the Bronx, New York native, who swatted away four shots during Saturday’s game in Atlanta. He seems to be longer and covering more space on defense.

One opponent who probably agrees with that judgment is the Atlanta Hawks’ John Collins, who, like Isaac, was a 2017 first round NBA Draft pick.

In a game last season between the Magic and Hawks, Isaac blocked Collins three times on the same possession. In the four 2018-19 contests between the Southeast Division rivals combined, Collins shot 3-of-16 when Isaac was his closest defender, per Second Spectrum tracking data.

On Saturday, the Hawks’ rising star once again had no answer when matched up against Orlando’s versatile forward. Isaac blocked Collins both times the 6-foot-9, 236-pounder tried shooting over him. Collins, in fact, didn’t make a single shot when he and Isaac were on the floor at the same time.

What’s crazy about it all is that Collins, a career 56 percent shooter, is an extremely efficient scorer. Even Rudy Gobert, the reigning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year, has had some trouble containing Collins, who shot 9-of-17 when Utah’s big man was his closest defender the last two seasons combined, per data.

Through two games this season, opponents are 5-of-16 from the floor when Isaac contests a shot. Next up for Isaac is a battle against a familiar foe, Pascal Siakam. The two were often matched up against one another during last year’s Orlando versus Toronto first round playoff series.

isaacs-defense-continues-to-be-outstanding

Isaac’s Defense Continues to be Outstanding

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic won their season opener fairly comfortably mostly because of their defense. The Cleveland Cavaliers shot 37.1 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from beyond the arc while attempting only 15 free throws and committing 16 turnovers.

What also made a difference – even though the Magic didn’t shoot the ball that efficiently – was their passing. Orlando logged 24 assists and 50 potential assists, which is when a player, following receiving a pass, takes no more than one dribble before attempting a shot.

Also noteworthy, the Magic had three secondary assists, which is when a player passes to a teammate who records an assist within one second and without dribbling. While that may not sound like a lot of them, it actually is considering the number of shots Orlando made (37) and how many assists it accumulated.

What do secondary assists generally mean in the NBA?

The Raptors, the reigning champs, led the NBA in 2018-19 in secondary assists, while the team they played in the Finals, the Warriors, ranked second in this category. The Jazz, Celtics and Nuggets – three other elite teams – were all in the top six. The Magic were tied with the Sixers for eighth.

Well, Golden State led the league in this area in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons when it won back-to-back titles.

And this isn’t just something that started during the Warriors’ reign of dominance. The Spurs led the NBA in this same category during the 2013-14 season, the year they captured their fifth championship in franchise history.

What’s also fascinating is that Charlotte ranked in the top 10 in secondary assists all five seasons Steve Clifford was the Hornets’ head coach.

What is the bottom line? The Magic will have a very good season offensively – and in general – if they keep moving the ball like they did against the Cavs on opening night.

key-offensive-category-to-pay-attention-to-this-season-secondary-assists

Key Offensive Category to Pay Attention To This Season: Secondary Assists

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic held their opponent to under 40 percent shooting from the field nine times last season. They won each of those games, which is what typically happens when the opposition fails to reach 40 percent. NBA teams collectively in 2018-19 won just 13 percent of games when shooting lower than that mark.

In the Magic’s season opener on Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers shot 37.1 percent, an excellent sign considering many project Orlando to be one of the league’s best defensive teams. The Cavs also shot just 26.5 percent from 3-point distance, not a huge surprise considering Orlando ranked No. 1 in the league in opponent 3-point percentage from Jan. 31 until the end of last season when it went 22-9.

Several of the Magic’s top plays on Wednesday came when they scored in transition following making a great defensive play. Creating offense through their defense will be critical this year, especially since that was something they didn’t do nearly enough of last season, ranking 24th in points off turnovers and 28th in transition offense.

Although they finished with just 11 points off Cleveland’s 16 turnovers, the fact that the Magic made a concerted effort to push the pace following defensive stops was encouraging. Orlando finished with 12 steals, nearly six more than last year’s season average.

Without a doubt, the Magic have the personnel and coaching to rank among the very best in just about every defensive category in 2019-20. Wednesday’s win was a good start to making that happen.

EXCELLENT DEFENSE LEADING TO EASY OFFENSE

magic-waste-no-time-flexing-their-defensive-muscles

Magic Waste No Time Flexing Their Defensive Muscles

ORLANDO – Playing against his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, for the first time since getting traded to the Orlando Magic in the middle of last season, Markelle Fultz showcased some of what makes him such an intriguing young talent.

One of his top highlights from the night came shortly after he entered the game midway through the first quarter when he delivered a no-look behind-the-head pass to Aaron Gordon, who flushed home the jam.

Another impressive play from the 6-foot-4, 210-pound point guard occurred in the second quarter when, resembling a football tailback eluding tacklers, he drove coast-to-coast for a layup.

Evidence of just how strong and fearless he is, the 21-year-old went right at All-Star center and former teammate Joel Embiid late in the second period, finishing over the 7-foot big man.

One of the Magic’s goals this season is to create offense through their defense, which is expected to be elite with how long and versatile they are across the roster. Intercepting opponent passes, stripping the ball away from ball handlers and blocking shots, as Mo Bamba did in the play featured below, will allow the former No. 1 overall pick to get out in the open floor and either create for himself or set his teammates up for easy buckets in transition.

The jump shot is coming along, even though he has yet to make a 3-pointer this preseason. Inside the arc, Fultz looks comfortable, shown in the clip below. Making mid-range pull-up jumpers is something he did extremely well in college.

film-room-markelle-fultz-vs-76ers

Film Room: Markelle Fultz vs. 76ers

none

ticketmaster

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

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.