Orlando Magic 10 Game Report - Team Stats

[Knightro]

If Clifford's gameplan going into this game was to let a guy that is shooting 48% from 3 have that shot, then we have big problems. Kemba and Lillard also were given that exact same shot and Vuc did the same thing in the pick and roll. You can go watch the Charlotte and Portland game again to see countless evidence of that. Whether it's Vuc or Clifford at fault here, it needs to be corrected imo if they want to be taken seriously.

I know that Vuc struggles as a PnR defender but he has to at least come up and attempt to contest that and hope that somebody rotates over for the rebound. His man is out setting the pick so it isn't like he is a threat for an offensive board or somebody Vuc has to box out.

I will say this...

I think, in the Cleveland examples specifically, that Clifford and Vucevic could recognize the opposing personnel a little bit better.

Tristan Thompson has no range whatsoever as a shooter, he can't beat you on a switch and he's also not a good passer on the short roll either.

In those scenarios, given Tristan's lack of ability to hurt the Magic as a pick and pop or pick and roll guy, I'd probably have Vucevic step up harder or potentially just straight up switch in the hopes that the Cavs try and isolate Hill against Vuc or Tristan against DJ (which the Magic would likely be able to hand off).

The problem with running difference coverage schemes depending on personnel is typically not something a team asks out of their bigs because it's really easy to create confusion which will inevitably lead to breakdowns if not every pick and roll is defended the same, especially if it changes possessions to possession.

Generally speaking though, a good amount of these pick and roll defensive issues will be at least partially fixed by a PG who doesn't die on screens as easily as Augustin and a C with better length and mobility than Vucevic.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Is that why this:

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Happens at least 4-5 times a night with Vuc? In 2018 where everybody is a threat to shoot would Clifford seriously be telling him to not come up on any screen or even make an effort to contest the shot? On mid-range jumpers too? It's really a bizarre thing. Vuc doesn't even attempt to come up on half the screens and sits there and stares at the shooter with his hands down. If Vuc is being coached to do that then that is a big issue. Those clips happen consistently.

In my opinion, dropping back is *exactly* what Vucevic is being coached to do defensively in the pick and roll.

Defensively, you want to encourage your opponents to shoot midrange jumpers. It's entirely a percentage play. We all know Vucevic is slow footed. So if he steps up too far, the ball handler will blow right past him into the lane for a shot at the rim or FTs. If the Magic hit the first rotation properly, the ball handler will just dump the ball off to a big at the rim for a dunk/layup. If the Magic hit the SECOND rotation properly, the ball handler hits a kick out to the corner for an open 3.

Think about it this was...

Of all the scenarios that could happen, Hill and Smith shooting midrange jumpers are pretty much the most appealing outcome for the defense.

George Hill is a career .379 shooter from midrange. He's .801 from the FT line. He's a .652 shooter at the rim and a career .432 shooter from floater/runner range. The least efficient shot he could take in that scenario is the one he took.

JR Smith same thing. Better shooter at the rim and from the FT line than he is from midrange.

Now if you want to call out Vucevic for completely and utterly refusing to contest midrange jumpers after he drops back, that's perfectly acceptable.

But the case could be made that if he does contest too hard, he'll likely be out of position for a defensive rebound.

People would complain if he defended pull up twos giving up position for a dunk, then complain on the next play for not contesting a pull up jumper. Its a lose lose either way.

Sound defensive scheme imo and as always Nik is in the right position defensively. We should absolutely be giving up on the move pull up twos over dunks at the rim. The onus should fall on our perimeter guys to do a better job defensively.

Great analysis overall, and imo it shows what i've been saying, and that's the fact that we have a roster full of good players that you surround an elite player with. Its a shame that we haven't been able to do that.

[Audi]

Is that why this:

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Happens at least 4-5 times a night with Vuc? In 2018 where everybody is a threat to shoot would Clifford seriously be telling him to not come up on any screen or even make an effort to contest the shot? On mid-range jumpers too? It's really a bizarre thing. Vuc doesn't even attempt to come up on half the screens and sits there and stares at the shooter with his hands down. If Vuc is being coached to do that then that is a big issue. Those clips happen consistently.

Side note: Both of those screens could have been whistled

[j-ragg]

“Sound defensive scheme imo and as always Nik is in the right position defensively.“

lol