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There has been quite a few different things to point to but I'm just curious what people think is the biggest reason for the teams improved play this season?

Mosley

eyriq wrote:Mosley

I went with this as well. He seems to be a lot better at putting good units out there. He also seems to be managing the Goga and Mo situation quite well. The one playing the best typically has gotten the minutes regardless of who starts or not. Finding that tightrope of encouraging AB but also not playing him against the better teams in order to win for the other guys on the roster.

JojoSlimbiid wrote:There has been quite a few different things to point to but I'm just curious what people think is the biggest reason for the teams improved play this season?

I don't think it's fair to say one thing rises above the others because it really is a combination of a lot of things.

Mosley has gotten the entire team to buy in to this GRIND EVERYONE INTO DUST defensive mentality.

Paolo's gotten a LOT better. Suggs has gotten a LOT better.

Guys like Cole and Moritz are locked into ideal roles for themselves and are leading a very productive bench.

Isaac has given very good minutes. Goga has given very good minutes. Ingles has given good minutes.

They, in theory, may still have another gear left *this* season too as Franz should find his legs and see his own efficiency jump in the coming months too.

Mosely and the defensive identity kind of go hand in hand.

I think this is most evident in Paolo this season. His defense has taken a huge leap in year 2.

Moving Suggs to the starting lineup has also improved the defense significantly. A lot of people would not have done that given the shooting situation.

I’d really like to pick a few of the options, but I’ll go with coach Mose. I think he is a big part of everyone buying into that defense which consolidates those two choices.

Suggs and Goga

I'm hesitant to say it's all Mosley because the Magic were a good defensive team LAST year once they got their guys back.

After the 5-20 start where 75% of the team was injured, they went 29-28 (and that's with intentionally tanking the final 3 games) and were ranked 6th in the NBA in DRTG.

So the signs that they could be a .500 team/slightly better on the back of an elite defense were already there.

The reason why they're 12-5 instead of say 9-8 is because the bench has been spectacular and because Paolo (their #1 usage player) is WAY better than last year.

They are certainly better than they were last year defensively, but they were already really good.

Where they've seen the bigger jump is offensively going from 26th in ORTG last year post 5-20 start to 15th so far this year.

Our defense and guys gelling into their roles.

Suggs is doing more of what he does well and less of what he doesn't do well.

Cole Anthony has taken a leap offensively after getting paid.

Paolo and Franz are better all around.

Goga plays within the team identity so well and has a very even-keeled personality that fits well next to Paolo. He knows Paolo is the alpha and doesn't get too high or too low. Sometimes I feel that Paolo is more comfortable playing with Goga than Wendell.

Ingles's pecialized skills in ballhandling and decision making is literally perfect with the rest of our group. Black is still learning but his defense has been good.

And having Isaac healthy is a huge asset. A player that big and that quick on defense just throws off the offensive player and makes them second guess.

Ingles and Cole mix well together

MagicMatic wrote:Mosely and the defensive identity kind of go hand in hand.

I think this is most evident in Paolo this season. His defense has taken a huge leap in year 2.

Moving Suggs to the starting lineup has also improved the defense significantly. A lot of people would not have done that given the shooting situation.

Paulo is night and day better on defense.

His 3pt and FG % are up even though points are down.

Basically his so called "stats" are no where near as "empty" as some people claimed he might be if he doesn't tune up his defense. It's such a wonderful thing to see.

Why is "A lack of Fultz" is not an option?

Knightro wrote:

Read on Twitter

It's like our bench can win 35 games on their own.....

I think it's a combination, but I think the biggest thing is the defensive buy-in and energy from everyone. But obviously the bench production is a huge part of it, as is the general improvements of Paolo, Franz, and Suggs.

And also, we are up to number 7 in the nba.com power rankings! This is almost surreal. I was gonna make a thread but decided this was a proper place to add that. I believe we jumped 10 spots this week.

1) Defense

2) Effort

3) Bench

4) Deep roster

I said defense. The length this team has is fantastic and leveraging it to stop other teams is a unique cheat code that plays upon the strength of our personnel.

That said, the bench should be a close second as they have been sensational.

I applaud Coach for all he has done, but he is after those other two for me right now and I’m taking a wait and see approach to how he handles the return of Fultz and Carter.

Because the Magic are good. They were 5 games over .500 last year after the horrid start and before the end of season tank job 29-24. That'a basically the same win percentage as the #5 seed, Knicks, last year. The Magic had that win % over 65% of the season. That is a significant sample size.

Over the summer the young guys got better because that's what young guys that want to play in the NBA have to do.

I was completely wrong last year. I thought it would be in the best interest of that young team to work on weaknesses and would end up losing games in the process and as a byproduct maximize odds for VW. Instead the team and front office let these guys fight for games and in the process that young team learned how to win....i used to think that was just a BS cliche...

To answer the original question the young guys got better and built upon last year's success. Suggs and Paolo are noticeably better. Franz was already at a very high level last year, hopefully the last few games are showing him getting it going and building on last years great success.. Cole looks to have improved on his weaknesses. Goga magnificent. I am not sure if Mo really counts as young at 26, but clearly he has made some sort of deal with the devil.