Don't look now, but the Magic are playing defense.

Idunkonyou2 · Post #1 » by **Idunkonyou2** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:45 am

They have only given up 100 or more points in 5 of the last 18 games, 3 of which were losses. If the Magic start playing defense and their bench gives them 20 or more points a game in the playoffs, they will be very hard to beat IMO.

Post #2 » by **UCFJayBird** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:50 am

knock on wood

MagicNolesFSU · Post #3 » by **MagicNolesFSU** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:55 am

yeah bro we just playing defense with a better intensity. Gotta keep it up.

CourtsideTV · Post #4 » by **CourtsideTV** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:07 am

magic suck

AgEnT50 · Post #5 » by **AgEnT50** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:38 am

CourtsideTV wrote:magic suck

ya but we've beat boston (count em') twice this year right? lol

NEWAYS...i'll comment on our defense after our game in ATL tomm, we def need to show up from the start!

Hairy Midget · Post #6 » by **Hairy Midget** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:31 am

The opposing team's ppg is now below 100 for the season.

MagicNolesFSU · Post #7 » by **MagicNolesFSU** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:38 am

Yeah another great defensive effort. Keepem coming

1eyedjake · Post #8 » by **1eyedjake** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:34 am

When we commit defensively and take care of the ball we are such a better team.
We've really been playing well lately. I'd love to see them play like they have the past 15 or so games for the next 11 and the playoffs.

drsd · Post #9 » by **drsd** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:56 am

The Magic are 26th in the league in FG attempts per game. In other words, the Magic are a slow, half-court team. Thus, Stan the Man is playing defensive ball, just as he promised he would. This is why the Magic are 5th in offensive FG%.

Defensively, the Magic still have work to do as at 83 FGA per game, opponents are getting to many looks. But the Magic are 8th in defensive FG%.

1eyedjake · Post #10 » by **1eyedjake** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:21 am

That makes sense.
The opponents get more shots due to our missed FTs and turnovers, as well as the odd 3 ball that hits the back of the rim.

Post #11 » by **Hilltop** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:06 pm

Well, unpredictable defense has always been one thing Magic detractors have been pointing out time and time again, despite the turnaround season. If they can turn it up a notch, they'd definitely be gettin the respect they deserve.

Post #12 » by **craig01** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:52 pm

drsd wrote:The Magic are 26th in the league in FG attempts per game. In other words, the Magic are a slow, half-court team. Thus, Stan the Man is playing defensive ball, just as he promised he would. This is why the Magic are 5th in offensive FG%.

Defensively, the Magic still have work to do as at 83 FGA per game, opponents are getting to many looks. But the Magic are 8th in defensive FG%.

I haven't looked, but I would bet that the Magic are pretty close to the top of the league in FT attempts. That would skew FGA's.

Howard alone is around 12 FTA/game.

EasternMagic · Post #13 » by **EasternMagic** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:49 pm

UCFJayBird wrote:knock on wood

mighty mighty bostones

Last Guardian · Post #14 » by **Last Guardian** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:28 pm

I just hope Dwight is defensive minded come playoff time. When he is frustrated offensively he does zilch on defense. Just stands around looking depressed.

carrottop12 · Post #15 » by **carrottop12** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:46 pm

You know who could really help you guys out.

Andrei Kirilenko.

He is the perfect player to put next to Dwight Howard at PF.

Dwight does more then enough scoring for 2 low post players, and AK would keep the lane from getting clogged with too many low post offensive players.

He's is a great help defender, can guard multiple positions, is a great play maker and good teammate. He is just stuck out of position in Utah, I am not sure how you would get him, especially with Lewis' contract. But IMO that would be a match made in heaven.

1eyedjake · Post #16 » by **1eyedjake** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:21 am

Solid Snake wrote:I just hope Dwight is defensive minded come playoff time. When he is frustrated offensively he does zilch on defense. Just stands around looking depressed.

Shaq was the same. Most big guys are. It was my experience playing F/C in my own little low grade comp that you always focus better when you get a few touches within the first few possessions. People take that kind of thing for granted because for the three or four players on the perimeter the ball swings around and they touch it easily, getting them into the game.
It should be the PG's responsibility to get the big man the ball early on. We've been much better at that this year but there are still games where it doesn't happen. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the games where he slumps defensively.
This theory extends further when your big man is your best player - you should get him shots. I noticed today he had a season low (I think) for shots. That's going to hurt your whole team, not just Dwight, as his whole play is likely to suffer and we're not getting our inside-outisde offense flowing.

drsd · Post #17 » by **drsd** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:04 am

craig01 wrote:I haven't looked, but I would bet that the Magic are pretty close to the top of the league in FT attempts. That would skew FGA's.

Howard alone is around 12 FTA/game.

The Magic are third in FTAs, the Magic are ninth in FTM, and this is because the Magic are 24th if FG%.

I guess the key stat here is PPS (points per shot). Here, the Magic lead the league! This is because the Magic are both a big three-ball team and get lots of freebies.

lovehoops01 · Post #18 » by **lovehoops01** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:56 am

Let's face it....The Magic would win more games if they brought the intensity and energy more. A lot of games they have it, and some games they just don't. It's frustrating to watch when they don't because you know a lot of them can play better than the guy they are playing against, but they just kind of go through the motions on those nights.

I don't know how the players think they can be fooling the coaching staff or the front office because they can't even fool the fans on those nights. Sometimes, they legitimately have a reason to be tired. You wish the NBA wouldn't schedule so many back-to-backs. But other games you can even see the frustration on the faces of some of the other players, and the fans can see that they are not going all out. It shows up in the stats, too.

aleZ · Post #19 » by **aleZ** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:23 am

lovehoops01 wrote:Let's face it....The Magic would win more games if they brought the intensity and energy more.

IMO, having such a good record helps overconfidence, whether they admit it or not: it allows them to relax a bit and get into games sleepwalking. It happens to every top tier teams in the L, but I agree they should keep it to a minimum.

spinedoc · Post #20 » by **spinedoc** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:53 pm

Hilltop wrote:Well, unpredictable defense has always been one thing Magic detractors have been pointing out time and time again, despite the turnaround season. If they can turn it up a notch, they'd definitely be gettin the respect they deserve.

Wow, there is a blast from the past. Welcome back man.