Cole Anthony had little reputation as a defensive player when he joined the NBA.
Even an established team looking to make the playoffs seemed to be an odd fit for him and coach Steve Clifford. Anthony was a natural scorer, but his ability to succeed would depend on how dedicated he was to defence.
Anthony was always willing, even in his first year of playing. There was always an attempt.
Even though Anthony had plenty of opportunities to establish himself in the NBA, the chaos of that season—from his early-season injury to the transactions that completely changed the Magic’s roster—did little to help him get back on track. He was a standout member of a team preparing for a reset.
The Magic as a team underwent numerous changes after coach Jamahl Mosley moved to Orlando. As soon as he arrived at the training centre, he established the character of the Magic. As a squad, they would be defensive. And even if the player needed to get better at that, it was still a message that worked for Anthony.
The Magic have discovered their calling on defence as they continue to rise in the standings and Mosley is given considerable thought for the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award. As the team fights for a spot in the Eastern Conference, it is their main priority.
It serves as the cornerstone of their future cultural practices.
Anthony remarked following practice on Monday, “Since day one, Mose has really tried to hold everyone here to a higher standard than what it was previously held to.” “He informed us right away that our team would be one that prioritises defence and will defeat opponents via it. Since taking over as this team’s head coach, he has done an excellent job of holding us to that standard and maintaining consistency with it. Both as players and as a coach, he has advanced significantly.”
This year has been Magic’s greatest yet.
Despite having a 22-win season, the Magic in Mosley’s first season as head coach finished 19th in defensive rating, giving up 112.1 points per 100 possessions. The Magic finished 18th last year with a defence rating of 113.7. However, Orlando was sixth in the league with 113.0 points allowed per 100 possessions, eliminating the team’s 5–20 start.
That greatly increased the team’s confidence in their work. And this year, it has resulted in a strong defensive performance.
Orlando allows 110.9 points per 100 possessions this season, which puts them third in the league. For the majority of the year, they have been among the top six.
By the halfway point of the season, a team is what it will be, as Erik Spoelstra stated in January. And what a formidable defensive unit this is.
Following practice on Monday, Mosley remarked, “I think what it meant for this group ultimately is you bring in the right personnel, guys that want and are willing to defend.” Not only in terms of attitude, but also in terms of ability. Even those who lack skill know where to place themselves, when to do things, and how to do them correctly.”
Jalen Suggs has emerged as a promising member of the All-Defensive team. Blocks and plays are being pursued by Jonathan Isaac. Paint backstop Wendell Carter has performed admirably. Franz Wagner is a good and underappreciated defender as well.
However, the effectiveness of the defence has also been attributed to the efforts made by players such as Anthony to strengthen their defence. They’ve made progress and managed to provide something defensively.
With Anthony on the court, the Magic’s defensive rating remains at 109.9, which is exactly the team average. At 1.4 thefts per 75 possessions, he is in the 84th percentile of the league in terms of steal average. He even ranks in the 74th percentile with an average of 2.66 deflections per 75 possessions.
He plays with a defender like Jonathan Isaac, and the Magic’s defence is excellent overall, which helps his positive D-LEBRON. However, these figures also imply that Anthony plays a defensive role in the team.
Teams may still attempt to target Anthony. He does not, however, give up. That forms a significant portion of the Magic’s defensive strategy as a whole. They require work, but they can impart technique.
That speaks highly of Mosley’s culture-building efforts and the coaching staff of the Magic. This is the main component that sets the Magic’s defence apart.
Following practice on Monday, Anthony remarked, “[Mosley] does a great job staying consistent with us and not allowing us to take possessions off.” “Trying to make sure we give it our all every time we step onto the floor, whether it be during practice or a live game. Making the most of us, I guess. He performs that well.”
Orlando has an issue with its offense still. That is what is holding it back from being a title contender at this early stage.
The Magic rank 21st in the league in offensive rating once again at 113.0 points per 100 possessions. Orlando has not been outside the bottom 10 in the league in offensive rating since Dwight Howard’s departure. This is one area the Magic have not yet risen past that era — although Orlando has been much better on offense since the All-Star Break.
The team’s defense has to carry the day. And a game like Saturday was a sign of the team’s maturity to compete even with the offense struggling.
The Magic made only 10 of 35 3-pointers, yet another game shooting worse than 30 percent from three. But despite those difficulties, the Magic stayed fairly consistent defensively. They went five minutes in the third quarter without scoring, but the defense kept the deficit manageable until the shots started to fall.
It was a close game the rest of the way with the Magic’s defense making some big plays (and, yes, making some mistakes) to keep the Magic in the game. That is part of the team’s maturity too.
“There are so many little things within it,” Mosley said after practice Monday. “The idea that we didn’t make shots in this game but we were able to hold it down defensively. It taught us about the poise we need to have in games whether we are getting calls or not getting class. That we have to stay the course no matter what is happening within the game. Those little small pieces that our defense is going to carry us any given night whether we are making shots or not.”
This is the essence of the Magic’s approach. Their defense is the key to everything they do. They understand that internally now. It has been the key to their success.
It is the biggest thing Mosley has brought.
Orlando will see what translates to the Playoffs and how everything will work in the postseason. The Magic know their defense is going to be the key to their success.
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