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3 reasons Orlando Magic will make the 2019 NBA Playoffs

By Chris Murch

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 8: The Orlando Magic stands for the National Anthem during a pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 8, 2018 at American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 8: The Orlando Magic stands for the National Anthem during a pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 8, 2018 at American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Defense

This will need to be the Magic’s calling card come game one, because their offense won’t be. The Magic have enough length to go to the moon and back. With Isaac, Bamba, Gordon, Vucevic, Wesley Iwundu, Melvin Frazier Jr., Timofey Mozgov and Khem Birch all sporting wingspans of more than seven-feet, more than half of their roster hits this threshold.

This is astonishing given that the recent trend in the NBA is to shrink the roster down and focus on speed and shooting. The Magic have decided to combat their lack of the latter two with uber amounts of length and defensive intensity. This is something that a team hasn’t done yet in today’s NBA and this strategy has big boom-or-bust potential.

While frontcourt length will stifle a lot of opportunities inside for teams, guys like Jonathon Simmons, Terrence Ross and Jerian Grant can hold it down on the perimeter and make life hard for opposing guards. This team has high defensive potential and can definitely improve upon their 20th ranked defense from just a year ago. However, personnel will affect this.

What could stop this upward trend is the defensive play of Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier, two players expected to start and play deep minutes this season. These two aren’t particularly known for their defensive prowess as Fournier and Vucevic seem to expend all effort on the offensive end and none on the other. Clifford seems as though he is fairly no-nonsense when it comes to playing defense and if these two can step up on this end, it will lead to wins.

Ultimately, the Magic will need to overachieve on defense in order to win 35+ games, but they can do it. If Bamba, Gordon and Isaac play extended minutes together this will cause fits for other teams bigs. If Simmons, Grant and Ross stay healthy and continue their two-way prowess, they can limit opposing guards. This aspect of the team will be its best and most important this season. Look for the Magic to potentially be a top 10 defensive team this season.

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