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Orlando Magic: 3 ways they can turn things around

By Luke Duffy

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic puts up a shot against Jeff Green #32 of the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic puts up a shot against Jeff Green #32 of the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Let Jonathan Isaac lead them

Second-year forward Jonathan Isaac took his first leap as a professional back in January, and hasn’t really looked back since. He has approved in every major statistical category, but has continued to operate as a pleasant surprise more than anything else.

Magic fans seem happy that a lottery pick is beginning to pan out, and are content to let him come along at his own pace. With their season hanging in the balance, however, it would not be a bad idea to turn to him more.

The need to do so has become even greater over the last week, with All-Star Nikola Vucevic experiencing one of the few dips in form that he’s had all year. This happens to all players and is understandable, it just came at a bad time — even if the win against the Cavaliers was a return to form, with Vucevic putting up 19 points and 11 rebounds in a reassuring performance.

Isaac is only averaging 26.6 minutes per game this season, and although his rookie campaign was interrupted by injuries, he looks like a stronger player now. Increasing the load on a second-year project isn’t always wise, but Isaac looks ready to take on more responsibility.

That’s especially true defensively, where the Magic have a defensive rating of 106.2 when Isaac is on the court, compared to the 107.5 mark they’re posting as a team. Vucevic has never been known for his ability to anchor a defense, so having Isaac to potentially do this would be great. This is what the franchise is building its identity around.

Isaac is making a difference offensively too. He’s averaging 9.6 points per game, up considerably on his 5.4 per game average from last season, although the 32.5 percent he is shooting from deep needs work.

With that being said, Isaac is developing a nice ability to consistently hit corner 3s. The Magic were always going to need help from many sources to make it to the playoffs, and Isaac carrying them through the final stretch of games makes sense for both his and the team’s development.

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