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Orlando Magic: 3 worrying NBA stats for this young group

By Luke Duffy

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 22: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot between two defenders during the game at Fiserv Forum on November 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 22: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot between two defenders during the game at Fiserv Forum on November 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic; NBA Stats
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 14: Head coach Steve Clifford (C) of Orlando Magic gives tactics ahead of NBA basketball match between Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, United States on May 14, 2021. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

Worrying NBA stats regarding the young group on the Orlando Magic: 3. Defensive efficiency (111.8 percent)

We’re not quite ready to look back on the Steve Clifford era with rose-tinted glasses, but during his tenure as head coach, the Magic were a defensively solid outfit. It was the most dependable part of their game as a group and something they hung their hats on regularly when picking up wins and making it to the postseason.

Getting to the playoffs, or even the play-in tournament, is not the goal right now. So you might argue that ranking second to last in defensive efficiency among NBA stats doesn’t matter. But it actually does. We have seen other organizations like the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves spend considerable time out of the playoffs, going through failed rebuilds.

Then, when the time has come to flick the switch and become competitive again, they have found that the issues they have had when rebuilding had seeped into the culture of the franchise. They had become systemic. This is despite the fact they have both had All-Star level talents in De’Aaron Fox and Karl-Anthony Towns.

This might sound very dramatic, but ranking so lowly in this category is just unacceptable for a young team like the Magic. There is literally no excuse for not playing hard, especially when players like Carter Jr. and Mohamed Bamba (who is literally playing for his next contract) are in the rotation and have shown they can make a difference on that end.

We’re not asking for the Magic to push into the top 10 here, either. Not everybody is to blame equally, with the likes of Anthony at least looking like he cares on that end of the court at all times. That’s part of the worry though because right now, he is probably the team’s best player. They go as he goes.

Yet even despite this, they are still lagging badly on the defensive end. It’s not like they’re an overly small squad either. This would be a more acceptable number to swallow if coach Mosley had shown that offensively they had turned a corner. Only they rank 27th in offensive efficiency (102.1) among NBA stats, which when combined with their defensive woes, encapsulates perfectly why they are where they are.

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