Hoops Habit
Fansided

3 takeaways from the Orlando Magic 2021-2022 season

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic calls a play during a time out during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on February 12, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic calls a play during a time out during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on February 12, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Amway Center on March 15, 2022 in Orlando, 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. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

3 takeaways from the Orlando Magic 2021-2022 season: 2. An identity is forming

Former head coach Steve Clifford was a hard-nosed individual who presided over some tough-to-break-down Magic rosters. He got the best out of Nikola Vucevic, a two-time All-Star but also a defensive liability, on that end, and had a bunch of veterans who wanted to win. It resulted in two postseason berths, but nothing more.

This version of the Magic is a lot younger, looks to be smiling and enjoying the process more, and has an identity that is beginning to really reflect that. This looks to be a tight group, and while that doesn’t automatically equal success, it will surely help as they begin to make their way up the standings in future years.

If you watched this group during the regular season, then you know that their pace in particular stood out on many nights. The Magic finished the year 10th in this category (99.71), a far cry from the more methodical days of coach Clifford. The team liked to get up and down the court and run, and it helped them catch out opponents from time to time.

If they can turn that pace up just a notch and get better in a couple of key areas, improvements will be quick to follow. The Magic didn’t do anything else particularly well over the course of the year, and defensively they were downright ugly on a lot of occasions. The other key part to the identity they are trying to form, is theeir three-point shooting.

Coach Clifford’s groups ranked in the bottom five of this category for most of his tenure, and this year was no different with the Magic clocking in at a terrible 28th (33.1 percent). But crucially, they also took the 11th most 3-pointers (36.9) throughout the season. The fact a lot of these didn’t go in is not good, but if you look beyond that fact, it gets better.

Outside of Terrence Ross, there is no deadeye shooter in the group. Defenders were able to shut down the Magic’s players frequently, because they didn’t have the talent to stretch opponents and create more open looks.

If they are already shooting from deep this much and playing at a relatively high pace, it will surely form the basis of their identity next year. A run and gun group who will have no problem getting into, and winning some of, their shootouts.

Home/Orlando Magic