Behind the Wolves, who have the best defense in the NBA, two Eastern franchises share second place: the Celtics and… the Magic ! Former defensive specialist for the Mavericks, Jamahl Mosley managed to get his message across, and the recent injury to Wendell Carter Jr. had no effect on this side of the field.
The best example to date is the victory against the Raptors with 12 interceptions and 24 turnovers caused! Since the start of the season, Orlando is number 2 in interceptions, and 9th in blocks.
“We are pots of glue, it’s as simple as that” replies Cole Anthonywho compares his team to a bunch of straps. “We have pride to defend, and we have a couple guys on this team, between Jalen (Suggs) and JI (Jonathan Isaac), who I like to call the heads of the snake defensively. These are two guys who have the potential to make All-Defensive Teams. When I’m on the bench and I watch how Jalen goes hard on defense, it makes me want to go out there and defend, because that energy is contagious.”
Contagious energy
It all also starts with the coach, Jamahl Mosley, whose project is coming to fruition with a squad that resembles him, without a real star, with the possible exception of Paolo Banchero.
His message gets across, and the Magic’s good results prove that the method is good. “Coach Mosley made us understand that we could be the best defensive team in the league, and I think we’ve shown that so far.” continues Cole Anthony.
Leader of the attack with already six games at 20 points or more, Paolo Banchero has taken to the game, and like Cole Anthony, he recognizes that the energy of the Suggs-Isaac tandem is contagious.
“Jalen (Suggs), JI (Jonathan Isaac) are unique players in this area, All-Defensive (Team) level players”repeats the strong winger. “We are all not only good defenders, but also very intelligent basketball players. It is obvious that defense requires effort, but you also need a certain intelligence of the game and knowing how to cover each other and communicate. We do a good job talking on the ground. If we mess up, the guys are there to cover for us immediately. We have a unique connection defensively. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this before. I’m not saying I haven’t been part of good defensive teams, but nothing like that.”
Jonathan Isaac, the symbolic player
This contagious energy is transmitted from player to player, but also to the public. In a room that hasn’t vibrated for years for its Magic, Jamahl Mosley’s young troupe found an audience.
“Our fans are fantastic! Their energy is high. This motivates our players” appreciates the Orlando coach. “When the players come in, they play the right way. They give it their all, they share the ball. We defend at a high level, and that’s what we will continue to ask of them. »
If it was necessary to highlight a player, Jamahl Mosley votes for Jonathan Isaac. The unfortunate inside player has already played more matches in one month than in three years! But the staff doesn’t want to stretch the line too much, and even if he only plays 14 minutes per game, his impact is immense.
“Words fail… Really. This ability to meet defensive challenges. This is a guy who will and should make an All-Defensive Team. At some point he will be considered the best defender of the year, because he is so good. He has a special gift and he wants to take on all these challenges.”
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Paolo Banchero | 15 | 33.2 | 47.7 | 45.5 | 66.3 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 19.4 |
| Franz Wagner | 15 | 32.6 | 43.4 | 28.8 | 85.2 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 19.0 |
| Cole Anthony | 15 | 25.4 | 42.5 | 35.0 | 85.3 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 13.9 |
| Jalen Suggs | 14 | 26.7 | 43.1 | 33.3 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 12.6 |
| Moe Wagner | 15 | 19.0 | 62.4 | 36.0 | 81.1 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 11.7 |
| Markelle Fultz | 5 | 28.6 | 48.2 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 11.4 |
| Wendell Carter, Jr. | 5 | 29.4 | 37.8 | 31.3 | 57.1 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 9.4 |
| Gary Harris | 10 | 20.6 | 51.7 | 45.2 | 72.7 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 8.9 |
| Goga Bitadze | 13 | 19.8 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 69.7 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 6.8 |
| Jonathan Isaac | 13 | 13.7 | 43.5 | 24.2 | 79.2 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 6.7 |
| Anthony Black | 13 | 19.5 | 47.2 | 25.0 | 66.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
| Joe Ingles | 15 | 18.7 | 38.2 | 35.0 | 87.5 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 4.2 |
| Caleb Houstan | 8 | 6.0 | 46.2 | 41.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| Admiral Schofield | 3 | 3.2 | 40.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| Chuma Okeke | 7 | 3.9 | 44.4 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| Jett Howard | 5 | 4.6 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
