After Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons, certainly one of coach Jamahl Mosley’s messages to the Orlando Magic was easy.
“Cease reaching,” Mosley stated. “Should you belief your positioning and get there on time, you don’t have to achieve for the basketball.”
The message was exact as a result of, to Mosley, the answer to one of many points the Magic had in Detroit wasn’t sophisticated and will have been amplified main into Friday’s 108-98 loss to the Hawks at State Farm Area in Atlanta.
“It’s quite simple,” Mosley stated. “On closeouts, sit down, perceive who it’s you’re guarding and don’t attain for the basketball. Play positional protection, get your chest in entrance of the man and sit down and guard.”
The message was heard.
“It’s simply self-discipline,” guard Terrence Ross stated. “Obtained to study from when guys are driving, no want to achieve. Maintain your fingers out, preserve your fingers up.”
Whereas the execution was higher Friday in comparison with Wednesday, the Magic nonetheless have work to do in different areas.
Reaches weren’t the one difficulty that plagued Orlando towards the Pistons. Turnovers and defensive rebounding had been additionally issues. Giveaways remained a problem towards Atlanta, with the Magic having 19 turnovers for twenty-four Atlanta factors, together with 16 within the remaining three quarters for 22 factors.
The Magic’s tendency to achieve regardless of having good defensive positioning undid them towards Detroit with Orlando committing 24 fouls — 7 within the fourth — and the Pistons trying 24 free throws.
The Magic did a greater job of defending with out fouling towards the Hawks, who’ve what Mosley referred to as a “dynamic backcourt” in Trae Younger and Dejounte Murray.
Orlando fouled the Hawks 19 instances, limiting them to 16 free throws.
“We did good with defending with out fouling,” Paolo Banchero stated. “That was one of many good issues we did.”
Younger is particularly expert at drawing fouls, ending within the prime 10 of free-throw makes an attempt per recreation the earlier three seasons.
The Magic did an awesome job defending Younger within the first half (2 factors — 0-of-7 and 0-of-5 on 3s with 8 assists and three turnovers) however he received free within the second, ending with 25 factors (7-of-24, 4-of-11 on 3s), 13 assists and 6 turnovers.
“That’s at all times going to be our recreation keys,” Mosley stated. “That’s a part of displaying your fingers, positional protection first. And forcing the contested robust shot. Not essentially going to get the block however contest the shot first. Now you’re able for our different guys to assist rebound.”
Murray had 20 factors, 9 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and seven turnovers. John Collins recorded 23 factors (9-of-14, 3-of-4 on 3s) and 13 rebounds. Atlanta shot 41.9% on 3s (13-of-31) in comparison with Orlando’s 23.5% (8-of-34).
Cole Anthony, who made his season debut Friday after sitting out Wednesday’s recreation and Thursday’s apply due to an sickness, led Orlando with 25 factors (8-of-12, 4-of-5 on 3s) in 28 minutes.
Banchero had 20 factors and 12 rebounds for his first double-double along with 3 blocks. His 47 mixed factors via the primary two video games of his NBA profession are the seventh-most for a No. 1 choose within the league’s historical past.
Anthony, who got here off the bench for the primary time since April 14, 2021, had been a game-time resolution heading into Friday, with Mosley saying that Anthony was capable of undergo “just a little bit” of Friday morning’s shootaround.
Jalen Suggs left Friday’s recreation within the third quarter with an ankle harm.
He landed awkwardly on his foot after taking a foul on a drive within the third. He initially went proper to the bench however hopped again to the locker room with group trainers.
The Magic dominated Suggs out within the fourth, saying Suggs sprained the ankle.
Markelle Fultz (fractured left massive toe), Gary Harris (left knee rehabilitation), Jonathan Isaac (left knee rehabilitation) and Moe Wagner (sprained proper midfoot) stay sidelined.
The Magic (0-2) will play the Boston Celtics (2-0) of their residence opener Saturday at Amway Middle to conclude their back-to-back.
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. E mail Khobi Worth at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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