This award is often given to the coach whose team has most exceeded expectations. Last year, for example, Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings earned the honor after his team won 59 percent of its games annually, after winning just 37 percent the year before. Three seasons ago, Tom Thibodeau received it after his New York Knicks won 57 percent of their games annually after winning just 32 percent.
The Orlando Magic are poised to make a similar leap. This year, so far, they have won 59 percent of their matches. Last season they won 41 percent, and the year before that they only won 27 percent.
Only once in franchise history have the Magic won at least 60 percent of their games two years after winning less than 30 percent. It was the early 90s with Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. In 1991-92, they won 26 percent of their games and two years later, with O’Neal in his second year and Hardaway in his first, they won 61 percent of the time.
Maximizing an Inexperienced Roster
It seems fair to say that there are six legitimate candidates for this award this year. They are Jamahl Mosley of the Magic, Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics, JB Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Willie Green of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Of those teams, the only one that didn’t have a single All-Star on its roster at the start of the season was the Magic. In fact, the Celtics have five players on their roster who were All-Stars before this season, the T-Wolves four, the Cavs three, the Pelicans two and the Thunder.
Mosley has helped each of his players make huge strides this year. Paolo Banchero is now an All-Star, despite being only a second-year player. Franz Wagner’s numbers are up across the board. Jalen Suggs is a candidate for an all-defensive team and the Most Improved Player award. Moe Wagner and Cole Anthony are both in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. If the Comeback Player of the Year award still existed, Jonathan Isaac would be a lock to get it.
Since January 28, the Magic are 19-7. The Celtics and Denver Nuggets are the only two teams with higher winning percentages over this span. Meanwhile, since the All-Star break in mid-February, Orlando ranks No. 1 on defense.
Even though the Magic have the fourth-youngest team in terms of age, they are remarkably composed. In fact, they have the highest winning percentage in the league this season when leading in the fourth quarter (35-1; 97.2 percent). Last season they were 24-6 in this situation and the year before just 14-9.
From the Outside of the Playoffs to the Inside
Among teams with Coach of the Year candidates, only the Magic didn’t make the playoffs last year. The Celtics, T-Wolves and Cavs were in the playoffs, while the Thunder and Pelicans were in the play-in tournament. On top of that, Orlando has a chance to be a top three seed in the East. With 11 games remaining, there is only one game left to play for third place. The Magic have the tiebreaker advantage over the Cavs (assuming the Magic wins the division and the Cavs don’t), the Knicks and the Pacers – who are the teams currently in third, fourth and sixth place, respectively.
The team is always mentally prepared
A big story this season for the Magic is that they took care of business at home against weaker competition. In fact, they are a perfect 14-0 against opponents who are currently under .500 at the Kia Center. At one point it was 15-0, but currently the Houston Rockets, who the Magic beat at home in the season opener, are 35-35.
It’s not common for teams to go undefeated for an entire season against weaker teams. The 76ers, Pacers, Suns and Heat this season, for example, are a combined 42-20 against sub-.500 teams in their respective buildings. Orlando still has three games left at the Kia Center against teams under .500 (Memphis, Portland and Chicago).
Much of the Magic’s success has to do with preparation. Mosley and his team did an outstanding job of keeping the team locked in on the opponent in question.
