To preview Thursday’s interconference game between New Orleans and Orlando – the first of two meetings over the next two weeks between the Pelicans and Magic – we caught up with Dan Savage of OrlandoMagic.com.
Pelicans.com: New Orleans and Orlando are two of the most improved NBA teams last season, going from not reaching the playoffs to both being in fifth place. Overall, why were the Magic able to make such a jump from 13th place in the Eastern Conference in 2022-23?
Savage: As with any team that makes a significant leap, there are several reasons why they have had such success this season. First of all, continuity and internal growth played a major role. This allowed Orlando to hit the ground running early in training camp. On top of that, the Magic did a tremendous job winning the expected games. They are 15-0 this season when playing sub-.500 teams at the Kia Center, and 34-1 when they have a lead heading into the fourth quarter. Orlando has also made defense his calling card. The Magic have held opponents under 100 points 20 times this season – the second-most points in the NBA behind the New York Knicks.
Pelicans.com: Another thing these two teams have in common is a large core of talented young players. Which Magic kids have made the most obvious improvements this season, and who could benefit the most from this heated playoff run?
Savage: We almost have to start this conversation with Paolo Banchero, who was named an All-Star this year in only his second season in the NBA. He has done a great job adapting to the increased attention defenses have given him and has made significant strides as a playmaker. He has also become more efficient, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from 3-point range as a rookie to 46.6 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from deep during his sophomore season. He also shined in several contests, ranking 11th in the league in clutch points total this season. If he can do this kind of damage in the postseason, he will certainly elevate his name on the national stage.
Pelicans.com: Speaking of the playoff race, what are Orlando’s coaches and players saying about what their goal might be for the remainder of the 82-game schedule? Home advantage in the first round? A top-six seed, thus avoiding the play-in tournament? The East rankings are so close that the Magic’s potential landing spot could vary greatly.
Savage: With their win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, the Magic, at worst, clinched a spot in the play-in tournament. At the start of the season, you would have thought that this would have been a big deal and a major accomplishment for this young team. However, they now have bigger prizes in mind. This was evident in their post-match reactions when asked about achieving, at minimum, play-in status. To a man, they made it clear they were gunning for a playoff spot. And to get there, they must continue to take it one game at a time and play up to their standards. That means bringing high-level defensive intensity night in and night out, sharing the basketball and limiting turnovers.
Pelicans.com: What’s one thing fans might be surprised to learn about the Magic?
Savage: While it’s obvious to the fans who watch them every night in Orlando, those outside of Central Florida might be surprised to know how much pride the Magic players take on their defense. This standard was set by Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who recently received a well-deserved multi-year contract extension from the organization. You also have two players on the team who want to be considered Defensive Player of the Year candidates at some point in their careers: Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac. The Magic have won nine of their last 11 games, and it’s probably no coincidence that their only two losses during that stretch were the two games Suggs missed with a right thigh bruise. When Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, who is also a former Magic head coach, was asked about the areas where Orlando has made its biggest defensive strides, he was quick to point out the character uniqueness of Suggs and his ability to not only force turnovers, but also contain opposing ball handlers. According to ORLmuse, the Magic guard has 22 games this season with more than three actions (steals and blocks), the sixth most by a guard in the NBA. Isaac, meanwhile, is a defensive nightmare for his opponents with his rare blend of length, instincts and technique. This season, when Isaac contests a shot, his opponents are shooting 37.1 percent, which ranks him first among the 303 players who have contested at least 200 shots.
Starting lineups from previous match
NEW ORLEANS (42-26, 5TH WEST)
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: This is Willie Green’s most common starting lineup, out of 15 different combinations. It went 25-14 this season. … New Orleans is one game behind the fourth-place Clippers (43-25), two games ahead of sixth-place Sacramento (40-28). … The Pelicans are 9-4 since the All-Star break, tied with Milwaukee for the fifth-best record in the league over that span. … New Orleans is 15-5 since the start of February, tied with Denver for the third-best record in the league over that span. … Matt Ryan (non-Covid illness) is questionable. Dyson Daniels (knee) is out.
ORLANDO (41-28, 5TH IN THE EAST)
Tuesday’s victory against Charlotte
Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Notes: This starting lineup remains undefeated at 10-0 this season, one of 15 combinations used by Mosley. … The Magic have no injuries. Three players are out due to G League obligations. … Orlando is a half-game behind fourth-place New York (41-27), 2.5 games ahead of sixth-place Indiana (39-31). … The Magic are 11-3 since the All-Star break, tied with Oklahoma City for the third-best record in the league over that span. …Orlando is 16-5 since the start of February, the second-best record in the league over that span.
BENCH BATTLE
New Orleans reserves continue to dominate. In Tuesday’s win over Brooklyn, Larry Nance Jr. (11 points) and Trey Murphy (10) both dominated all of the Nets’ subs (nine) on their own in the first half. The Pelicans’ second unit ranks second in plus-minus this season (behind only Boston), while the Magic’s backups are seventh in that category.
MATCHUP TO WATCH, PART I
For the second straight season, New Orleans and Orlando were not scheduled to face each other until the latter part of the 82-game campaign. As a result, Duke University’s No. 1 draft picks, Williamson (2019) and Banchero (2022), never faced each other last season, making their first on-field meeting on Thursday.
MATCHUP TO WATCH, PART II
At small forward, Ingram and Franz Wagner (his older brother Moe is a key reserve for the Magic) are the No. 2 scorers for New Orleans and Orlando, respectively. Third-year pro Wagner has been excellent in his four career games against the Pelicans, averaging 19.0 points with shooting splits of 49/46/92.
