‘Opportunity’ Stats Favoring Magic Lately

Over the last two games, the Orlando Magic have taken the most floor shots in the league while also giving up the fewest floor shots. They’ve done this by limiting their turnovers, forcing the opponent into a lot of turnovers, gobbling up offensive rebounds for second chance scoring opportunities, and securing defensive rebounds on the other end. In Tuesday’s victory in Sacramento, they really dominated in those “opportunity” categories. The Kings, largely because of the Magic’s ball pressure and active hands, turned it over 21 times, which led to 33 Orlando points. The Magic had just 14 turnovers. They also came down with 12 offensive rebounds. Sacramento had only four of them.

Anthony Black an Early Most Improved Player Candidate?

What’s noticeable about Black this year is that he’s playing with more aggressiveness, patience, balance and control. He’s made 58.3 percent of his 36 shots on drives so far this season. Last year, he shot 48.2 percent on them. His shooting looks improved as well. Through seven games, he’s shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range – and he’s making them at a good clip both off the catch and off the dribble. Last season, he shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies is probably the leader of the pack right now in the MIP race, but others, including Black, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, OKC’s Ajay Mitchell, Washington’s Kyshawn George, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr., Detroit’s Duncan Robinson and Minnesota’s Ayo Dosunmu, are also in the conversation. 

Franz’s Playmaking Continues to Impress

The only two players averaging more assists than Wagner are Nikola Jokic and Trae Young (minimum five games played). The 6-foot-10 German forward has such a great feel for the game and uses his high basketball IQ to find teammates, especially when he gets into the paint. Right now, Wagner leads the league in total kickout passes. His teammates have made 40.7 percent of their 3-pointers when the passes have been sprayed out by him. He and Portland’s Deni Avdija are the only two players who have dished out at least 40 kickout passes for threes with their teammates shooting at least 40 percent on those shots.

Quote of the Night

“He does a great job of giving effort on both ends, regardless of whether it’s offensive boards or defensive boards. On the basketball, he does a great job of setting screens. All the little things that you need to win, he does. He did it in the G (League) for Osceola and has done it throughout his time with us in practice or in the games with us. I thought he did an excellent job there. Making a three is great, but it’s all the other things that he does that really impact winning that he did a great job of.” – Magic head coach Sean Sweeney on Alex Morales, who had seven points and seven rebounds while playing excellent defense in Tuesday’s win