Magic Defense Still a Concern for Van Gundy

Magic defense still a concern for Van Gundy
Josh Robbins



You don't need to read minds to know what has preoccupied Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy these last few weeks. It's the defense.

And he'll tell you that, plain and simple.

"Our defensive effort and determination and commitment on the defensive end was non-existent," he said after an early preseason exhibition. "We cannot be a good team, let alone a great one, if we're going to put that kind of defensive effort ."

"My concern is still more our defense and taking care of the ball," he said Friday morning.

It sounds like "coach speak," but Van Gundy returns to the theme of defense often and usually with great success. Dwight Howard's rim-rattling dunks and Rashard Lewis' 3-pointers receive the bulk of attention on highlight shows, but suffocating defensive play propelled the Magic to the Finals last season. The team allowed opponents to shoot just 43.3 percent from the field, the third-lowest defensive field-goal percentage in the NBA.

This preseason, Van Gundy has given the Magic defense mixed reviews.

Opposing teams entered Friday's exhibition finale shooting only 41.1 percent against Orlando this month, but that low percentage can be traced in part to preseason rust and to the fringe NBA players who are trying to make other teams' rosters.

The effort and intensity, Van Gundy said, has been up-and-down. After allowing the Chicago Bulls to shoot 50 percent from the field on Monday, the Magic limited the Indiana Pacers to 39.8 percent shooting on Wednesday.

Van Gundy stresses three major themes defensively. He wants his players, particularly his guards, to sprint back on defense whenever a teammate takes a shot; the goal is to prevent easy baskets in transition. The Magic also attempt to keep the ball out of their paint and close off driving lanes. And, finally, Van Gundy emphasizes the need for close-out defense -- rushing toward offensive players who are about to attempt 3-pointers.

There are other intricacies, of course, and it's taken time for the team's newcomers to grasp all of the X's and O's.

"I think Matt [Barnes is] going to be an outstanding defender," Van Gundy said. "I think Vince [Carter] is going to be a very good defender. It's just basketball, but still from team to team, people cover situations differently. And when you're early on with a new team, you're still a little bit hesitant because things aren't instinctive yet."