ORLANDO – Every coach talks a good game when it comes to making defense a priority, but with new Orlando Magic coach Scott Skiles there is a razor-sharp attention to detail to every element of a team’s ability to stop foes and protect the rim.
From foot positioning, to under-control closeouts, to proper help-defense rotations and finally, a player assuming a mindset of being determined to not let the other person score – Skiles wasted no time in ramming home those points on Saturday in the Magic’s first practice of training camp.
Center Nikola Vucevic, who is beginning his fourth season with the Magic, knew almost from the beginning of practice that things will be different when he saw Skiles teaching, reinforcing and all-out demanding that players understand every facet of Orlando’s new defensive principles.