Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the importance of defense after his team lost 132-120 to the New York Knicks on Saturday.
“We gave up three 30-point quarters and that’s not our brand of basketball … we have to work on sitting down early and waking up,” he said after the NBA Cup semifinal at T-Mobile Arena.
Mosley praised his team’s effort, but noted missed opportunities and execution errors. “We fought, we fought … then they made some timely shots, we missed a few timely shots, a few rebounds here and there,” he said, underscoring the small details that tipped the game in New York’s favor.
He talked about Jalen Brunson’s performance and highlighted the guard’s ability to command big moments. “He just constantly finds a way … he’s hit some tough, timely shots and you have to thank him for that,” said Mosley, who acknowledged the challenge of guarding top scorers.
Mosley also discussed the development of Paolo Banchero following his return from a three-week absence due to a groin injury. “Just taking the time to find the rhythm… being able to move his minutes up a little bit more so he can keep that rhythm throughout the game,” he said, highlighting Banchero’s progress.
The coach noted that early fouls limited Orlando’s trademark physicality. “Sometimes it’s hard to have that signature physicality when you catch early mistakes on some touch mistakes,” Mosley explained, noting the challenges of defending without penalty.
He thought about specific defensive issues, including transition coverage. “When they scored, we scored, they took it out quickly and pushed it back… priority, getting back,” Mosley said, highlighting areas that could be improved in limiting easy baskets.
Mosley praised the contributions of Orlando’s bench, especially in late-game moments. “Our depth, our ability to put guys in there who know they can step into the moment and play the right way… I thought they both did a really good job stepping in,” he said, referring to Jett Howard and Jase Richardson.
He concluded that the NBA Cup experience provides a valuable learning opportunity. “This was a great experience for our young team to see exactly what we need to do… defend the right way and allow that to dictate our offense,” Mosley said, noting the importance of translating these lessons into the regular season and the playoffs.
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