Each game, Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford and his coaching staff dutifully track deflections. The team has a goal of the number they want to reach — it is somewhere just less than 40 by their count — as a sign of their defensive activity and energy.
The Magic know defense is the key to their ultimate success. They have seen that number slip in the last 10 games as they have focused on rediscovering their offense and then shifting to make up for the loss of Nikola Vucevic.
After needing to outscore both the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns, their defense was rightly at the top of the list for the team’s focus.