Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford has an eagle eye on the big picture. He might say that every game is about individual preparation but he has always built a lot of that preparation on the long game. He always was trying to prep his team for this moment.
Clifford’s mantra for much of the season and regarding most players is to be better at the end of the season than they were at the beginning. For him, the marathon of the season is about getting better as it nears its end and to be peaking toward the playoffs.