Following two-plus weeks of training camp and three exhibitions, the Magic wrap up the preseason Friday against a familiar foe.
Orlando hosts the Miami Heat inside Kia Center ahead of the start of the regular season next week, and new coach Sean Sweeney shared what he wants to see from his team after implementing new offensive and defensive systems.
“Better execution, continuing to build on the things that we’ve been working on,” Sweeney said after Thursday practice inside the AdventHealth Training Center. “(The) guys doing things the way they did last game, but now just better.”
What the Magic have done a good job at through three preseason games is share the basketball, rebound it and take care of it.
Although it’s a small sample size of just three contests that have seen a variety of lineups and player availability across the league, the Magic averaged the second-most assists (32.3), the third-most rebounds (50.7) and the ninth-fewest turnovers (16.3) per night ahead of Thursday’s slate of exhibitions.
Those areas of the game were on display Tuesday against the Cavaliers when the Magic recorded 34 assists and outrebounded Cleveland 54-38 at Kia Center. Even if Orlando was far from perfect – it committed 16 turnovers while only forcing 12 – Sweeney was relatively pleased with what he saw.
“I love the way the ball moved,” he said. “We talk about creating together (and) I thought we were exceptional in that area. Defensively, we saw an uptick in our activity (and) our commitment to guarding the basketball was strong. We used multiple schemes at times and the execution was good and can be better.
“But in general I thought we did a pretty good job of things that we wanted to do and now we have to get a lot better.”
There’s a chance the Magic could be close to full strength Friday against the Heat. Fourth-year pro Anthony Black (right ankle sprain) was a full participant in practice Thursday and the team is continuing to ramp him up toward a return.
“He’s doing a good job, moving well and feels good, so we’re going to keep on that,” Sweeney said.
Veteran forward Jonathan Isaac, who was limited at the start of training camp because of a left knee injury suffered last season and was away from the team last week due to personal reasons, was also able to participate in practice Thursday.
“It’s great to see him out there,” Sweeney said about Isaac. “Anytime you’re at full strength, that’s the best strength to be. But, regardless, we’re going to keep working to make sure we do a good job (to) keep building and keep getting better.”
After Friday’s preseason finale against Miami, the Magic open their regular season against another Southeast Division opponent: The Atlanta Hawks at Kia Center on Wednesday. That’s when the results will start to matter.
Orlando wants to focus on Friday first.
“It’s the final preseason game so (the) last chance to see how we’ll match up and just get used to everything,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said. “(We want to) work on some of the stuff that we want to clean up and continue to improve on even what we did well.”
Added teammate Noah Penda: “Just keep building on us. No matter who we have in front of us, we have to stay consistent in who we are. The main thing is the main thing.”
Richardson gives back
Magic guard Jase Richardson helped host a free basketball clinic for 80 local youth, largely from Boys & Girls Clubs, at the Westside Community Center in Sanford on Wednesday.
In addition to taking part in drills on the court, each participant received a Jr. Magic jersey and a Magic-themed basketball.
“It’s always special to try and give back to the community, especially to the youth,” Richardson said at the event. “I always feel like they’re the future. So, I just try to give them as much wisdom and any knowledge I know.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next
What: Magic vs. Heat, preseason
When: 7 p.m., Friday, Kia Center
TV: MagicTV 27/DAZN