Vogel seeks accountability
PHILADELPHIA — Approaches vary on how to hold players accountable for doing what they’re asked to do on the court.
For most of this season, Orlando Magic coach
approach could be classified as “teach and correct.” Vogel and his assistant coaches conduct detailed film-review sessions featuring clips from the most recent game to illustrate what players did wrong and what they did right.
For the players, it’s unpleasant to have their mistakes — particularly mental mistakes or lapses in effort — critiqued in front of teammates.
On Friday night, however, Vogel held players accountable in an additional way. In the third quarter of a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, Vogel subbed out players who incorrectly followed the defensive game plan.
“I would hope that I don’t need to coach that way, but they’re showing me that I do,” Vogel said Saturday night, before the Magic played the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. “So you probably will see more of a quicker sub on breakdowns than usual.”
One of those players was forward who was subbed out with 8:01 to go in the period and subbed back in with 5:19 left in the period.
Asked afterward about Vogel’s move, Gordon said he welcomed it and hopes Vogel will continue to hold players accountable in a similar fashion.
“I want to be held accountable,” Gordon said. “I like being coached like that. I appreciate that he’s doing it. I want him to do that from here on out. To make me an example? I’m all for that. I hope that’s how we play from here on out.”
Until Friday, Vogel generally hadn’t made significant changes to his playing rotation except in cases of injury or prolonged ineffectiveness
But perhaps Vogel has been too patient, giving his players the benefit of the doubt too often.
The Magic carried a seven-game losing streak into their game Saturday night.
A seven-game losing streak is bad enough, but if the team had competed hard consistently, then at least the losing streak would be easier to stomach.
But there have been stretches when opponents have rolled over them with relative ease. The Magic displayed minimal fight in a 40-point loss to the Utah Jazz on Nov. 18, were outscored by the Minnesota Timberwolves 41-18 in the third quarter on Wednesday and trailed the Celtics by as many as 32 points.
During the seven-game losing streak, the Magic allowed 114.1 points per 100 possessions, the secondworst defensive rating in the league, according to the NBA’s statistics database. Those two weeks form a small sample size — against some difficult competition, to be sure — but the results have been so atrocious that Vogel might have to base players’ minutes more strictly on their effort and precision on defense.
After the loss to the Celtics, Gordon was asked whether the only way for the team to make sustained improvements is for Vogel to take players out when they make repeated breakdowns.
“Yeah, it is, because if you want to stay in the game, then that’s how you’re going to have to play,” Gordon answered. “You’re going to have to pick up your performance defensively … It keeps people from being complacent, lackadaisical, and he did a great job of coming down and explaining why he took us out, and I appreciate that from him. I like being coached like that. I think it’ll be beneficial for our team.” defensive Rookie forward
missed his seventh consecutive game Saturday because of the ankle sprain he suffered on Nov. 11. But Isaac’s ankle is improving. Isaac took jumpers and ran a bit before tipoff.
“So that’s a great sign of progression,” Isaac said. “The next step is just to continue to treat it every day and then see if I can do more and more until I’m back to 100 percent.”