Clifford looks to tighten up leaky defense
Sunday in Detroit.
The Magic (6-9) gave up a season-high 68 points in the paint Wednesday in Toronto and have allowed an average of 50.4 during their past five games. Orlando still ranks seventh in opponent points in the paint per game at 44.7.
In addition to better execution of the pick-and-roll defense, Clifford wants to see his perimeter players to apply more ball pressure.
“We’ve played 15 games. The Milwaukee game at home, we didn’t put a lot into, and the second half of Indiana [at home], that got away from us, and except for that, our effort’s been really good,” Clifford said. “But, what we’re not doing is, we’re not playing with the mentality defensively that we need to. Playing hard is not enough.”
Orlando will head to Detroit trying to win its first road game of the season. The Magic, who are 0-6 away from Amway Center, will face a Pistons team that presents a similar challenge in their post, pick-and-roll and inside-out game behind Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose.
“They play so much off Blake and Andre, and then the Rose penetration, [and] his pick-and-roll game,” Clifford said.
The Pistons (5-10) aren’t particularly adept at scoring in the paint (46.3 per game), but they have been efficient from long range. Detroit ranks second in the league in 3-point percentage (39.2%) and eighth in overall field-goal percentage (46.6%). It has six players who shoot at least 40% from long range — and that doesn’t include shooting guard Luke Kennard (37.0%). Tony Snell (45.5%) and Langston Galloway (44.0%) are the best among the Pistons who play at least 20 minutes a game.
The Pistons average 12 3-pointers a game on 30.6 attempts, which ranks 20th in the NBA.
The Pistons are coming off a 104-90 loss Saturday to the Bucks, although Griffin did not play because of a sore knee. The All-Star forward missed the team’s first 10 games with a knee issue.
The Magic, meanwhile, will be without starting center Nikola Vucevic for the second straight game. He remains out with a sprained right ankle.
Starting forward Aaron Gordon (right ankle contusion) also appears unlikely to play against the Pistons, but he did get in some light shooting work during practice Sunday, according to a team spokesman. As of Sunday’s 5:30 p.m. injury report, Gordon also was listed as out for Monday’s game.
The contest tips off at 7 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Florida.