Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is anticipated to be the veteran addition that helps the Orlando Magic solidify themselves as a Playoff menace within the Japanese Convention. The 2-time champion is liking being on the Magic, lately saying that the Magic is the primary group the place all his teammates have been dedicated on protection, in contrast to his earlier groups just like the Los Angeles Lakers or Denver Nuggets.
“That is the primary group that I’ve been on the place all people likes to defend. That’s thrilling for me. It makes me wish to compete much more on that finish. I’m simply trying ahead to being that group that’s going to be laborious to attain on. That (says lots) on this league. A group that will get stops wins video games.”
The Magic had been among the best defensive groups within the NBA final season, with Pope offering high-level 3-and-D play with championship expertise for the younger squad. However the largest takeaway for many followers after KCP’s feedback was the obvious shade in the direction of the Lakers and Nuggets, particularly LeBron James and Nikola Jokic.
Whereas James was as soon as a DPOY-level participant, he has taken a serious step again on his dedication to protection for the reason that latter half of his stint on the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Los Angeles Lakers constructing the championship-winning 2019-20 roster with a number of defenders round James to permit him to deal with being an offensive hub and playmaker.
Jokic hasn’t performed plenty of high-level protection persistently in his profession. Whereas Jokic has confirmed to be strong defensively in spots, his offensive workload and ability set will not ever have him dedicated to high-level protection, with the Nuggets additionally surrounding him with optimistic defenders to maximise his impression.
Pope would possibly love this Magic squad, nevertheless it’d be laborious for even them to duplicate the protection of the 2020 Lakers who had a 106.1 defensive score within the common season, among the best within the NBA that season.
The Nuggets weren’t defensive aces for his or her 2023 title run, however their defensive score of 110.2 did not find yourself mattering as they blitzed by the Playoffs on the power of their Jokic-led offense.
Was This A Shot Towards LeBron Or Jokic?
Pope would not instantly name out both star, nevertheless it’s laborious to take it every other means. Anybody who has watched these groups that KCP has performed on is aware of he might solely be speaking about these particular gamers.
The 2020 Lakers had been constructed on an identification of protection, with virtually each rotational participant being a plus-defender, with that defensive dedication mirrored of their performances. The one one not dedicated to giving every thing on protection that season was possible LeBron, as he was making an attempt to single-handedly create offense for everybody on the roster. KCP may be proper concerning the protection, however he is not shading LeBron due to the immense offensive workload he carried that season.
The identical will be mentioned about his time on the 2023 Nuggets, although that group did not have the clearly outlined defensive ethos that the 2020 Lakers had. Jokic does not must be an All-Protection caliber heart as a result of his offense greater than makes up for it, so Pope was possible stating a reality about these celebrity’s decrease dedication to protection attributable to their offensive workload.
The Magic have a rising celebrity in Paolo Banchero, however he is not almost achieved sufficient or offensively gifted to forgo enjoying laborious protection like head coach Jamahl Mosley needs everybody on this roster to play.
