Milwaukee Bucks: Getting the expert’s view on the Orlando Magic ahead of the playoffs

Milwaukee Bucks: Getting the expert’s view on the Orlando Magic ahead of the playoffs – Guarding Giannis

BTBP: Isaac was an obvious fit when it comes to guarding and challenging Giannis, how do you expect the Magic to adjust to that matchup now that he’ll miss out?

PRR: I think the first step is to try to match Aaron Gordon’s minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo and trust him to take the primary responsibility. Even if Jonathan Isaac were playing, Aaron Gordon would get his turn on Giannis anyway. Gordon has always tried to get up for the challenge – there was a famous game two years ago where Gordon tried to overshoot in his matchup to keep up with Giannis, so we will see if he has matured in that sense (I think he has, but we will see).

Other than that, the Magic are a team that tries to help and congest space. Like the Bucks, their main goal defensively is to prevent points in the paint and shots at the rim sometimes at the expense of 3-point shooting. So Orlando will probably try to shade another player toward Giannis when Gordon needs help. They tried doing that with Kawhi Leonard last year and I imagine that is something they will try again.