Orlando Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley Praises Anthony Black's Defense on Luka Doncic: 'He Did a Really Good Job'
The Orlando Magic is picking up the pieces after blowing a double-digit lead in a 117-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Paolo Banchero seems to have returned to form, and his 22-point performance rightfully garnered most of the attention after the game.
On the other side, Luka Doncic scored 29 points on nine of 17 shooting and making half his threes. This is rapidly becoming a routine game for Doncic as he solidifies himself as one of the hardest players in the league to guard.
With Doncic averaging an insane 31.6 points per game this season, assigning rookie Anthony Black to defend him was a bold choice. In his second career start, Black was tasked with one of the hardest jobs in the NBA: stop Luka from getting hot.
Orlando Magic rookie Anthony Black is averaging 6.6 points in five career games.
© Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY
After the game, Jamahl Mosley praised his rookie for doing his best.
"I think he did a really good job with his defensive hands early on, defending without fouling, got him into the paint," Mosley said. "You know, obviously Luka [Doncic] makes tough shots. He can make some tough assists as well, but I thought for the most part I think he did a very good job keeping his chest in front and not, you know, not allowing blow-bys and then defending without fouling."
In 32 minutes, Black only recorded two fouls. Mosley was right: Doncic was forced into the paint. Granted, Doncic is a basketball wizard and can score from anywhere, but he excels in isolation, and scoring in a crowded paint is difficult for him.
Plus, Black prevented Doncic from finding the open man. Doncic is usually good for eight assists per game, but Black held him to only six. That’s a credit to Black keeping Doncic smothered, and the rest of the Magic for sticking to their assignments and not leaving anyone open in the corner.
Everything went downhill after halftime when Orlando blew a 15-point lead, but if Black can contain the best players in the league, it’s safe to say that the Magic is building one of the toughest backcourts in the NBA.
