After an ankle injury forced him to miss six games, Orlando Magic small forward Jonathan Isaac is returning to lineup on Wednesday. Isaac will be needed by the team as they host the new-look Philadelphia 76ers.
.@OrlandoMagic F Jonathan Isaac cleared to play tonight.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) November 14, 2018
Magic head coach Steve Clifford is planning to take things slow with Isaac by putting him on a minutes restriction.
.@OrlandoMagic coach Steve Clifford said that Jonathan Isaac will be on a minutes restriction tonight. Clifford said with Isaac on the floor “everything just makes sense” because of his skills as a two-way player.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) November 14, 2018
Isaac's best game this season was during a surprising win against the Boston Celtics. The young sophomore posted 18 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 67 percent from the field.
While some may argue the Celtics game was just a fluke, his case to be an excellent two-way player is intriguing. A 6-foot-10 forward, Isaac is a modern prototype of his position. Despite his size, he has the mobility and a versatile skill set.
But Isaac has to prove that the Magic can win with him on the floor. Orlando went 2-6 during the eight games he played before sustaining the ankle injury. Without him, the team won four of their next six games. The youngster also has to prove he can stay on the court given he has dealt with numerous injuries to start his career.
The frontcourt of Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic has a lot of work to do to mesh well with each other. Despite being quicker than his size suggests, Isaac is still slower than most players at his position, leaving him vulnerable.
The Magic look to improve on their 6-8 record by spoiling Jimmy Butler's debut as a Sixer on Wednesday night.
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