Steve Clifford Articles - Page 3

While Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford has no idea when point guard Markelle Fultz is going to play, he still has confidence the youngster has a bright future in the league. Fultz is still recovering from Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Clifford believes when Fultz does play for the Magic, he will be an effective […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford says forward Aaron Gordon has been working very hard this offseason. When the Magic re-signed Gordon to a four-year, $80 million deal last summer, the franchise wanted the high-flyer to take the next step in his development and impact the game on both ends of the floor. Gordon heard […]

When Nikola Vucevic re-signed with the Orlando Magic this summer, he said he feels like he is just now entering his prime. Magic head coach Steve Clifford agrees with Vucevic and sees the All-Star big man having an even better 2019-20 campaign. Orlando re-signed Vucevic to a four-year, $100 million contract this offseason. “I just […]

Head coach Steve Clifford says the Orlando Magic “have to be able to score the ball better” moving forward if they want to be an elite team in the NBA. Orlando averaged 107.3 points per game last season, which was just 24th in the NBA. The Magic were a good defensive unit in 2018-19, though, […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford says it’s important for the Magic to take advantage of their roster “continuity.” Orlando re-signed Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams this offseason. The Magic also signed Al-Farouq Aminu in free agency, a veteran who has playoff experience under his belt. “I would say this, the offseason is […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford sees “positional size” and “individual approach” as the Magic’s strengths. Clifford says the Magic are very versatile at every position, but more importantly, claims all the guys on the roster care about winning and approach the game the right way. “When I sat down after the season ended with […]

After guiding the franchise to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2012, Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford is looking forward to seeing if his guys are ready to take the next step. Clifford says the Magic are a “very talented team that can accomplish some things” if they don’t skip steps. […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford believes forward Jonathan Isaac is primed for a big 2019-20 season. Isaac, who was part of the Team USA Select Team which trained with USA Basketball’s National Team, has gone from 209 pounds at the close of the 2018-19 season to 234 pounds this summer. Clifford watched Isaac played […]

For Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford, Michael Carter-Williams has the capacity to be an elite defender given his length and defensive acumen. Per Josh Robbins of Athletic, Steve Clifford spoke about Michael Carter-Williams, whom the team re-signed to a one-year deal. Clifford pointed out the 27-year-old’s defensive abilities, noting that there are some games […]

The Orlando Magic may have been the surprise team of the 2018-19 season. Just one year after going 25-57 and firing former head coach Frank Vogel, the Magic went 42-40 and made the playoffs under new coach Steve Clifford. Despite not having a true “star” player, at least prior to the season, the Magic watched […]

Nikola Vucevic acknowledged Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford as one of the ‘big reasons’ why he agreed to re-sign with the team. Per Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the 28-year-old Montenegrin center laid out the reasons on why he agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal with the Magic. Apart from being in Orlando […]

The Orlando Magic are a team on the rise. Predicted to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings before the 2018-19 season, they went 42-40 and snuck into the playoffs as the seventh seed. Despite an early playoff exit, the 2018-19 season was certainly a success for Orlando. The Magic had a number […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford admits his team isn’t at the Toronto Raptors’ level. Not yet, anyway. Clifford shared his thoughts after the Raptors eliminated the Magic in their first-round playoff series, 4-1. .@OrlandoMagic coach Steve Clifford: "I thought we had the kind of team defensively where we could start (hand raised above his […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford is well aware his team must establish better defensive rebounding and shot-making to get back in this series against the Toronto Raptors after trailing 3-1. After stealing Game 1 in glorious fashion on the road, following a clutch D.J. Augustin 3-pointer, the Magic have now lost three straight games […]

The Orlando Magic are looking to bounce back after a listless and desultory performance against the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the teams’ first-round Eastern Conference matchup. After a thrilling Game 1 win against the Toronto Raptors in which D.J. Augustin went off – erupting for 25 points on only 13 shooting possessions – […]

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic has had the best season of his career. In a contract year, Vucevic made the All-Star team and finished the season averaging 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.8 points for a Magic team that surprised the league in making the playoffs for the first time since 2012. But Vucevic has […]

It has not been often that the Orlando Magic reach the postseason as of late while the Eastern Conference franchise appears to be taking full advantage of reaching the playoffs in 2018-19. Despite the fact that the Magic were forced to match up against the surging Toronto Raptors in the opening round, Orlando infamously stole […]

One of the main reasons why the Orlando Magic were able to stun the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff matchup was the offensive struggles of Kyle Lowry, who was held scoreless despite playing 34 minutes. However, Magic head coach Steve Clifford still had high praises for the Raptors’ […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford had high praises for veteran guard DJ Augustin, the hero of their Game 1 victory against the Toronto Raptors. In an interview with John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com, Clifford said that he believes Augustin was wise to take the shot because he knew he could make it. “Taking what the […]

Despite pulling off a 104-101 upset against the heavily favored Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford believes that the team can do better on the offensive end in Game Two. .@OrlandoMagic coach Steve Clifford today: “(The Raptors) had us on our heels a lot. We won’t win Game 2 playing that same offensive […]

Stan Van Gundy proved unable to completely turn things around for the Detroit Pistons. Nearly a year after his dismissal, though, the Pistons’ former coach and president of basketball operations harbors no resentment for the peers currently enjoying the type of success he never quite managed during his four seasons in the Motor City. In […]

The Orlando Magic have still yet to regain the form that made them a perennial contender at the top of the decade, during Dwight Howard’s brief time as a perennial MVP candidate. Still, after making the playoffs for the first since 2012, Howard’s last season in Orlando, the Magic seem to finally be trending in […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford is ecstatic over his team making the playoffs on April 7. Orlando Magic NBA.com writer John Denton tweeted Clifford’s sentiments on Sunday. .@OrlandoMagic coach Steve Clifford, who’s likely vaulted himself into consideration for NBA Coach of the Year award w/ ORL winning 21 of 30 to get to POs:”Phenomenal […]

The Orlando Magic are slated to face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night in what will be another must-win matchup for them as they look to secure a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Magic head coach Steve Clifford spoke to the media, and admitted that his biggest concern coming into the contest […]

The Orlando Magic have been one of the surprising stories of this NBA season. With a 38-39 overall record, they’re currently holding the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. Some thought the Magic would struggle to find a rhythm, as there are several new faces on the team, but head coach Steve Clifford is […]

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic are in Miami to take on the Heat. The two teams are locked an intense battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, making this a pivotal match-up. The Heat have been in this spot before. They have made the playoffs in eight of the last ten […]

There were a number of factors that played into the Orlando Magic’s overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Head coach Steve Clifford feels the home crowd may have been the deciding factor down the stretch. The Magic crowded was unusually raucous throughout the overtime thriller. According to Mackenzie Thirkill of the team’s official website, he […]

Nikola Vucevic has made a name for himself as one of the best centers in the East this season. He made it to the All-Star team for the first time, and he’s currently putting up impressive averages of 20.7 points and 12.1 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from deep. […]

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic will look to extend their three-game home winning streak Sunday night when they host the Atlanta Hawks. Orlando sits in the ninth spot in the East heading into this matchup, 1.5 games behind the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot. Let’s take a look at a few […]

In need of depth at the point guard position, the Orlando Magic officially signed Michael Carter-Williams to a 10-day contract. It’s no secret that Carter-Williams is having a down season, but head coach Steve Clifford believes that the veteran can contribute to Orlando in many ways. "He's a terrific defender. … He's also a very good […]

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping to get back into the win column against the Orlando Magic. However, point guard Luka Doncic will no longer be sneaking up on head coach Steve Clifford. Doncic struggled during their last meeting in Dallas. According to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, Clifford feels he has become a […]

Magic fans got a bit of bad news, as head coach Steve Clifford has just announced that he doesn’t expect Markelle Fultz to come back for the rest of the season. https://twitter.com/OPPMagicBlog/status/1102672280046501888 This is just the latest in a series of setbacks that Fultz has seen over the course of his career. While Fultz was […]

The Orlando Magic scored the upset of the evening by defeating the defending champion Golden State Warriors, on Thursday, 103-96. Following the big win, second-year power forward Jonathan Isaac was quick to credit the coaching staff for the grit and determination exhibited by the team: “I think it starts at the top, with the toughness […]

It has been an up-and-down season for the Orlando Magic but they are looking to finish strong. Currently sitting in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference, the franchise is looking to do something they haven’t done since 2012: make the playoffs. In speaking with John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com, head coach Steve Clifford was open […]

The Orlando Magic are a surprising playoff contender in the Eastern Conference but they haven’t been great at home, sporting an 8-8 record at the Amway Center. However, Magic head coach Steve Clifford wants to start making his team’s home floor a difficult place to play, according to John Denton of the Magic’s official team […]

Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford says his team is “getting closer” in regards to living up to its defensive potential. Entering Monday, the Magic are giving up 106.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA. Steve Clifford, however, wants his guys to be even better than that and more consistent. “No, not yet, […]

The Orlando Magic had an 18-point lead at one point Monday night against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Steve Clifford’s team was playing well and hitting shots from beyond the arc. Through three and a half quarters, it looked like the Magic were going to upset the Warriors and come away with a […]

Aaron Gordon had a timely breakthrough season in 2017-18, finally showing more than mere flashes of brilliance for the Orlando Magic throughout the entirety of the campaign. New head coach Steve Clifford has taken notice of his star’s prowess, but notes he must make a jump at the less lauded end of the floor in […]

The Orlando Magic wrapped up the 2017-18 regular season with a 25-57 overall record, which was good for a No. 14 ranking in the Eastern Conference standings. This season, however, the scene is a bit different, as the Magic have drafted a talented rookie in Mo Bamba to man the frontcourt. With Nikola Vucevic already […]