National Basketball Association

Magic hoping for a faster defense, more exciting team this season

Published Sep. 29, 2014 4:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

ORLANDO, Fla. -- As the Orlando Magic get ready for the start of training camp Tuesday morning, one area where they can improve upon from last season stands out as the one most within their reach.

Even if forward Aaron Gordon and guard Elfrid Payton don't crack the starting lineup right away as rookies after being lottery picks, the Magic appear committed to becoming a more up-tempo team as well as creating and converting more fast-break opportunities. Their average of only 11.3 points a game last season off fast breaks ranked 21st among 30 teams.

Victor Oladipo, never one to mask his emotions, is excited about playing for a more exciting team in his second year.

"It's going to be fun to play up and down and play at a fast pace," he said Monday during the Magic's media day. "We've just got to do it on a consistent basis. It's going to a fun year. I'm looking forward to it."

In terms of offensive efficiency, which is the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions, the Magic finished last season ahead of only the Philadelphia 76ers. Aside from Oladipo, who recorded 129 steals while playing in 80 of 82 games, no one was particularly proficient at hounding opposing players into turnovers.

With the arrivals of Gordon, who turned 19 two weeks ago, and Payton, who averaged 2.3 steals a game as a junior for Louisiana-Lafayette, it's clear that both coach Jacque Vaughn and general manager Rob Hennigan envision the Magic generating a good portion of their offense from their defense.

"We'll be a team that's dedicated on the defensive end of the floor," Vaughn said.

Added Hennigan, who brought in four veteran free agents over the summer but also let Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson go elsewhere: "We're committed to being a defensive-minded team. Over the long haul, that's a sustainable element."

Oladipo, center Nikola Vucevic and forwards Tobias Harris and Maurice Harkless -- all of whom are 23 or younger -- are the key holdovers from a team that ended the 2013-14 season with a 23-59 record.

"I just want to win," said Oladipo, the second overall pick in the 2013 draft. "I don't care how many games we win, we just need to win. I'm trying to compete every night. If we do that, I think it will be a successful season. We've got to compete in this league. We've got to give people a run for their money, especially on the road."

The addition of Channing Frye, who should start at one of the forward positions, will help the Magic make up for the departures of Afflalo and Nelson when it comes to 3-point shooting. Frye hit at least 160 3-pointers in three of his four seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Where guards Ben Gordon, Luke Ridnour and Willie Green will fit in on a team relying heavily on youth and athleticism is less certain.

"The real issue is going to be us jelling, us knowing our roles, and then knowing what's expected of us every day," Frye said.

Vaughn is looking forward to see how the increased competition for minutes and playing time shakes out.

"In order for us to grow as a team, there has to be a respect factor amongst the new guys and the guys who are returning," he said. "And that's built around working with one another. There will be a competitive energy within our framework and our locker room but, at the same time, a supportive energy that needs to be there in order for this team to grow together."

"Just having each other's back on and off the court is going to be huge for us," Oladipo said. "And having each other's back off the court translates to on the court."

The Magic open their preseason Oct. 7 at Miami and will tip off their regular season Oct. 28 at New Orleans. Their home opener is Oct. 30 against the Washington Wizards, although fans might already want to make a note of the Nov. 26 meeting with the Golden State Warriors at the Amway Center.

That game will be the first of 12 times this season where the Magic will wear their new silver alternate uniform. Oladipo and forward Kyle O'Quinn were among the players sporting the new look, and the reaction was unanimously positive.