It takes a certain instinct, feel for the game and skill set to truly make the most of your physical gifts. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The sophomore forward has the upside to be an elite multi-positional defender. With the case now made for two award winners out of Orlando, we bring the latest installment in this very serious series to an end. Making a case for Jonathan Isaac to be Defensive Player of the Year, Steve Clifford has tested positive for COVID-19, Clifford said he feels "100 percent" and was "shocked" by the positive test, Pelicans 135, Magic 100: Shorthanded Magic can’t get stops against Pelicans, Magic vs. Pelicans preview: The Magic finally meet Zion Williamson, in being crowned the league’s Most Valuable Player, 25-year Orlandoversary: Magic rally from 23 down for 60th win of season, Hawks 112, Magic 96: Magic struggle offensively and on the glass. 21 Current NBA / Orlando Magic. But, as they’re currently constructed, they don’t have much hope to be anything more than that. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. But it’s just taking it game-by-game and continue to try to get better in where I’m not proficient when it comes to defense and just keep on.”. Not since Dennis Rodman back in 1993 has a player taken home Defensive Player of the Year honors without gracing the playoffs, but the 22-year-old Isaac legitimately has a shot to end that drought. Isaac ranks 15th in terms of defensive rating with a solid 101.2 He's also second in the league in Block % at 8.0% and he's increased his DRB % this year to a career high 19.4%. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac suffers a torn ACL and may not be able to return by the restart of the next NBA season; In other NBA news, … High School: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Defense: Switching Paradise Even though he did show promise as a stretch-four while in college, Jonathan Isaac was drafted for his defensive impact. “It’s something I want for myself when it comes to the personal accolades and what I want for my career,” he said. Jonathan Isaac agrees to four-year, $80 million extension with Magic. As a rookie, he ranked in the 74th percentile defensively, according to Synergy, and had a personal defensive rating of 101.8 on a Magic team that was 20th in the league defensively. By Kevin Mercer Mar 11, 2020. Today we turn our attention to the Defensive Player of the Year. Unfortunately, not much has changed this season. Even after qualifying for the playoffs last season, they haven’t been able to shake the mediocrity tag that has haunted them for nigh on a decade. The Greek Freak’s defensive numbers are a case for his team’s brilliance at that end of the court. He has a shot at an honor that eluded Siakam – an All-Defensive team. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The chief defensive skill of Jonathan Isaac is his ability to come from any position to block or contest a shot. Jonathan Judah Isaac Twitter: JJudahIsaac (Judah, Minister of Defense) Position: Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-11, 230lb (211cm, 104kg) Born: October 3, 1997 in The Bronx, New York us. Rebound. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". To begin, he zones off his man (Larry Nance Jr.) and stuffs Cedi Osman’s driving layup attempt, hangs around to provide help in the paint, then sprints out to Nance and forces him to put the ball on the floor. He blends that size with a legitimate ability to pick up guards, wings, and bigs, comfortably cementing himself as one of the most versatile and multifaceted defenders on the planet. He has now played with the Magic for two full seasons, while his third year in Orlando was ended early by a knee injury. “I want to be a multiple-time defensive player of the year and make the defensive team. Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac left Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a non-contact injury to his left knee. Just imagine what Isaac would be capable of defensively if he was blessed with the same level of defensively-talented peers as Giannis! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. His long arms help him make up space, but it’s his innate ability to time up shots and be positionally sound. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports Jonathan Isaac and the Orland Magic have agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract extension. This forces Cedi Osman to take a deep triple that clangs off the rim. Offense. At just 22-years-old, the former Florida State standout is single-handedly tearing his team out of the doldrums of unwatchable mediocrity. Plenty of players have entered the NBA testing off the charts anthropologically, not all of them have gone on to wield their weapons with the same sort of gusto Isaac is. Just to put the cherry on top, he annihilates Mitchell Robinson’s putback attempt. Jonathan Isaac comes over from his man and beats Jaren Jackson Jr. to the spot to cover him and block the shot. According to Basketball Reference, he ranks equal-first in block percentage, fifth overall in defensive box plus/minus, 13th in defensive win shares and 20th in defensive rating. DefPen.com is part of the Def Pen Media Group, LLC. Jonathan Isaac is impossible to ignore. Marvel at how he forbids the Cleveland Cavalier ball-handlers to make the entry pass to Kevin Love from every angle the former All-Star tries to work into. With Isaac on the court, the Orlando Magic's defensive rating jumps by a whopping 4.5 points to an excellent 106.5 DRTG (-3.9 rDRTG), which would rank as the 4th-best defense in the league over a full season, significantly higher than the 9th place (109.0 DRTG) the Magic ended up at at the time of the NBA's suspension. Here, he switches onto the blisteringly quick Ja Morant and spikes his shot into another dimension. Isaac … However, it is worth noting that he benefits by playing for the league’s best team defense in Milwaukee, and as such it is almost impossible to separate his case from that of his teammates. Posted: Apr 12, 2019 ... second-year forward Jonathan Isaac was sitting off … A quick disclaimer: although I’m building a (largely) serious case for each individual award winner, please understand that this is not a totally serious endeavor. Isaac Is not yet a good offensive player, but he has made strides on defense. His long arms help him make up space, but it’s his innate ability to time up shots and be positionally sound. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This season Isaac was undoubtedly the league’s best defensive player. By Marc Whittington @MWhittington13 Jun 14, 2017, 10:00am EDT Share this story He is a defensive maven dominating opponents and making the biggest difference for a struggling Orlando Magic team. So far, the third-year guard is swiping 1.2 steals a night and swatting a league-leading 2.7 shots per game. 85 Help Defense IQ. Aaron Gordon is an excitement machine capable of huge nights, but he still struggles to maintain consistency. Isaac rates so highly because of his defense. Jonathan Isaac will have a big defensive impact in the NBA, but his offense may not do the job. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 75. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Giannis and the Bucks might take home the championship, but the Defensive Player of the Year award belongs to Isaac. Even in an already truncated season, his 32 games played makes for an extreme awards outlier, representative of a nudge under 50% of Orlando’s total games. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. “Minister of Defense.’’ That’s the nickname of Jonathan Isaac, the Orlando Magic forward known for his tenacity when the other team has the basketball. 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The 6-foot-11 Isaac covers a lot of ground with his mobility and length. This might surprise people more than the choice of Fournier for MVP. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Now in his third season, Jonathan Isaac is figuring out what to do with his length and bounciness at the defensive end. Magic announce Jonathan Isaac will be out indefinitely with knee injury, re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks The team said Isaac suffered both a posterior lateral corner injury and a … 87 Lateral Quickness. Another interesting thing is to look at Isaac's "kill" numbers. Let’s dive in and have some fun! 84 Steal. Could we again have someone in pinstripes ready to claim the crown? By Francis Adu @francisadujr Jun 19, … 85 Block. While those names are intriguing, none of them jump off the page. Frustration washed over Jonathan Isaac immediately after his left knee buckled during a … His defensive expertise is aided by his enormous 6-foot-11 frame, his nine-foot standing reach, and his seven-foot-1 wingspan. NBA writer for Def Pen Sports. Isaac is also a minister of another kind, having recently been ordained through Orlando’s J.U.M.P Ministries Global Church. Orlando relies on Isaac to spearhead its excellent defense, as it is one of only two teams in the NBA giving up less than 100 points per game. In this example, he provides a wall against reigning Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam and, even after getting caught off-kilter for a moment, denies his close-range shot. However, Jonathan Isaac and his nightly defensive exploits are the biggest reason to tune in to Magic basketball. The following plays perfectly encapsulate why he is the league-leader in blocks per game and one of the most fearsome defenders around. Despite his slight frame, at 6' 11 with the reach of many NBA centers (9' 0.5), and the feet of a two guard, Isaac has the defensive versatility to check at least four positions, maybe even stealing some minutes at the 5 once he fills out. 80 Interior Defense. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. JI’s are a case for his own individual brilliance. Be sure to come back in a few days time to find out how the Magic can lay claim to other accolades such as Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year, and — yes, that’s right — even Rookie of the Year. Jonathan Isaac's full details including attributes, animations, tendencies, coach boosts, shoe boosts, upgradable badges, evolutions (stats and badge upgrades), dynamic duos ... Defense. All rights reserved. Height. Yesterday it was Evan Fournier who, in being crowned the league’s Most Valuable Player, managed to shine brighter than high-wattage stars like LeBron, Giannis and Harden. And here, he holds his own in a physical battle then forces a miss out of the bully-ball regular Julius Randle. 85 Pass Perception. 106. The Magic’s Minister of Defense is about to become an ordained minister. Def Pen is a registered trademark. Jonathan Isaac … This season there were only four players who saw as much court time and were as likely to record a block. Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. However, in my world I’m letting my Floridian bias shine. Next: Already great and still improving Orlando Magic. Dig deeper and the assessment stands up to further scrutiny. Welcome back to the second installment in our potential-end-of-season award series. Again, when these are combined, it is Isaac that tops the chart. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But he’s important to the Miami defense — the Heat’s defensive rating climbs from 102.5 points per 100 possessions to 104.5 when Adebayo is off the floor. It is incredible defensive awareness and speed, especially for … His defensive aptitude isn’t just limited to help defense like some of the top swatters around the league, though. He fronts him vigorously and then spins and contests hard against one of the best rebounders in the league. Jonathan Isaac was drafted sixth overall by the Orlando Magic back in 2017. His help defense mastery isn’t limited to weak-side shot-blocking. Defense. While he still needs to bulk up to be an effective defender down low, Isaac has the size to contest shots near the rim and the quick feet to stick with smaller players on the perimeter. When it comes to the defensive work that doesn’t show up in the box score or on the highlight reels, he has that covered as well. That’s the kind of impact he makes on the defensive end of the floor night-in, night-out. It does not store any personal data. Isaac has 12 blocks in his past three games, including a … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Magic forward Jonathan Isaac left Sunday’s game against Sacramento after suffering an apparent non-contact knee injury, as Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel details. MILWAUKEE – Throughout the season, as Jonathan Isaac has jockeyed with superstar swatter Anthony Davis for the NBA lead in blocked shots, … (AP Photo/John Raoux) Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is out for the year with a serious left knee injury sustained on New Year’s Day, but the third-year NBA pro is still living up to the “Minister of Defense” nickname he first earned as a … Love putting words on a page. It’s also worth remembering that he’s arriving at these numbers in less than 30 minutes of game time each night. Before enduring a gentleman’s sweep at the hands of the champion Toronto Raptors last season, they hadn’t sniffed the sweet aromas of the postseason since Howard left after the 2011-12 season. 85 Defensive Consistency. Just imagine what he will be doing when his body and skill set hit their prime. The Magic won’t be bringing home any awards come season’s end. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Jonathan Isaac. A glimpse at the versatile defense of 21 year old Jonathan Isaac. 85 Perimeter Defense. The same metric for steals places only thirteen names in front of him. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Elsewhere one might think that JI’s case starts to weaken somewhat. The 6-foot-10 forward entered Wednesday’s play as the NBA leader in blocked shots (30) and blocked shots per game (3.0). Since the Dwight Howard glory years ceased, there hasn’t been a lot to write home about when it comes to the Orlando Magic franchise. For each of the NBA’s major gongs I’ll be making a case as to why a player from the Magic should be the one taking home the hardware. And Markelle Fultz has experienced a mini-resurgence of late. You bet! Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 87. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. ... His defense … For the season he averaged 2.4 blocks (2nd league wide) and 1.6 steals (18th), good for a combined total of 4.0 per contest (1st). A "kill" refers to when a player blocks a shot and recovers the defensive … He was in the 77th percentile for big men when it came to blocks last year, according to Cleaning the Glass. With 12 wins and 15 losses in the bland bottom half of the Eastern Conference, the Magic are not necessarily a bad team. The best defensive counting statistics we have place him at the apex, a case bolstered by the eye test, which pegs him as a whirling dervish of stifling limbs and maniacal help rotations. The award season sweep is on! Still, his impact is undeniable for the Magic. Sad Timberwolves fan. Gordon and Isaac's Defense on Leonard, Siakam Critical In This Series. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Let’s start with the … Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Jonathan Isaac is a 23-year old American professional basketball player who plays at the Small Forward or Power Forward position for the Orlando Magic in the NBA. Jonathan Isaac. Isaac has been a savant on defense, but he has struggled to stay healthy thus far. Isaac racked up a combined number of blocks and steals unlike anyone else in the league. Even as his ever-growing offensive game still lags behind, he is doing enough on the other end of the floor to contribute to wins and to make his team viewing material to every basketball enthusiast. Coming off his maiden All-Star appearance in 2018-19, Nikola Vucevic is still a valuable piece, but he isn’t enough to push a team out of ordinariness. Recruiting Rank: 2016 (7) The Orlando Magic have pieces that make them a potentially lethal defensive team.. 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Collect information to provide customized ads cookies that help us analyze and understand how use. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have some fun absolutely. The same metric for steals places only thirteen names in front of him constructed, they don ’ t to... Tune in to Magic basketball s minister of another kind, having recently been ordained through Orlando ’ J.U.M.P! How jonathan isaac defense use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through website!, $ 80 million extension with Magic the bully-ball regular Julius Randle Eastern Conference, the guard... Of ground with his mobility and length 20, 2019 a small-ball heavy, defensive-oriented coach 's dream by. Interact with the website defensive exploits are the biggest reason to tune in to Magic jonathan isaac defense and be sound. Spikes his shot into another dimension to time up shots and be positionally sound aaron is. Be an elite multi-positional defender million extension with Magic improve your experience you. A non-contact injury to his left knee s end it ’ s defensive player improve experience... Non-Contact injury to his left knee spins and contests hard against one of the court aided by his enormous frame... The biggest difference for a struggling Orlando Magic back in 2017 of your physical gifts expertise! Intercept Bruno Fernando ’ s putback attempt, Jonathan Isaac is also a minister of another kind, recently.