Southeast Notes: Mosley, George, Jovic, Hawks

The magic have had a disappointing yr relative to their preseason expectations. They have performed at round a .500 stage since a 10-4 run in November and located themselves only a half-game forward of the Tenth-seed Heat coming into Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Pelicans.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the crew is prone to make head coach Jamahl Mosley the scapegoat for the crew’s struggles, a transfer Bianchi considers to be typical of how NBA groups function however nonetheless misguided.

Bianchi notes the accidents to gamers like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggsand Anthony Black that derailed Orlando’s makes an attempt at constructing momentum all through the season, but in addition targeted on the crew’s lack of effort and toughness in moments when it issues most, corresponding to shedding huge video games to the Raptors and Hawks whereas making an attempt to make up floor for the postseason. He means that if the Magic fireplace Mosley, it won’t be as a result of he is a nasty coach, however to offer an excuse for a crew that has disenchanted and proven a scarcity of coronary heart.

We have extra from across the Southeast Division:

• Following up on the latest news that Kyshawn George will miss the remainder of the Wizards‘season, head coach Brian Keefe spoke on what he noticed from the second-year ahead’s season. “I had a terrific year,” Keefe stated, per Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link). “This guy made a huge jump, and that’s a credit to him and the amount of work he put in this summer. We’re really excited for a bright future for him.” Keefe added that George deliberate to work on his physique this offseason and referred to as him “a great example for our organization and the kind of guys we want.”
• Nikola Jovic was anticipated to step into a bigger function for the Heat this season after signing a four-year rookie scale extension, however he struggled to regulate to the crew’s elevated tempo and new model, Barry Jackson writes for the Miami Herald. Jovic solely appeared in two of Miami’s final 10 video games, the newest one ending with him limping off with a sprained ankle. “Last year was easy because of the offense we ran and the way we played, I kind of knew what my role was“,” he said. “This year, with an offense where you don’t have calls and don’t really know where to be at what time, it’s hard for me because sometimes I play five [center]sometimes I play [four]sometimes I have the ball in my hands, sometimes I don’t… It’s hard because you never get similar looks.”
• The Hawks they’ve received 4 straight video games and 6 of their final seven. With every week to go, they are going to now face considered one of their hardest checks of the season as they appear to safe a top-six seed, Lauren Williams writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Hawks will play the Knicks, the Cavaliers twice, and eventually the Heat over the following week, which Williams notes is the second-hardest remaining schedule within the league. With a document of 45-33, they sit two video games forward of the Raptors and Sixers, who’re tied for sixth within the East following Toronto’s loss on Sunday.