Showing posts with label Orlando Magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orlando Magic. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Postgame Report: Magic 117, Wizards 108

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ORLANDO – Inspired by a post-practice pep talk from one of the greatest shooters in franchise history, the Orlando Magic went out and put on the kind of shooting showcase on Friday night that had to be pleasing for former forward Rashard Lewis.



Lewis, who chose Orlando in free agency back in 2007 and served as a guiding force on the Magic team that reached the 2009 NBA Finals with his dead-eye 3-point shooting, talked to the franchise’s current-day players on Friday morning about two main topics: ``consistency and approach.’’



The Magic apparently took the message to heart and then went out and systematically took apart the slumping Washington Wizards for three quarters before needing to hang on in a tense fourth for a 117-108 victory at the Amway Center.



``We let them get back in the game, which happens in the NBA, but we stuck with our composure and finished the game,’’ said Magic point guard D.J. Augustin, who played a big role in the victory with two big plays after Washington had gotten to within one of Orlando. ``We all know that we have to finish that game off. We lost a game (on Wednesday) night because we didn’t finish the game. Moving forward, we know that we have to not let up until the end.’’



Eager to rebound from a Wednesday loss to the Detroit Pistons when they squandered two double-digit leads, the Magic (5-7) shared the ball and shot it well most of the night and seemed to be on their way to a laugher of a win. An Amway Center crowd of 16,562 looked on in delight as the Magic drilled 10 of their first 20 3-point shots and led by 25 points late in the third quarter.



Washington (2-9) got within 15 by the start of the fourth quarter and remarkably surged to within 106-105 with four minutes to play on a John Wall slicing layup. However, Orlando was able to turn back that spirited charge with a couple of clutch plays from Augustin.



With the Magic up just one and the home crowd obviously feeling the tense situation, Augustin drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing to push the Orlando back up to four. Seconds later, Augustin found Terrence Ross on the fastbreak with an alley-oop lob that put Orlando ahead 111-105 and elicited a burst of rousing noise from the Amway Center faithful.



Augustin, who is in his third season with the Magic, said his team has been good all season about responding – to bad games and to bad stretches within games. On Friday, Orlando responded to Wednesday’s loss and the Washington’s late run with some determined play.



``We know our ultimate goal is to make it to the playoffs this year,’’ said Augustin, who had 11 points, four assists and two 3-pointers. ``We started off slow and everybody was saying, `What’s up with us?’ But it’s a long season. We know that inside this group and the coaches know that and we’re just working hard every day.’’



Orlando guard Evan Fournier (15 points and six assists) followed up Augustin’s clutch baskets with a back-breaking 3-pointer that sealed the victory. Aaron Gordon, who said he sprained his left ankle in the third quarter but played through the pain, had a stellar all-around effort and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 42 minutes. Nikola Vucevic played well against former Magic standout Dwight Howard, contributing 21 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots.



Two nights after Orlando’s second unit played poorly and was a primary reason why the squad lost, the reserves thrived on Friday. Center Mo Bamba made seven of eight shots and finished with 15 points. Jerian Grant chipped in 13 points, while Ross added 12 more points, seven rebounds and three assists.



``Night and day, to me,’’ Magic head coach Steve Clifford said of the play of the team’s reserves. ``Particularly in the first half, they were really good. And they were good on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively.’’



Washington and its NBA-worst defense proved to be the perfect antidote Orlando’s shooting struggles on the season. The Magic carved up a Wizards’ defense that came into the game ranked 30th in points allowed, 29th in 3-point percentage allowed and 25th in field goal percentage surrendered for 51.2 shooting.



What made Orlando’s play even more impressive is the one-sided history between the two teams in recent years. The Magic came into Friday having dropped 17 of the past 20 games against the Wizards. However, on this night Orlando quickly dismissed a 13-2 deficit early in the night by dominating play much of the final three quarters.



Bradley Beal had 27 points and four 3-pointers for Washington. Long-time Magic-killer John Wall chipped in 19 points and 12 assists, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points off the bench. Howard, who is with his sixth NBA organization since forcing his way out of Orlando, had 12 points, eight rebounds and four turnovers in 26 minutes.



Lewis, who played for the Magic from 2007-11, sat near the Orlando bench on Friday and was honored by the franchise as part of its 30thanniversary celebration. Lewis, a long-time favorite of Clifford’s both when he was previously an Orlando assistant coach and now, was a driving force on the Magic teams that reached the NBA Finals in 2009 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010. The forward who made 226, 220 and 178 3-pointers in his first three seasons in Magic pinstripes spoke to Orlando’s players following their morning shoot-around session.



``I’m just waiting for the time when it doesn’t take a loss to spark us and we can get that consistent play,’’ Gordon said. ``Rashard Lewis was talking to us today and said if he could give us two words that were important it was consistency and sacrifice. Those are important to having a successful team and I hope the rest of the guys took that in.



``There are so many pros out there who have played for Orlando, so having the vets who have played here come back and talk to us and support us, it means a ton,’’ added Gordon, whose Magic squad was also addressed by Orlando legend Hedo Turkoglu last week. ``That gives us a good community feeling.’’



The Magic will get their first look at the New York Knicks and former Orlando forward Mario Hezonja when they face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.



Hezonja, the No. 5 pick in 2015 by Orlando, played for the Magic for three seasons, but never lived up to expectations for a variety of reasons. Hezonja signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Knicks last July, in large part, because he knew he would struggle to get playing time in Orlando behind Gordon, Bamba and Jonathan Isaac.



Up 15 at the half thanks to strong performances from their first and second units, the Magic pushed the lead out to a whopping 25 points midway through the third period. Orlando flattened out a bit late in the period, but still had an 89-74 bulge by the start of the fourth quarter.



Orlando got off to a shaky start, but straightened things out quickly and got on track well enough to lead 63-48 at intermission. Despite making just one of their first five shots with two turnovers, the Magic played well enough the rest of the way to shoot 55.8 percent with eight 3-pointers in the first 24 minutes of the game.



Unlike on Wednesday night when the Magic’s second unit struggled and cost the team a potential victory, the reserves set the stage for the stellar first-half play. With the game tied at 23 late in the first quarter, Clifford turned to a lineup of Bamba, Ross, Grant, Simmons and Jarell Martin. That grouping, which met prior to practice on Thursday at the behest of Ross, played well enough to push the lead out to 48-34.



Bamba drilled all four of his shots, including two 3-pointers, for nine first-half points. Bamba said the reserves were determined to redeem themselves following Wednesday’s stinker.



``We definitely played better and there were some early plays that we were able to capitalize on,’’ said Bamba, who unveiled a nifty step-back jumper that he set up by backing forward Jeff Green down into the lane. ``I think just guys getting on the same page really helped.’’



Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.


Terrence Ross taking ownership of sixth man role for Orlando Magic

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Terrence Ross has been the lone bright spot for the Orlando Magic’s bench. But he has proven a vital piece and a potential leader to right the ship.

Terrence Ross still needed to introduce himself to Orlando Magic fans.

Fans liked him plenty from his half season with the team following the Serge Ibaka trade in February 2017. It was a taste of who he was and what he could be. His summer workouts and drive began endearing him to fans.

But his first full season with the Magic was largely a lost one. The team did not get to see him at his best. He suffered a nearly season-ending injury around Thanksgiving.

To that point, he had struggled to shoot while playing a starter role. The enduring image of his season was his decision to ask the coach to take him out of the starting lineup because he thought it would be best for the team.

That selflessness was something that has defined Ross.

Ross’ shooting numbers are not as impressive as one might think. He is hitting on just 40.2 percent from the floor with more than half of his shots coming from beyond the arc. Ross has a 48.5 percent effective field goal percentage. That puts a damper on what could be a career-high 12.5 points per game.

Ross’ shooting and offense is vital for a bench unit that is struggling to generate offense. He is critical for the bench unit that suffered the criticism of their head coach after Wednesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons. There he scored 15 of the team’s 20 points off the bench and made six of their seven field goals.

He is not super efficient. But then again, the Magic have asked him to do a lot — his 23.4 percent usage rate is by far a career high (at his current pace).

But this is not where Ross’ whole value comes.

That comes from his selflessness once again. How he is willing to go the extra mile for his team.

Ross’ value really comes from how he fills the gap on offense with his gravity and his defense with his smarts in help-side defense. He is always someone willing to go the extra mile for the team.

That is seen on the court. He has had multiple plays where he goes diving into the stands or on the floor for loose balls. Ross is always willing to make the sacrifice to save or create a new possession.

Off the court now, Ross seems to be taking to his leadership role with great urgency and focus too.

Ross said after practice Thursday that he gathered the bench players together to discuss their roles and their performance in recent games. It seemed like a constructive meeting in response to Clifford’s pleas to play to a higher standard following Wednesday’s loss.

Those pleas would go unheeded if the players did not act collectively to work with them. Meeting to discuss what they need to do is an important first step. And for a young team without a ton of experience in winning, having a veteran player like Ross step up is exactly what the group needs.

Of course, the devil is in the details. And that is where the Magic have struggled.

For the last six years, Orlando players have often pointed out exactly what the team is doing wrong. The issue with the Magic and its culture has never been about defining the problem. The issue has been solving it and putting words to action on the court.

This Magic team has struggled to stay attentive to detail. They have broken the gameplan or failed to execute at a high enough intensity level. That has been a common thread and a common complaint throughout the early part of the season.

This, as much as anything, is what the Magic have to correct to reach their potential.

Ross has been a big part of the team trying to get its act together. His individual numbers have been solid. His hustle and his energy have clearly made an impact and resonated with fans.

Ross is someone the team has relied on for just about everything.

During the game against the Sacramento Kings, Ross had things rolling. He scored 17 points and was on a roll. He asked out of the game late in the fourth quarter and fans inside the Amway Center as the Magic struggled to score and get back into that game were clearly upset. When he re-entered the game a few moments later, Ross received a standing ovation.

It is not because of pure stats. Ross shot just 7 for 17 in that game. Hardly the efficient outing. And for the year, the Magic have a 94.8 offensive rating with Ross on the floor.

That is largely a product of Ross playing mostly with offense-poor bench lineups. But the team has a 105.9 defensive rating with him on the floor, above the team’s average. His impact there is not clearly seen.

But he clearly has the coach’s trust.

Ross has gotten plenty of time with the starters. The team has had a sort of finisher by committee with at least one spot in the finishing lineup. And with Jonathan Isaac out of the lineup, Terrence Ross has taken over that finishing role. Since that injury, Ross has averaged 29.7 minutes per game while scoring 15.7 points per game and shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Ross on the court is finding his rhythm. And clearly, Clifford is not starting him because he knows he needs Ross’ leadership and scoring punch off the bench. He has found a home in that role.

That is even more so with the Magic shifting minutes around preventing Aaron Gordon from running with the bench unit more. And even more with Jonathon Simmons still working his way back from offseason wrist surgery.

It is clear the Magic need Ross in that role and he has embraced it. It is clear he has taken the responsibility with that gropu to heart. The one thing everyone appreciates about Ross is how much he is for the team over himself. The stats, clearly, are taking care of itself in this contract year.

The question now will be whether Ross can elevate his teammates’ game to meet the team’s needs.

Just like it is for the rest of the roster. They all have to rise to the challenge their coach laid down.

Next: Orlando Magic seeking killer mentality, identity

Ross has played exceptionally well and taken to his new role. But his biggest challenge is helping right this ship.

Orlando Magic Quarter Season Review: Which players are trending in the right direction?

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With a quarter of the season in the books, it’s time for us to look back and evaluate what we’ve seen to this point. Welcome to the first installment of ‘Trending in the Magic Kingdom,’ where we’ll be figuring out who’s up, who’s down and whether or not that glass is half full or empty.


If we’re looking on the bright side, what exactly can we find? What’s got hearts aflutter? Is there a trajectory we should be excited about? Who is trending in the right direction?


For the pessimists: any elephants in the room? Is the bottom falling out somewhere? Where are we hiding the bodies? Is anyone suffering through a protracted losing streak?


Let’s dive in and see what stories have emerged from Orlando so far.


TRENDING UP


Nikola Vucevic’s All-Star case





NBA: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers






Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports



21 games in and it’s plain for all to see: Nikola Vucevic is having his best season to date. He’s currently putting up career figures in points, assists, steals, field goal percentage, three point percentage and free throw percentage. In terms of both per-game totals and rebound percentage he’s only been more effective on the glass once before. He’s blocking shots almost as frequently as last season when he set a personal best. His PER is more than five full points higher than it’s topped out at in any other season. His true shooting percentage is an absurd .615. And if you remove his rookie season from the equation he’s actually doing it all in less court time than he has averaged throughout his career. The man is straight killing it.


Hold up, what’s that noise? Is it? Could it be?


BAH GAWD THAT’S VOOCH’S ALL-STAR CAMPAIGN’S MUSIC!


It’s true (it’s damn true); Vucevic’s fantastic play and the weakened state of the Eastern Conference has him in a strong position to receive an invite to the league’s annual mid-season showcase. LeBron James is gone. Kevin Love has been injured. Al Horford’s production is way down. Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t yet played. Sure Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard now call the East home, and Ben Simmons will be a popular vote (plus he might be a point guard), but it’s starting to feel like one of the frontcourt spots is Vucevic’s to lose.


Orlando’s sometimes-maligned big man is having himself a statistical season to remember. More importantly, he’s solidified himself as the team’s key piece, their offensive fulcrum and serviceable interior defensive presence. He’s been one of the best bigs in the league, as his recent Player of the Week award attests, and is the strongest chance of Magic representation come February. As fans of the franchise we’ve come to expect the wheels to fall off at any minute -- and they yet might! -- but at the moment we should just enjoy the spectacle and, when the time comes, be ready to spam the electronic votes.


Aaron Gordon





NBA: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers






Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports



Aaron Gordon opened the season with a pretty disappointing stretch. A lot of his known flaws were on full display, and with the team struggling it left some wondering whether or not he could be a part of the solution in Orlando.


Things have taken a turn for the better in the time since. After three single-digit scoring games in the season’s opening eight he’s been much more consistent, averaging almost 20 points per game since and hitting at least a dozen each time (ignoring his injury-impacted night against Golden State). He has continued to pass the ball well, showing a willingness to move the rock rather than clog the offense up with isolation plays. His three-point stroke has also remained pretty constant, hovering around the 36% mark for the season. Even something as simple as the fact that he has recorded more dunks lately is an indicator of the effective and assertive play that the Magic need to see from their fifth-year wing.


There are still plenty of questions regarding Gordon and his best use on this team. Can he play the three or is power forward the only way to leverage his talents? Do he and Jonathan Isaac fit alongside each other long term? Will he develop into the plus defender his athletic talents suggest he could be? Is there another level to his play that would vault him into All-Star consideration in years to come? For now, at least, it’s enough that he’s experiencing this uptick and seemingly headed in the right direction.


Terrence Ross





NBA: New York Knicks at Orlando Magic






Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports



Whatever has gotten into Terrence Ross this season has been significantly beneficial for the Magic. He’s been one of the only consistently bright spots for the struggling bench unit, emerging as the team’s ‘sixth starter’ and a key cog in the team’s offense. After last season’s injury-interrupted campaign it’s a welcome sign.


There is one thing that is primarily responsible for Ross’s hot start: his shooting. He’s currently connecting on over 42% of his attempts from deep, a career-best figure for a player who already has a reputation as a long-range threat. When combined with improved finishing in the mid-range it adds up to a healthy true shooting percentage of .586. Chuck in a slight uptick in his passing game and assist rate and you’ve got pretty solid output from a player who hadn’t previously hit his stride in Orlando. Let’s hope there’s even more to come.


Steve Clifford





NBA: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers






Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports



As it currently stands a lot of players on the Magic are enjoying their best production in recent memory. Considering the relative stability of the playing roster, it makes sense to look elsewhere for answers as to why this is the case. The most obvious of those? The new face behind the clipboard.


It’s a tough gig that Steve Clifford signed up for. He’s now in charge of unlocking the at times contradictory and redundant rubik’s cube nature of Orlando’s playing list, a challenge he has so far had some success with. He’s empowered Vucevic on offense. He’s deployed Gordon at the preferred four. He’s encouraged passing and playmaking from all positions. He’s found ways to generate space for shooters.


Perhaps most importantly, he’s begun to establish a culture of responsibility. He’s been consistent in his public comments about the expectations he has of all players and their performance. He has called the team out after bad losses, challenging them to respond the next time they take court. He’s ruled out the enjoyment of moral victories.


Clifford hasn’t punched the team’s ticket to the NBA Finals just yet. But he does seemingly have the team playing consistently hard and the right way, which is a major improvement over some of the more bleak stretches of recent years. It might be one small step for man, but it feels like a giant leap for residents of the Magic Kingdom.


TRENDING DOWN


Evan Fournier





NBA: Orlando Magic at Golden State Warriors






Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports



I don’t mean to keep piling on him, but it’s been a pretty tough start to the season for Evan Fournier. The Magic really need his shooting and playmaking on the wing, and at the moment he’s only been able to contribute the latter. The former? The dude is ice cold.


Fournier is currently shooting 29% from deep and 41% from the field on the season, both of which would comfortably be the worst figures posted in his time in Orlando. The expectation is that these numbers will bounce back and edge closer to his career averages, but it’s not a guarantee. Some of the attempts just feel a little wonky, whether they’re taken under pressure, early in the clock, or from an off-balance position (particularly as he navigates out of a screen hand-off). If he’s going to get his groove back he probably needs to start by locating more effective shot selection.


The recent loss to the Warriors felt like we might have hit the bottom. His low-percentage contributions in the second half aided in crippling Orlando’s offense, playing a key role in the 24 point swing the team gave up. He missed all five of his attempts during the third quarter (and all six in the second half), none of which could have been described as the optimal chance for that possession. There were ill-advised drives, clunky mid-range attempts, and weird threes taken after shuffling out of an open opportunity. After the game Clifford said that he’s carrying an injury; if true, it might be best to shut Fournier down until he’s 100%.


Jonathon Simmons





NBA: Washington Wizards at Orlando Magic






Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports



Everything I just said about Fournier? Apply it to Jonathon Simmons as well. Through the season’s first 21 games he’s barely been able to hit the side of a barn when letting fly with the ball (32% from the field). Worryingly, he’s only been a little better when operating as a playmaker for the team.


The low point came during the team’s game against the Raptors. Benched for the second half, he also found himself out of the team’s meaningful rotation in the next game against the Nuggets. Clifford never explicitly aired the reasons, but it’s a safe assumption that his inefficient dominance of the ball and frustrating tendency to attack the defense on his lonesome was at the root of his brief relegation.


Simmons is back in the rotation now -- in fact, he started against the Warriors -- but a message of sorts has been sent. The team has prioritized cohesion and effective ball movement, and a failure to buy-in looks like it briefly forced him out. Orlando undoubtedly need more from Juice going forward. Can he be the bench spark plug the team need him to be?


Jerian Grant





NBA: Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics






Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports



I’ve spent a decent amount of time already this season digging into Jerian Grant’s statistics, and the best thing I can say about him is that his nickname is apparently ‘Bam-Bam’. If that sounds harsh, it’s because it is. He’s been bad.


Courtesy of an early cold streak opposing defenses are playing way off him, sagging into help positions and daring him to shoot. Grant hasn’t been able to make them pay, and as a result teammates have seen lanes to the hoop and the space needed to get a step on their man dry up. Add to this the fact that, when compared to last season, he’s passing less effectively, turning the ball over more often, and basically not getting to the free throw line. In short, he’s not really doing any of the things that are expected of the point guard position.


The Magic have been really bad in the time that Grant spends on the court. His plus/minus mark of minus-9.8 points per 100 possessions stands out as particularly awful, and is debilitating for a team trying to stay afloat in the race for the eighth seed. Not all of the blame for this lays with him, but at this stage it’s hard to make an argument for him to stay in the rotation beyond a lack of other options.


Jonathan Isaac’s ankles





NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic






Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports



An 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. Five blocks in 16 minutes. The tantalizing prospect of B.I.G. Hustle, energy and enthusiasm in spades. It’s early in the season, but already the glimmering potential of Jonathan Isaac’s game has been evident.


Six missed games. A minutes limit. Ankle braces. Anxiety-inducing deep dives with experts. It’s early in the season but already the worrying nature of Isaac’s persistent ankle injuries has been evident.


The latest injury is hardly a death sentence, but it certainly is dispiriting for Magic fans who were hoping to see more of Isaac on the court in season two. Instead, it’s felt like a false-start already, with the interruption costing him both his starting position and envisioned role in the rotation. The team isn’t really any closer to knowing how his and Gordon’s games will mesh, a major question mark for the franchise moving forward. The fact that we’re already talking about his lower extremities is a trend we must hope becomes a thing of the past.


The season is still young but already certain trends -- both good and bad -- have started to emerge for the Magic. Even the 10-11 record that the team sports is evidence of the ups and downs experienced to this point. We’ll be back after the next twenty games to determine which way the wind is blowing as we reach the halfway point, but before then be sure to jump into the comments and give us your take on the team’s pulse.




Portland Trail Blazers vs. Orlando Magic: Game preview, TV channel, how to watch live stream

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Posted November 27, 2018 at 02:08 PM | Updated November 27, 2018 at 02:11 PM










Bamba Developed Love for Game Near Famed MSG

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NEW YORK – Madison Square Garden, a famed basketball building where Mo Bamba has been several times as a patron but never as a player, helped to crystalize his dreams of someday playing the NBA.



But as for the 7-footer’s start in basketball and his deep love for the sport, that was cultivated and refined some 4 ½ miles away at another basketball mecca not nearly as bright and shiny as Madison Square Garden.



``The Kingdome,’’ as it’s known to Bamba and others who have spent hours there in Harlem playing pick-up basketball on the asphalt courts, will always hold a special place in the big man’s heart for so many reasons.



It’s where the Orlando Magic rookie center dunked a basketball for the first time at the age of 13, and where he used to be ``a perimeter dude’’ and someone who could ``really handle (the ball) a lil’ bit.’’ It’s also a no-excuses, no-nonsense place where he was taught the importance of defense and shot blocking because if someone scored on you three times in a row, you got kicked off the courts.



Playground legends Nate ``Tiny’’ Archibald, Ron Artest, Kenny Anderson and Rafer Alston made it to the NBA from those courts, but that’s not the defining characteristic of ``The Kingdome’’ for Bamba. For him, basketball there was a safe haven from his hard-scrabble surroundings.



``It was, like, an outlet to me, and it was a way to get away from all of the madness that was going on,’’ Bamba said of life in Harlem, where he lived in the housing complex across the streets of the basketball courts.



Bamba, 20, wishes many of those gritty, trash-talking players from back in the day at ``The Kingdome’’ could see his game now considering the strides that he’s made rather quickly at the NBA level. Fresh off a 15-point, three-assist, two-block night in the Magic’s defeat of the Washington Wizards, Bamba will be in New York on Sunday to play an NBA game for the first time as a professional. This time around, he’ll be at Madison Square Garden as a player – and not the quasi-Knicks fan that he was while growing up in New York – for the first time in his life.



Whereas Bamba’s return to New York might seem like a scene straight out of Central Casting in Hollywood, he is quick to downplay the magnitude of the moment. Maybe it’s because he grew up in playing on asphalt instead of hardwood and under street lights instead of stage lights, but the big man simply doesn’t consider his return that big of a deal.



``Absolutely (he dreamed of playing at Madison Square Garden), but as far as an `I-made-it-feeling,’ I don’t really think that comes anytime soon,’’ said Bamba, who feels he hasn’t even gotten close to showing his full potential as a basketball player yet. ``I didn’t have that feeling for the (NBA) Draft and I didn’t have that feeling when I signed (an endorsement deal) with Under Armor. There’s just so much more.’’



That’s certainly what the Magic (5-7) want to hear. The franchise has been out of the playoffs each of the past six seasons and it picked the 7-foot, 221-pound Bamba with the No. 6 pick in last June’s Draft with the hopes that he can eventually become a transformational player.



Orlando has attempted to bring Bamba along slowly, using him as a reserve and as an understudy to starter Nikola Vucevic, but he’s steadily gained more and more trust and respect of his teammates and head coach Steve Clifford. Many of them feel that because of Bamba’s rare combination of towering size, off-the-charts length, agility and basketball IQ that he is on a can’t-miss path toward greatness.



``Everything is still new to him, but I love his attitude,’’ Clifford said of Bamba, who heads into Sunday’s game against the Knicks averaging 6.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.67 blocks in 19 minutes a night. ``He’s very bright, he wants to do well and he’s figuring out how he has to play to play well.



``I’m going to say this: He’s so smart and he’s really working, and two months from now – he’s playing fine now, too – but (in two months) he’ll be a much, much better player,’’ the veteran coach added.



That, undoubtedly, will be a progression worth watching as the 7-foot Bamba already possesses the kind of skill and maturity of someone well beyond his years. On Friday, he made a 3-pointer and seven of eight shots, and on his one miss, he snatched the rebound out of the air and finished in traffic.



There was also a play where he soared high above Washington guard Austin Rivers for a rebound and a thunderous dunk, but that moment paled in comparison to what Bamba pulled off in the third quarter. After noticing that the floor was wide open, Bamba dribbled twice with his left hand to back down 6-foot-9 Washington forward Jeff Green before stepping back for a feathery-soft jumper that found the bottom of the basket. Had he pulled his right leg up a bit higher on the virtually unblockable fade-away, the shot might have resembled something that fellow 7-footer, Dirk Nowitzki, might have used.



The true beauty of the play was its simplicity and Bamba’s calm, measured approach.



``I’ve never really played fast,’’ he said. ``I love fast breaks and I love playing full-court basketball, but offensively in the half court, I kind of take my time, let guys cut and let the defense move. Then, if I have a move, I’ll go. If not, I’ll just hand it off to a teammate.



``That (fadeaway shot) is something that I’ve definitely been working on …,’’ he added. ``I’m not a guy who is out there looking to get his game going or put up shots; I’m out there to win and I don’t care if I’m playing three or 30 minutes. But (step-back jumpers) are definitely an area that I’ve worked on. I wouldn’t have shot it if I wasn’t comfortable with it.’’



The foundation of Bamba’s feel for the game, footwork in the post and his understanding of how to set opponents up came, of course, came during those times playing pick-up basketball at ``The Kingdome.’’



The tall and lanky son of parents who had immigrated from West Africa, Bamba didn’t always have it easy while trying to make friends or fit in with others. But basketball perfectly fit a frame that was 6-foot by the time he was 12 years old and 6-8 by his sophomore year of high school and it provided him with plenty of confidence. He was a vastly different player back in those days, he stressed, but those playground battles ultimately shaped who he has become as a basketball star.



``It’s all good stuff and all good memories. It makes me who I am today,’’ he said. ``I truly have New York embedded in my blood.



``I was actually a perimeter dude back then. All it was then, really, was three-on-three basketball and four-on-four basketball and no one is posting up in those games,’’ he recalled with a smile. ``I was telling (Magic rookie) Mel (Frazier Jr.) on the bench, `I really used to handle it a little bit!’ (His teammates) don’t really believe me, but I’ll bring that out of my bag in a little bit.’’



Other than possibly seeing a few family members, Bamba said he doesn’t plan to do much while in New York because ``it’s a business trip.’’ But, undoubtedly, he’ll think about that basketball path that led him to getting this chance to play at Madison Square Garden as an NBA player. He’s headed back home a much player than he was as a kid on those asphalt courts and a little part of him wishes those foes could see his game now.



``It feels great when you work on something so long and you see signs of growth,’’ he said. ``When you see it starting to pay off, it’s such a great feeling.’’



Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.


Magic Missed Gordon's Defense in Second Half Against Warriors

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PORTLAND – In the 5 ½ games prior to Monday night’s second half, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon had guarded a veritable all-star team and not even the explosive firepower of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Ben Simmons and Paul Millsap could put a dent in his defensive armor.



Then, out of nowhere, Gordon’s body betrayed him, and left him feeling about as helpless as most defenders usually do while trying to check superstars such as James, Durant and Leonard.



Forced to remain in bowels of Oracle Arena because of debilitating back spasms, Gordon could only look on at television coverage in disgust as his defensive assignment for the night, Durant, got to cooking in the second half. By the time the Golden State superstar buried a cold-blooded, straight-on 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac with 21 seconds to play, Durant had scored 29 of his game-high 49 in the second half and lifted the defending champion Warriors by the Magic, 116-110.



The only thing that hurt Gordon more than his stiff back was his bruised pride.



``It was terrible,’’ Gordon said of having to watch Durant go off from a TV set in the locker room. ``It was like a nightmare.’’



The Magic (10-11) undoubtedly would agree with Gordon’s assessment after they led by as much as 18 points twice – at 58-40 late in the second quarter and at 76-58 midway through the third period – only to see the three-time-champion Warriors rally. Durant scored 29 second-half points by making nine of 17 shots and all nine of his free throws and Klay Thompson had 19 points and five threes in the fourth quarter alone. Those two scored 32 of Golden State’s 37 fourth-quarter points, allowing the Warriors to escape with an 11th consecutive defeat of Orlando.



``In other years it felt like we were trying to steal one here; tonight, it felt like we let one go,’’ muttered an irked Gordon, who classified himself as ``day-to-day’’ for Wednesday’s game in Portland because of the back troubles.



Clearly, things could have been different in the second half had Gordon – the Magic’s best on-ball defender all season – had been able to play in the second half. Over the previous two weeks, Gordon had done a phenomenal job in guarding Philadelphia’s Simmons (three-of-five shooting, nine points), Los Angeles’ James in Orlando (eight-of-19 shooting, 22 points), Toronto’s Leonard (eight-of-16 shooting, 18 points), Denver’s Millsap (five-of-eight shooting, 14 points) and James in Los Angeles on Sunday (eight-of-14 shooting, 24 points). In that five-game stretch, Simmons (15.5 points per game), James (28.3 points per game) and Leonard (24.7 points per game) failed to get their season averages in scoring against Gordon while Millsap (12.9 points per game) barely eclipsed his season mark.



On Monday, Durant had 20 points by halftime and 26 by the time a hobbled Gordon mercifully asked out of the game because the pain in his back reduced his mobility. However, nothing was easy for Durant as he missed four of his first five shots and seven of 11 to begin the game.



Here are what might have been the most telling statistics of the game: When Gordon hobbled off the floor with 6:35 left in the third quarter, Durant had made just 10 of 21 shots and two of five 3-pointers and Orlando led 70-58. With Gordon out, Durant hit six of 12 shots, two of five 3-pointers and nine of nine free throws for 23 points the rest of the way.



``We wore down,’’ Magic coach Steve Clifford said, referring to how much his team missed Gordon’s defense on Durant in the second half. ``Evan (Fournier) was playing hurt and I thought he did a real good job on Thompson, especially in the first half. I got concerned because (Fournier) was starting to limp around out there, too. (Not having Gordon) screwed up our rotations and the group that we had out there in the third quarter, that wouldn’t have been the group (on the floor). That’s really, to me, where the game got away.’’



The 23-year-old Gordon said he’d never experienced back spasms before Monday, but he admitted ``it’s been creeping up on me for a couple of days now.’’ He said he felt a twinge in his back early in the third period when he tried to get back to Durant on a screen-and-roll play. Maybe, just maybe, the enormous weight of having to guard the likes of James (twice), Durant, Leonard, Simmons and Millsap finally took its toll on the strapping, 6-foot-9, 230-pound Gordon.



``They’re all good players, they have a lot of know-how and a lot of energy,’’ Gordon said of having to check a Who’s Who of NBA stars in recent weeks. ``But it would have been nice to be able to stay out on the floor (on Monday).’’



As if being forced to watch Durant’s offensive explosion from the locker room wasn’t enough of an indignity, Gordon – a native of nearby San Jose, Calif. – wasn’t able to fully perform before the approximately 40 friends and family at the game and in an Oracle Arena suite high above the Magic’s bench. The group had little to cheer for on the Magic’s offensive end of the floor as Gordon missed all six of his shots. However, he was so good defensively against Durant that the Magic were a plus-11 on the scoreboard in Gordon’s 22 minutes on the floor.



``You know (Gordon), he would have played through it,’’ said Clifford, who has noted repeatedly this season that the forward has played through a myriad of injuries. ``But when he says, `I’ve got to come out,’ you know he’s in a lot of pain.’’



In the end, Gordon could only look on in disgust from the locker room as Durant poured in big shot after big shot to lift Golden State past Orlando. In pained him even more having to see the 21-year-old Isaac try to guard Durant. Gordon confidently predicted that would have given the Magic a better shot at slowing down Durant because of his experience in battling the superstar forward through the years.



``I watched the game and being able to guard K.D., I know how he plays and for somebody like Jon (Isaac) to go out there and it be the first time he’s guarded (Durant), I feel bad,’’ Gordon said. ``I just feel terrible that I wasn’t able to help my team win.’’



Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.


Aaron Gordon finding out how to make a difference without scoring

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Aaron Gordon’s absence from the game was noticeable as the Golden State Warriors raced ahead. Gordon is making a big impact without scoring.

Kevin Durant sized up Jonathan Isaac as the time wound down and the Golden State Warriors up one point. He was at the top of the key and looking to get into his shot or drive to the basket. He had just drawn at the very best a questionable foul call on a drive to put the Warriors up and in control of the game by one point. Nikola Vucevic could not answer on the other end.

Jonathan Isaac has already staked a reputation as a strong defender. He makes a difference on that end. And Isaac was game against Durant. In one sequence in the third quarter, he was faceguarding Durant at the top of the key and poked the ball loose from Damian Jones just from his length alone. That keyed an 11-point third quarter for Isaac when he scored 15 points in the game.

But now he was on an island. On an island in more ways than one — playing more than 30 minutes for the first time in his career without a viable backup to help and Gordon out of the game.

Durant did what he does. He had the threat of the drive and Isaac probably had the confidence in his reach to contest. But Durant rose up and hit a three over Isaac to give the Warriors a four-point lead, essentially icing the game.

Magic fans likely have to ask themselves a bit what would have happened with Aaron Gordon in the game. Some tightness in his back kept him out for most of the second half. But to that point, Gordon was as strong as any player on the team.

In the first half, Durant scored 20 of his 49 points in the first half. But he made just 7 of 16 shots. The Magic made his shots difficult and challenged him at the rim. Durant had only four free throws at halftime.

A lot of that credit should go to his primary defender in Aaron Gordon. He was physical without fouling and challenged Durant’s shots to make his life that much more difficult. Durant got his points, but the flow of the Warriors’ smoothe offense got disrupted from Gordon acting as a roadblock.

The Magic built a 17-point halftime lead on that and the other defenders’ efforts, expanding it with a late second-quarter run to that point. In a hair less than 22 minutes Gordon was a +11 on the court. Granted, that was because he played so little of the second half.

But what might have been more impressive was Gordon made such a clear impact without scoring. He failed to make any of his six field goals. He grabbed only four rebounds. But his impact was undeniable.

Isaac was trying his best against Durant. He tried to crowd him and challenge shots. But Durant got into a rhythm and Isaac, playing 30 minutes for the first time in his career, ran out of gas. That likely led to him giving Durant maybe that half-inch extra of space Durant needed. Isaac certainly struggled to stand up physically to Durant despite their similarly slender frames.

While Isaac played one of the best games of his career — on both ends — he is still building strength and coming out of his minutes restriction. He is a gifted defender, but still learning the ins and outs of the NBA.

Durant certainly took advantage of that, drawing several fouls on Isaac through the fourth quarter as he put an onslaught on the team on his way to 49 points.

Gordon did not have that disadvantage. He was able to get into Durant and use his size and strength to keep Durant in front of him and challenge all his shots.

This is a common thread for Gordon throughout the season.

Entering Monday’s game, Gordon has accumulated 0.7 defensive win shares, the same amount as his rookie year. He has a 1.0 defensive box plus-minus. According to the NBA’s stats database, opponents are shooting 46.2 percent against him. The Magic have a 106.5 defensive rating with Gordon on the court, well below the team’s average.

All impressive marks considering he is defending the best player on the opposing team every night.

Defense is notoriously difficult to measure. So some of these can be somewhat mitigated by recognizing Gordon has played in the Magic’s best defensive lineups. It is not because of him. But it sure helps.

Coach Steve Clifford said before the season he hoped Aaron Gordon could crack the all-defensive team in the NBA. Gordon certainly has that talent and ability to reach those levels. He may yet get there with his strong defense.

And he has played to that level, gaining his coach’s trust. It is hard to take Gordon off the court for both his offensive and defensive contributions.

But the larger point coming out of this — and coming out from the rest of the season — is just how serious Gordon’s impact is outside of his scoring. The whole tenor for the Magic changed defensively after Gordon left the game Monday night. Orlando almost certainly could have used his presence and calmness to slow down the growing Warriors’ storm.

That was not the case last year.

Last year, Gordon would step up his defensive game against elite opponents. But he would often try to force his offense to match too. This would lead to him taking wild shots or overdribbling into mid-range jumpers.

Those poor habits are still present, but he has limited them, focusing on other parts of his game. His rebounding is generally up and improved. His shooting is more efficient and he is picking his spots to attack better.

And in a game where he did not make any shots, Gordon made his presence felt with his defense. He certainly did that in his absence.

It is still unclear whether Gordon will miss time with the back injury that knocked him out of Monday’s game. It was a major turning point in the game. As good as Nikola Vucevic has been on both ends, Aaron Gordon still represents a major part of the team’s puzzle.

An almost indispensable part. At least against the elite wings in the league.

This is is a major step for him and his growth. To make that impact even if he is not scoring. Even if his offense is taken away. Orlando clearly carried the load Gordon left them. The Magic did everything could to stem the tide against the Warriors.

Next: Grades: Golden State Warriors 116, Orlando Magic 110

If Gordon were in there, perhaps things would have been different. It feels like Gordon would have made sure of that.

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