Orlando Magic's Strong Preseason Performance Linked to Outstanding Play from Five Likely Starters
by Evan Dunlap on Oct 21, 2010 9:01 AM EDT
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PrintOne of the reasons the Orlando Magic picked up Quentin Richardson this summer is his experience; he's a 10-year veteran used to filling a specific need for three-point shooting, particularly from the wings, as well as his competitive fire on the defensive end. And while it's hard to glean too much from the preseason data, they indeed indicate the Magic aren't missing many beats with Richardson filling the small forward role Matt Barnes did last season.
The probable opening-night starting unit for Orlando, which includes Richardson and Rashard Lewis at the forwards, Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter at the guards, and Dwight Howard at center, has simply laid waste to teams so far in the preseason. Check out these numbers:
| Opponent | Mins | Offense | Defense | Diff. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | Poss. | Rating | Pts | Poss. | Rating | |||
| Houston | 9:08 | 23 | 19 | 121.1 | 19 | 19 | 100.0 | 21.1 |
| New Orleans | 6:05 | 14 | 12 | 116.7 | 8 | 12 | 66.7 | 50.0 |
| Atlanta | 12:10 | 27 | 22 | 122.7 | 11 | 21 | 52.4 | 70.3 |
| Dallas | 12:06 | 27 | 23 | 117.4 | 12 | 23 | 52.2 | 65.2 |
| TOTAL | 39:29 | 91 | 76 | 119.7 | 50 | 75 | 66.7 | 53.0 |
Clearly, it'd be unfair to Richardson's teammates to give all the credit to him for the starting unit's dominance in the 7-0 preseason. But the strong start has allayed any concerns that he'd rock the boat, so to speak. Based on these returns, it's hard to argue any other five-man group should get the nod on opening night. Mickael Pietrus, Richardson's backup, has yet to play with this foursome yet this preseason, which should give some indication as to what his chances of starting come next Thursday are.
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Richardson starting over Pietrus??
I’d rather Pietrus… Then again, I’d rather Gortat or Bass at the PF spot and move Lewis down to the SF..
did you watch the games so far ?
MP deserves the bench soooooo much
Don't mind my spelling. I'm a Typo Master.
Such a shame too, since there were reports of him performing so well...
…before he re-aggravated his wrist
by Alan J Ganssle on Oct 21, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Not to be rude, but did you even read this post?
50+ point differential in offensive/defensive efficiency with Richardson with the starters. Pietrus did not look good in last nights game. Richardson has been playing effectively. There is 0% chance that won’t be our starting lineup outside of an injury.
Pietrus still getting over his hand injury.
His perimeter defense was still flat-out smothering, and his shooting stroke will come back as his recovery progresses. I don’t think it will take long for Pietrus to be back in the form we saw him last year, and likely even better deep into the season.
That said, yeah, he shouldn’t get the start right now. Q is playing well, and those starting 5 stats are great. Pietrus can take some time off the bench while he finds his shot.
by The BBQ Chicken Madness on Oct 21, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Pietrus shouldn't start because he makes a great 6th man.
He’s one of those guys who can just dominate against the opposition’s bench. I think he’s much more useful in the second unit. Quentin Richardson is the complete opposite though. Because so many of his points come from threes, he’s useful in any line-up. Q Rich’s game is much less decided by the quality of the defense he’s up against.
I hope Orlando can play like this during teh regular season and I also hope to thehigh heavens that Vince carter can play this this during the playoffs.
The magic have been one of my favorite team in the east for a couple or seasons, especially because they reminded me so much of the phx suns, and I think this year is the year that can push them over the top. Nelson is primed and eady to go,, howard is focused a determined, and SVG can utilize his slew of forwards in a variety of ways. I like the depth, the chemistry, the coaching, and especially the three point stroke that the magic have on display.
"Remember this sh*t at christmas!"-Terry Crews, The Expendables
I think Carter should play light minutes during the season and let JJ play a lot. Keep Carter refreshed (like he is now) so he can play like this in the playoffs.
And on the flip side
Get Redick ready to play extended minutes if Vince goes into a funk in the playoffs.
If you were a man I would punch you, right in the mouth.
Definitely. There isn’t a better player we could of got at the price then Q-Rich. I’ll go as far to say he finally completed our starting line-up for the first time ever. We have no holes in Gundy’s ideal system.
MP isn’t disciplined enough to start. I used to love him but last year, we’d go on a run to get back in some tough games, and he’d launch a fade-away three early. He’d get hot sometimes but it would cost the game sometimes to find that out. You would see our players almost pass to him before changing their mind. That type of player needs to come off the bench. His defense is dang good on a positive note.
I always think that if a MP shot goes in, it's because he got lucky
And not because of skill.
That’s how strange and ugly his shot looks.
Pietrus never really gelled with Lewis, Howard, and Nelson.
I’ve always like him as a spark off the bench, it adds to the depth of the team. Richardson fits in perfect with this group.
One Freaken Second
Can ya run the same numbers with nelson carter lewis bass howard? That line up seemed way more more destructive but I know thats pretty subjective so I want to see #’s.
Thanks, even knowing that much makes me more enthusiastic about the line up. I know bass isn’t the most efficient player on the team but the dude can score. When we can’t find a bucket in normal rotation, the answer when he’s in has been to give him the ball. This does have an effect on his efficiency, but I don’t care. The fact that their going to him and he is still scoring at a reasonable rate on mostly 1 on 1 plays on the block with short shot clocks while being able to shoot says all I think it needs to about Bass. I really hope we don’t trade him.
by David Polega on Oct 21, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha I can't wait to see those numbers.
Because that makes no sense to me. Rashard at the 3 seems like such a great offensive mismatch for us, but man. Then again, it’s the pre-season, and the opposing matchups might play a part in that as well as a lack of reps for the Magic. Many of those line-ups that the Magic face while Rashard has been at the 3 have been backups.
I love LeBron. No really, I love Jameer.
These numbers are difficult right? I mean, we’d have to consider which unit they were playing against during these stretches together on the floor.
Right, it's not adjusted for opponent quality at all. Which is why it's hard to take too much from it.
by Evan Dunlap on Oct 22, 2010 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions
True, but it is assumed that in a larger sample that variable is conditioned by default.
Having that said, staticians draw all kinds of inferences based on smaller samples, and it is OK as long as the limitations are disclosed. The approach is: don’t make much of it, but anything is better than nothing.
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