FanPost

Orlando Magic Weekly Progress Report, 11/4-11/9

I want to try and add a feature to the OPP Community that hasn't been here in the recent past. I'm going to put out weekly progress reports reflecting stats and comments about individual players on the roster from the prior week's slate of games. As a teacher, this is right up my alley! In the comments section below, please feel free to agree or disagree with any of my assessments, or simply just let me know if this is something that might be interesting to read on a week to week basis. Enjoy!

Week 2 (11/4: @ Chicago, 11/5: @ Philadelphia, 11/7: vs. Minnesota, 11/9: @ Brooklyn)

Tobias Harris (4 GP), Grade: B+

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

STL

FG%

FT%

38

16.7

9

1.5

3

1.2

46

77 (10-13)

Wow, that's a lot of minutes! I say that because it was noticeable Sunday that Tobias had some tired legs. He really struggled to match-up at either forward position with the more athletic Joe Johnson and/or the longer and more physical Kevin Garnett. All things considered though, it was a really positive week for Harris. He played well in Chicago, hit the game-winner in Philadelphia, and posted a double-double against Minnesota. Again, he just really lost some steam (and ruined a chance at a higher grade) closing the week out the way he did at the Barclays Center.

Nikola Vucevic (4 GP), Grade: B

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

BLK

FG%

FT%

35

19.2

9.7

2.2

3.7

0.7

53

100 (4-4)

Here's another guy in Vucevic that's playing 35+ minutes/game, well above his career average. It seemed like Nik was a little tired in the 2nd half against Chicago and Philadelphia, that's just something he's going to have to push through. When Kyle O'Quinn comes back, I don't predict Nik will continue to play so many minutes. Vucevic only took a mere four FT's this week, but the two that he converted Friday night to tie the game against Minnesota were huge. It's nice to see a Center for Orlando confidently toe the line in the 4th quarter and knock down both attempts in the clutch! Nik just has to get his turnovers under control...

Evan Fournier (4 GP), Grade: B+

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

FG%

3P%

35

15.5

2.7

3.2

1.2

48

50 (7-14)

Evan continued to shoot the ball effectively in Week 2. I have been equally as impressed with Fournier's ability to attack and finish at the rim. Fournier got off to a quick start offensively in the first quarter multiple times this past week. He took care of the ball this week, effectively limiting his turnovers. Still, Evan has a ways to go on the defensive side of the floor. Huge games were had opposite Fournier this week by Jimmy Butler and Bojan Bogdanovic respectively.

Channing Frye (4 GP), Grade: C+

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

FG%

3P%

34

10.2

7

2.2

2

53

47 (8-17)

Frye had a much better Week 2 compared to last week, but that's not saying much. His rebounding numbers this past week were solid and he shot the ball effectively from the outside. I'm not holding Channing's lack of FT attempts against him (1-1 this week); he's never really gotten to the line his entire career. I'm just wondering how successful a team can be with a starting PF playing 30+ minutes per game while only getting to the line once (if he gets there at all)? I have no basis to back this up (since I haven't seen them play together), but I do feel that Frye will be most effective and best utilized eventually playing alongside Oladipo. I can foresee Victor and Channing running a nice pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop two-man game.

Elfrid Payton (4 GP), Grade: C

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

STL

FG%

FT%

32

8.5

4.2

5.5

3

2.5

33

50 (6-12)

The learning process continued in Week 2 for young Elfrid Payton. Payton has really struggled so far in the NBA to finish at the rim. His shooting/scoring efficiency numbers have been horrid. The overall numbers for the week are bad, but Payton singlehandedly willed the team to victory in Philadelphia, contributing two points, two steals, an assist, and one HUGE offensive rebound in the last three minutes of the game on Wednesday. Elfrid has continued to make plays for others, and has started to develop a nice rapport with Nik Vucevic especially. He has a long way to go, and he will have every opportunity to improve each week.

Maurice Harkless (3 GP), B+

MPG

PPG

REB

TO

STL

FG%

FT%

18

6.6

4

0.6

1.3

67

80 (4-5)

After failing to log any minutes in the Windy City Tuesday night, Harkless turned in two very solid performances against the Sixers and Timberwolves. Harkless came up big defensively in the 4th quarter Friday night, helping trap Kevin Martin off an inbound, resulting in a turnover (and eventually the game tying free throws from Vucevic). Maurice ended the week with a dud performance, leaving me wanting more out of the third-year forward. I am proud of the way Harkless has carried himself despite not receiving the minutes he (and we all) thought he would get; he's been a professional about it all and has seemed ready to play when his number is called. I still want to see a little more assertiveness from him, and that will hopefully come as his role becomes more defined this season.

Luke Ridnour (4 GP), Grade: B-

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

FG%

3P%

17

6.25

2.5

2.5

1.75

44

38 (3-8)

Ridnour had another relatively unremarkable week, and his grade would've been a lot worse if not for his strong game on Sunday afternoon. Luke turned in his best performance to date in an Orlando uniform against the Nets, posting 11 points, connecting on all three of his 3-point attempts, and dishing out four assists (compared to zero turnovers).

Ben Gordon (4 GP), Grade: C-

MPG

PPG

REB

AST

TO

FG%

FT%

16

5.25

1.25

2

1.5

38

83 (5-6)

Gordon had one solid game this week (@ Philadelphia), but received very little run over the weekend. Ben hit some big shots in the 4th quarter on Wednesday that helped keep Orlando in the game. Still, it seems like Gordon's game is pretty limited at this point of his career. He has yet to contribute much from long range, scoring most of his points this season on his patented floaters.

Aaron Gordon (4 GP), Grade: B+

MPG

PPG

REB

TO

BLK

FG%

FT%

15

6.7

3.5

0.7

1

55

75 (3-4)

Friday night against the Timberwolves was the only game of the week that Gordon was able to play extended minutes, and he did not disappoint. Gordon got very few opportunities earlier in the week, but at Amway he showed reason after reason why the Magic selected him 4th overall last summer. Aaron found himself on the floor down the stretch against Brooklyn, playing meaningful minutes but failing to produce much of anything notable. Gordon did take care of the basketball much better this week, especially over the weekend.

Head Coach - Jacque Vaughn, Grade: B-

I thought going into this week, Orlando had to win two games. Philadelphia was a must, and Friday night at home against Minnesota was close to a must-win as well. Orlando was able to win both of those, and played respectable on the road against two Eastern Conference playoff-caliber teams in Chicago and Brooklyn as well. I was a little surprised that JV failed to play Harkless Tuesday night, especially considering the trouble that Jimmy Butler was giving the Orlando wing defenders. The play call at the end of the game in Philadelphia was well designed enough, and I thought in some respects Coach Vaughn outcoached Flip Saunders Friday night in the 4th quarter and overtime period. I even thought the adjustment in Brooklyn Sunday afternoon to go with Willie Green against Deron Williams to start the fourth quarter was a good choice, Coach Vaughn may have just gone with Green too long. All in all, not a bad week for Jacque.

Grade of INCOMPLETE:
Dewayne Dedmon (Lack of minutes)
Willie Green (Lack of minutes)
Devyn Marble (Lack of minutes)
Andrew Nicholson (Lack of minutes)
Kyle O'Quinn (Injured)
Victor Oladipo (Injured)

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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