Orlando Pinstriped Post: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Cottagers Confidential for Fulham FC Fans!

Midseason Grades for Orlando Magic Players

Okay, I really wanted to have this post up much sooner, but an HTML goof-up set me back a few hours; tables are complicated things. So, rather than lay everything out in a table, I'll try a list.

Honestly, last night's loss has left a sour taste in my mouth, and I'm tempted just to post this picture as the season evaluation and get on with it:

Stan Van Gundy, head coach of the Orlando Magic
"You all FAIL!"

Here the players are, listed in alphabetical order. The team as a hole is at the end of the list. Offense and defense count 40% each, and intangibles counts 20%. Please file any grievances in the comments. Or, if you wish, post a rebuttal in the diaries.

  • Carlos Arroyo:
    • OFFENSE: B+
    • DEFENSE: C-
    • INTANGIBLES: B+
    • OVERALL: B-
    • COMMENTS: Great as a starter (12.4 points, .574 shooting), not-so-great as a reserve (5.2 points, .387 shooting). Love his efficiency, though: he's 10th in the league in assists per turnover.
  • James Augustine:
    • OFFENSE: C+
    • DEFENSE: C+
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: B-
    • COMMENTS: Has limited skills, but makes the most of his playing time with hustle, energy. Might benefit from some time in the D-League.
  • Tony Battie:
    • OFFENSE: I
    • DEFENSE: I
    • INTANGIBLES: I
    • OVERALL: I
    • COMMENTS:Out for the season after rotator-cuff surgery. Notable: filled-in for Richie Adubato as the Magic's radio color commentator when Adubato was at a family function.
  • Keith Bogans:
    • OFFENSE: B
    • DEFENSE: B
    • INTANGIBLES: B
    • OVERALL: B
    • COMMENTS: Defense good, as usual. Shooting a career-best .424 from the field. Surprising, but still not great.
  • Brian Cook:
    • OFFENSE: D
    • DEFENSE: F
    • INTANGIBLES: C
    • OVERALL: F
    • COMMENTS: Shoots horribly and is a complete non-factor on defense. His outburst against the Bulls was welcome, though.
  • Keyon Dooling:
    • OFFENSE: B+
    • DEFENSE: B
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: B+
    • COMMENTS: Aggressive on offense and on defense, and has a great attitude. Sometimes it looks like he's the only player who cares about winning and losing.
  • Maurice Evans:
    • OFFENSE: B
    • DEFENSE: B
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: B
    • COMMENTS: He and Bogans are basically the same player. His 3s almost make the Ariza trade worth it. Likable, but not the long-term answer as the Magic's starting two-guard.
  • Adonal Foyle:
    • OFFENSE: D+
    • DEFENSE: B
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: B
    • COMMENTS: Horrible on offense -- I've never seen a guy with worse touch around the basket -- but that's not what he's here for. His defense and leadership make him worth having here. I truly appreciate his effort.
  • Pat Garrity:
    • OFFENSE: D-
    • DEFENSE: D
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: D
    • COMMENTS: His career should have ended a long time ago. He's good in the community, though. That's about all I've got, folks.
  • Marcin Gortat:
    • OFFENSE: I
    • DEFENSE: I
    • INTANGIBLES: I
    • OVERALL: I
    • COMMENTS: Rookie still hasn't gotten any burn and is usually on the inactive list anyway. Not likely to play at all this year. With any luck, he'll crack the rotation next season.  
  • Dwight Howard:
    • OFFENSE: A
    • DEFENSE: B+
    • INTANGIBLES: C
    • OVERALL: I
    • COMMENTS: Won't get an "A" overall until he stops whining after every call or non-call that goes against him. Arguably the game's best center.  
  • Rashard Lewis:
    • OFFENSE: B+
    • DEFENSE: C
    • INTANGIBLES: B-
    • OVERALL: B-
    • COMMENTS: Scoring is down, but he opens up the middle for Dwight. Needs to stop wishing he was on other teams -- why does he still have the Rockets jersey with his name on it Houston gave him this summer? Why did he say he would have accepted a $100 million contract to stay with Seattle? Disconcerting.  
  • Jameer Nelson:
    • OFFENSE: B
    • DEFENSE: C
    • INTANGIBLES: A
    • OVERALL: B-
    • COMMENTS: Not living up to expectations, but not a total disaster, either. Needs to prove he's starter material, and soon; nobody wants to pay $35 million for a backup.  
  • J.J. Redick:
    • OFFENSE: B+
    • DEFENSE: D
    • INTANGIBLES: C+
    • OVERALL: C
    • COMMENTS: Love his willingness to shoot, although he pump-fakes too much. Needs to stop fouling jump-shooters. Note that his numbers off the bench (3.5 points, .458 FG%) are worse than Bogans' off the bench (8 points, .531 FG%).
  • Hedo Turkoglu:
    • OFFENSE: A
    • DEFENSE: B-
    • INTANGIBLES: B+
    • OVERALL: B
    • COMMENTS: The team's most reliable crunch-time scorer is having a career-best year. Wish he would play better defense, though.
  • ORLANDO MAGIC:
    • OFFENSE: B-
    • DEFENSE: C-
    • INTANGIBLES: B-
    • OVERALL: B-
    • COMMENTS: Team needs to shoot better from three-point range if it's going to continue taking 25 treys a game. The way they're playing right now, it's hard to believe this team was once a top-3 defense early this season.

Brian Schmitz posted his evaluations today over at the Sentinel's website.  And for an outsider's perspective, Steve Weinman offers his in-depth look at the Magic over at CelticsBlog.

Poll
How would you grade the Magic so far this season?
F - Unsatisfactory
1 votes
A - Excellent
4 votes
B - Above-average
11 votes
C - Average
15 votes
D - Below-average
1 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 0 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Start posting about the Magic »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

Win Magic Tickets!

Keep watching this space for details on your chance to win tickets to an upcoming Orlando Magic home game, courtesy of T-Mobile.

Contact Us

General Twitter feed

Ben Q. Rock, Managing Editor / Press Contact

Eddy Rivera, Contributing Editor

Merch Booth

Check out our online store by clicking here.

Tiny Blogroll

Rather than include our complete blogroll in this space, we've decided to link to it instead. That way, you won't have to do as much scrolling. Enjoy.

SBNation.com Recent Stories

San Antonio Spurs guard Malik Hairston is fouled on a dunk attempt over the Golden State Warriors' Anthony Tolliver during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Friday, March 19, 2010. The Spurs beat the Warriors, 147-116. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani)

Spurs Torch Warriors, 147-116, In Highest Scoring Game Since 1991

Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams, looks for a shot against Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw, left, of France, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Philips Arena, Friday, March 19, 2010 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Johnson Does His Best Jordan Impersonation, Hits Winning Shot In OT

New Orleans Hornets forward James Posey, left, reaches in for the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony looks for a shot in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 93-80 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Thursday, March 18, 2010. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) link

Nuggets Rout Hornets 93-80

More from SBNation.com >


Managing Editor

Squareuserpicjpeg_small Ben Q Rock

Contributing Editor

Depaul_small erivera7