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With the playoffs almost certainly out of reach for the Orlando Magic, on what should they focus when they reconvene after the All-Star Break for the final 28 games on their schedule? Magic beat writer Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel offers his answers to that question in this column.
One suggestion of Schmitz's: run more offense through third-year center Nikola Vučević. "I'm on this kick a lot," Schmitz says, "but I'd rather see Vooch get more offensive work than watching SF Tobias Harris and PF Big Baby [Glen] Davis launch shots." The veteran scribe also notes that involving Vučević offensively will help him make up for the 18 games he's missed due to injury in his second Magic season.
Vučević, 23, is averaging 13.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and two combined steals and blocks. His field-goal shooting has dipped from 51.9 percent in 2012/13 to 49.8 percent.
Schmitz's other suggestions include finding a more defined role for Victor Oladipo, whom the team has shuttled between both guard positions in his rookie season; and increasing the emphasis on Andrew Nicholson's post touches. His full story is available at the Orlando Sentinel's website.
