Denton: 2013‑14 Game Night Notebook
1 / 1410/22/13 at Spurs Denton’s Analysis: For Orlando Magic shooting guard Arron Afflalo, this preseason has been the equivalent of a person about to run a marathon, but not being allowed to stretch his legs before starting. To his credit, Afflalo is well aware that he has been held back in the exhibition season largely so that he can make it through the NBA’s marathon, 82-game season in good health. Afflalo struggled with hamstring fatigue last year in training camp and he tore a hamstring muscle last April at the end of the season. Afflalo entered Tuesday’s preseason game in San Antonio having played just 99 minutes in five exhibition outings. That’s far fewer than the career-high 36 minutes a game that Afflalo averaged in 2012-13, his first season in Orlando. He also put up 16.5 points per game – another career high – compared to a scoring average of just 8.6 points per game this preseason. Meaningless preseason game are often torturous for NBA veterans, and as someone now with seven years of NBA experience, Afflalo can’t wait for the preseason to begin Tuesday night in Indiana against the Pacers. ``No question, I can’t wait,’’ Afflalo said. ``(Not playing much has) been great for our development because we have such a young team and it’s allowed coach to see what guys can do here and there. And it’s given us some practice time to work on our offensive fundamentals. But for me personally, it’s probably been my first preseason where I have veteran status where I’m getting limited minutes. But I’m ready to go.’’ The Magic’s hopes for Afflalo this season is for him to be a much more efficient player this season. Even though his scoring average rose for a sixth straight year last season, Afflalo shot just 43.9 percent from the floor and 30 percent from 3-point range. Much of the reason for the drop-offs was because he was thrust into a role as a go-to scorer and he had to force up many contested jumpers. Getting to the free throw line more is also a major priority after Afflalo shot just 3.48 free throws a game last season on average. ``You can be the greatest jump shooter in the world, but it’s not going to be there every night and you have to find a way to manufacture some points,’’ Afflalo said. ``All of the great scorers shoot between six and 10 free throws a night. If you want to be an elite scorer you have to be able to get to the line.’’