By John Denton
Jan. 26, 2015
MEMPHIS – There are almost always growing pains with young players in the NBA -- especially ones charged with playing the all-important point guard position and forced to play big minutes right away as rookies.
Such certainly is the case with Orlando guards Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton, who have endured their share of highs and lows during their first season playing together in the same Magic backcourt. Still, there is plenty of promise there and other around the NBA are starting to take notice.
Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said prior to Monday night’s game that if Orlando can just weather the tough times as Oladipo and Payton learn the ins and outs of surviving and thriving in the NBA that the Magic could ultimately have major boon on their hands.
``(Payton) and Oladipo are going to be one of the most feared backcourts here when you look four or five years out – maybe two or three years, I’m sure that’s what they would like,’’ said Joerger, who knows a thing or two about judging talent considering the success of his Grizzlies. ``They are very athletic and they are a part of the new wave of guards in this league who are big, athletic and can get in the lane and finish. Both will work on their jump shots and get better at that.
``But when you talk about a good, young combination of guys, those two are going to be wrecking some people in the next couple of years,’’ Joerger added.
Oladipo, the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award last season, has played well while splitting time at both shooting guard and point guard and is averaging 16.5 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game. Payton, whom the Magic traded for on draft night back in June, has blossomed into an attacking and play-making point guard while averaging 7.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds a game.
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said the length, strength and versatility of Oladipo and Payton are some of the things that give the team confidence in the years ahead as they mature. Vaughn pointed out that the blueprint for the guard position has changed and he likes what his two young guards bring to the table.
``Overall you see a more athletic guy that’s handling the basketball these days,’’ Vaughn said of the evolution of the guard spot. ``It doesn’t always have to be a pass-first player now. But (the Magic have) players who can guard multiple positions, get to the rim and they’re getting better offensively as well.’’
GORDON ON GREEN: When the Magic last played the Grizzlies, forward Jeff Green – a matchup nightmare for most forwards because of his rare blend of size and quickness – took over the game in the fourth quarter by scoring 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. After the Magic made a surge to pull within four points, Green sealed an Orlando loss with two thunderous dunks.
Magic small forward Aaron Gordon, who briefly thought he would be available to play that night only to be held out as a precautionary measure, could only look on and think about what might have been had he been able to play that night.
Gordon got the first start of his professional career on Sunday night and he was in the lineup again on Monday in the rematch against Memphis. And Gordon – a player who pronounced himself as a hopeful Defensive Player of the Year someday at the NBA level upon arriving in Orlando last June – was matched up against the powerful Gordon.
``That’s what I’m here,’’ Gordon said of the matchup against the versatile forward that Memphis recently acquired in a trade with the Boston Celtics. ``It’s fun to play in the NBA when you have a guy like Jeff Green to matchup against. So I’m excited.’’
After missing nine weeks of time as he recovered from surgery to repair a fractured bone in the outside of his left foot, Gordon’s time on the floor has been limited as he works back into shape. After playing 12, 12 and 13 minutes, he played 21 minutes in Sunday’s start. He continued to produce while on the floor, giving the Magic nine points, four rebounds and a spectacular chase-down blocked shot. He has surprised even himself how he’s quickly gotten back into the rhythm despite having to miss more than two months because of the foot injury.
``I almost feel more instinctual because I was off for so long and I’ve been able to come back and do what I do. I’m not worried about that (minutes restriction) at all. I’m going to play as hard as I can regardless of how many minutes that I get. It’s up to the organization and the coaching staff to play me accordingly.’’
NO VOTES FOR VOOCH: Vaughn is a staunch supporter of center Nikola Vucevic getting picked to play in his first NBA All-Star Game when the reserves are announced Thursday night on TNT. But Vaughn wants the talented 7-footer to get there based on his merit and not because he called in favors and won votes from his buddies in the coaching profession.
Coaches from each conference vote for the All-Star reserves and aren’t allowed to pick players from their own teams. Their votes have to be sent to the league by Tuesday and Vaughn took care of his responsibility on Monday afternoon. But he said he didn’t call around to the other coaches to vouch for Vooch because it’s just not his style.
``It doesn’t mean that I don’t love him because I do, but that’s just not the way that I was raised,’’ Vaughn said of Vucevic, who entered Monday’s game tied for second in the NBA in double-doubles and is averaging a career-best 19.6 points and 11. 2 rebounds a game. ``I’m going to say that.’’
Vaughn said he spent a large chunk of time filling out his all-star ballot because he wants to see the players who deserve the recognition get honored.
``I take it very seriously,’’ Vaughn said. ``I look at how guys are playing, injuries, winning, stats and all of the above. There is always going to be a guy or two that is going to get the short end of the stick.’’
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