By John Denton
Nov. 21, 2016
MILWAUKEE – Bismack Biyombo’s recent run of stellar defense for the Orlando Magic has allowed him to reintroduce his famed wagging index finger to the NBA. The celebratory move following a blocked shot accomplishes two feats: It reminds foes not to challenge him at the rim and it honors his childhood hero and countryman, Dikembe Mutombo.
Biyombo, Orlando’s prized free-agent acquisition from last July, came into Monday’s game in Milwaukee on something of a tear defensively. In the previous five games, Biyombo swatted 10 shots. Many of those blocked shots have been followed by Biyombo playfully wagging his finger in a `no, no, no,’ sort of way.
Biyombo, who came into Monday ranked 11th in the NBA in blockeds (1.67 bpg.), said he got permission this summer from Mutombo to use the finger wag move that he made famous all throughout his Hall of Fame NBA career from 1991-2009. Biyombo and Mutombo aren’t officially related but the Magic big man considers the four-time Defensive Player of the Year to be like family.
``I actually did (talk to Mutombo about the finger wag) in the Congo and we had a long conversation about it,’’ Biyombo said of his summer visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. ``He’s my big brother and I love him. I have so much love for him for the things that he does for kids back home and he inspires them. So I just love him. (Wagging the finger) is the way to keep his legacy alive.’’
Biyombo, who has blocked multiple shots six times already this season, said Mutombo paved the way for his NBA career. The two still communicate regularly and Biyombo wants to do everything in his power to honor his hero. Like Mutombo, Biyombo has evolved into a difference-making humanitarian by helping 150 rising athletes a year get into better high schools in the Congo and 20 students come to America on high school scholarships.
``He said that that as his little brother that I didn’t really need to have his approval (to do the finger wag), but I just use it as a way of (honoring) his legacy,’’ Biyombo said of Mutombo’s influence. ``I love him and all of the things that he has done. This is just a game and I’m trying to have fun. I did it last year (while playing for Toronto) and I’ll continue to do it because the game is fun to me.’’
FOURNIER’S FINDINGS: Magic guard Evan Fournier established himself as one of the NBA’s most efficient players last season, being one of just eight players to shoot at least 45 percent from the floor, 40 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Fournier, who signed a long-term extension with the Magic in the offseason, started this season off well, but he’s hit a rough patch with his shot of late. In the three games prior to Monday night, Fournier had made just 12 of 41 shots (29.2 percent) and five of 15 3-point shots (33.3 percent).
Minor injuries (wrist and lower back), a nasty cold and more attention from defenses have factored into his shooting struggles. Fournier, who leads the Magic in scoring at 16.8 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting, has also done extra video work of late to analyze his shot.
``Some shots are contested, so it’s about shot selection,’’ Fournier said. ``But most of them, it’s just that I’m short (on the shot). Even last year when I was shooting 40 percent from the three-ball line, I had stretches where I was shooting 30 percent. So I’m not worried about it as long as I take good shots.’’
As one of Orlando’s top scoring threats, Fournier has seen more attention from opposing defenses this season.
``Last year on the perimeter (former Magic guard) Victor (Oladipo) and I were sharing (the attention) and we were the focus,’’ Fournier said. ``Obviously there’s more focus there now, but it’s really on me to make better decisions and to make the shots when I’m open.’’
NO KIDDING: Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd lauded the Magic prior to Monday’s game for defying NBA convention of ``small ball’’ and adding shot-blocking big men Serge Ibaka and Biyombo this past offseason. Kidd said the toughness and defensive versatility of the two big men make the Magic an entirely different team this season.
``They protect the paint very well and Ibaka can stretch the defense and score the ball inside and out,’’ Kidd raved. ``(Ibaka) also knows what it means to win, so those were two great additions that they picked up.’’
Kidd, something of a revolutionary during his playing career as a 6-foot-5 point guard, laughed at the notion of ``small ball’’ being so prevalent throughout the NBA. The Bucks have had success this season by ``going small,’’ but that’s something of a misnomer because forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is 6-foot-11 and can play every position from point guard to center.
``Sometimes we get confused on small ball because teams aren’t rolling out 6-4, 6-5 and 6-6,’’ Kidd joked. ``We have 7-footers playing on the wing. Kevin Durant might not call himself 7-feet, but he’s 6-11. Small ball is just a term that we use, but there are a lot of guys who are tall when you talk about Giannis (Antetokounmpo), (6-9) Mirza (Teletovic) isn’t small and (6-9) Biyombo isn’t small.
``You just have to understand that you are putting your best group out there to go against their best group,’’ Kidd continued. ``Ibaka can play (center), Biyombo can play (center). They’ve got different guys who can play different positions. So small ball isn’t like it used to be with three point guards out there who are 6-2 or 6-1. A guy like Giannis can play (center) or (point guard) at 7-feet tall.’’
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