By John DentonOct. 13, 2015
ORLANDO – Out of full-contact action since last July and forced to look on helplessly as his teammates theoretically pulled ahead of him this preseason, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon admitted that he would be plenty anxious and nervous in Tuesday’s first game back.
Then, with a one/two flurry that would make even a heavyweight boxer proud, Gordon unleashed a rapid-fire sequence that showed his massive potential as a difference-making two-way player. Suddenly, whatever nerves that might have been churning in Gordon’s gut and throughout the Magic over the 20-year-old’s time away, washed away.
Just minutes after checking into a game for the first time this preseason, Gordon used his tremendous lateral quickness to track down Miami’s Gerald Green and cause him to change a 12-foot leaner that was off the mark.
Making the most of his limited time on the floor, Gordon then went out and one-upped himself with an even prettier offensive display. After faking out his man and driving along the baseline, Gordon confronted Miami shot-swatting center Chris Andersen. However, it was the inordinately inked Anderson who got tattooed as Gordon sprang off the floor and dunked with authority.
Like last week when the Magic beat the Heat behind the clutch shooting of Shabazz Napier, the 6-foot-1 guard scored 11 of 15 points in extra time against his former team as Orlando edged past Miami 95-92 in OT at the Amway Center.
But it was the flash-burst moments from Gordon – he also had a high-flying dunk off a bounced alley-oop pass; a step-back jumper after embarrassingly faking out his defender; and a nifty reverse layup after diving under two would-be shot-blockers – that electrified and encouraged the Magic (3-2) most on this night.
``I’m not looking to save any energy. I’m not looking to hold anything back,’’ Gordon said before the game of his plan to be aggressive and stay in attack mode. ``I’m going to run until I need a substitute and I’m not going to try and hold anything back.’’
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Gordon – whom the Magic see more as a small forward than a power forward because of his defensive abilities – scored 10 points in 17 minutes as his playing time was monitored for precautionary reasons. One stat showing Gordon’s effect on the game was this: Orlando was a plus-eight on the scoreboard during his time on the floor.
The No. 4 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has been out of action since mid-July when he fractured his jaw while playfully wrestling with his older brother. He’s been going through drills, lifting weights and staying in shape, but questions loomed about how he would respond to getting contact for the first time in three months.
Channing Frye, who is much more active in a Magic offense that is based on passing and cutting, played well again with 12 points, eight rebounds and two 3-pointers. Center Nikola Vucevic chipped in 12 points, while reserve Dewayne Dedmon had an instant impact in the first quarter and finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Orlando rested standout forward Tobias Harris and point guard Elfrid Payton on Tuesday night. Harris accidentally banged knees in Sunday’s game, but returned to practice on Monday. Meanwhile, Payton – who played all 82 games as a rookie – missed his second consecutive game because of a sore hamstring.
The Magic don’t play again until Saturday night when they face South American powerhouse Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team departed for Brazil following Tuesday’s game and is scheduled to practice the next three days during the team’s first-ever trip to Brazil. The franchise is hoping to expand its brand in sports-crazed Brazil, a country that sent more tourists to Orlando (approximately 770,000) last year than any other nation.
The Heat, which lost 100-97 to the Magic last week in Louisville, Ky., knows a thing or two about travelling to Brazil after playing in Rio last preseason. Miami rested Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Mario Chalmers after playing a night earlier against the San Antonio Spurs.
If the Magic are serious about becoming a nastier, more athletic defensive team that smothers foes – and new head coach Scott Skiles has made that an absolute priority from the first day he was hired – then moving the multi-talented Gordon to the starting lineup seems like a no-brainer. Of course, he will need to catch up after being out so long and he’ll need to show more of the offensive progress that highlighted his summer-league play in July.
If Gordon does become the starter at small forward that means that Harris will shift to the power forward position. Such a move makes the Magic smaller, but also more athletic and much more flexible with the style that Skiles wants to play this season.
Harris, who practiced with Gordon on Monday, is intrigued by the possibilities of the two of them being on the floor together.
``It looked good,’’ Harris said of the combination of he and Gordon playing together. ``Anytime we can get A.G. back on the floor, with his energy and him being such a smart player, that’s really good to see. I know he’s excited and I can’t wait to get back out there with him and us playing together. He still wants to get his rhythm and flow back, but I thought he’s looked good.’’
A student of the game who has embraced the psychology of how the mind can improve basketball performance, Gordon said his time off has helped him to improve his mental toughness. He missed six weeks of his rookie season because of a fractured foot and then he had the jaw issue rain all over the improvements he displayed in the summer. The time away from basketball and watching from the sidelines has taught the introspective Gordon the power of patience and positive thinking.
``When you’re not able to work out, what are you really left with? You’re left with strengthening your mind, strengthening your will and your confidence. I’ve tried to do all of that.’’