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Too Much Stress Placed on Rookies?

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John DentonDec. 17, 2014

BOSTON – Well before last June’s NBA Draft, the 2014 class was projected to be among the best in history, rivaling even the 1984 crop that produced five Hall of Famers and the 2003 class that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.

But one-by-one, many of the top players from last June’s star-studded draft have been picked off by debilitating injuries – something that has greatly weakened the impact that the class will have after being so heavily hyped.

When news broke on Tuesday that Milwaukee forward Jabari Parker – the No. 2 pick – will be lost for the season because of a knee injury, it was another big blow for the 2014 draftees. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (the third pick) has yet to play because of knee and back issues, while Julius Randle (the seventh pick) lasted just one game before breaking his foot and being lost for the season.

Additionally, Orlando’s Aaron Gordon (the fourth pick) has been out since Nov. 15 after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and Boston’s Marcus Smart (the sixth pick) has played just 10 games because of ankle and Achilles’ tendon injuries.

Magic coach Jacque Vaughn, who spent four years in college prior to playing in the NBA for 12 seasons, wonders if there is too much stress and strain being put on the bodies of NBA rookies – many of whom spent just one year in college and have yet to even turn 20 years old. Vaughn also said the wear-and-tear of playing year-round basketball through the high school years with the heavy involvement in AAU could be leading to young players breaking down.

``It’s unfortunate first of all to see the amount of injuries because I know these guys are looking forward to their first year of playing,’’ Vaughn said. ``It’s interesting the demands that they are putting on their bodies at a younger age now, too.’’

Gordon, the youngest player in the NBA this season after turning 19 in September, averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in the first 11 games of his career before experiencing pain in the outside of his foot. He had surgery on Nov. 21 and if all goes well in his recovery the Magic are hoping that he can return before the end of this season.

``He’s doing well and progressing and doing his rehab,’’ Vaughn said. ``He’s not on this trip with us, but hopefully that will soon change.’’

COLLEGE MEMORIES, NBA GROWTH: With Butler and Indiana set to square off once again on Saturday in college basketball action, coach Brad Stevens – formerly of Butler and now with the Boston Celtics – got to thinking about the days when his teams used to try and slow down Victor Oladipo – formerly of IU and now with the Magic.

Stevens has closely watched Oladipo grow through the years from being a lightly regarded recruit to a collegiate All-American by his junior season. And Stevens said that Oladipo’s legendary work ethic hasn’t eased up since he’s made it to the NBA, pointing to the guard’s marked improvement as a shooter from afar. Oladipo made just 74 of 226 3-point shots (32.7 percent) as a NBA rookie, but he came into Wednesday night at 19 of 42 (45.2 percent).

``His reputation coming out (of college) – and I had competed against him but I didn’t know him personally – was that of being an extremely hard worker. Everybody talks about working hard, but there are certain guys who take it to a different level and he’s one of those guys who has that reputation of taking it to a different level and you can see it in his game,’’ Stevens said. ``You can see it in his ball-handling, he’s good going both directions and he’s shooting it well. … And he makes tough shots and big shots. That’s always been a big part of who he is and he’s not scared. I’ve always been a fan of his and I think he’s a good player.’’

Stevens didn’t stop there in raving about the Magic, saying that Orlando standouts Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris could very well be first-time all-stars this season with their dramatically improved play. Harris (18.5 ppg. and 7.8 rpg.) and Vucevic (18.3 ppg. and 11.6 rpg.) are trying to become the first duo to average at least 18 points and 8 rebounds a game since Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion in 2004-05.

``Tobias Harris has hit two game-winners already this season and Vucevic is a guy that a lot of coaches around the league talk about how advanced he is,’’ Stevens said. ``(Vucevic) may very well be an all-star center in the East. I do think you have to be in the winning side of the (win-loss) column more times than not to have your best chance (to make the All-Star Game). There’s not a magic formula, but your team has to be playing well. … It’s Dec. 17 and we’re still two months away from that (All-Star voting), but those guys are having great years.’’

WANTING MORE FROM FRYE: When the Magic pursued Channing Frye last summer in free agency, they undoubtedly wanted the power forward for his ability to shoot the 3-pointer and create driving space for teammates with his ability to stretch defenses.

While Frye has had some issues meshing with his new teammates in Orlando, he’s been solid shooting the 3-pointer at 40.9 percent for the season. But it’s defensively and on the boards where Vaughn would like to see some improvement from the ninth-year pro.

Frye came into Wednesday’s game averaging 5.4 rebounds a game – which is slightly more than what he averaged last season in Phoenix and throughout his career with New York, Portland and Phoenix. Frye has had major problems with physical power forwards such as Indiana’s David West, Washington’s Nene and Toronto’s Amir Johnson and Vaughn would like to see Frye play more like a big man for the Magic.

``He has the ability to play bigger for us. He’s 7-foot tall, or maybe he’ll say 6-foot-11½ because guys don’t like to say 7-feet. But he’s big,’’ Vaughn said. ``I don’t want him to have to think about blocking shots, but he can take up space and be vertical for us in the paint and increase his presence – especially when he’s in there with another 6-11 or 7-footer.’’

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