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By John DentonNov. 4, 2014
CHICAGO – Orlando Magic standout Elfrid Payton has said that one of the immediate shocks to the system as a rookie point guard in the NBA is how almost every night he has to face an elite player because of the amount of dynamic talent at the position.
Payton has also taken note of how some of those elite point guards – such as last week’s foes, John Wall and Kyle Lowry, and tonight’s opponent, Derrick Rose – have worked to improve their games once at the professional level.
Rose and Wall, in particular, came into the NBA as No. 1 picks who relied heavily on getting to the rim with their blinding quickness and fearless styles of play. Neither were particularly good shooters early in their careers, but they have worked to make foes pay when they back off by bettering their shots. Just last week, Wall buried several jumpers when Magic defenders went under screens – an element of his game that he didn’t have as recently as a season ago.
Payton, whose Magic (0-3) will face Rose and the Bulls (2-1) tonight at 8 p.m. ET, knows that he ultimately must become a better shooter as his NBA career progresses. Thus far, the wiry-strong rookie with the exceptional vision has been able to thrive as a play-maker for others while handing out 7.7 assists a game – a number that is tied for the sixth-most in the NBA.
Payton, 20, stressed that he can’t change his game against Rose, 25, even though he grew up idolizing the former MVP.
``Something that I can do is just getting into the paint. When I do that, good things happen. And my teammates have been doing a good job of knocking down shots,’’ Payton said of his attacking style of play thus far. ``Go right at (Rose). He’s a regular person. I’m just trying to go out there and get a win.’’
Orlando, which has had alternating issues with rebounding, turnovers and third-quarter issues, will most likely be without power forward Kyle O’Quinn (sprained ankle) for a third straight game. Chicago could be without Joakim Noah (illness) as well, and the Bulls could rest the all-star center because they are in a stretch of playing four games in five nights.
Rose, who missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries, is listed as probable for tonight’s game after going though Monday’s practice and Tuesday morning’s shootaround. He incredibly sprained both ankles on the same play in Friday’s overtime loss to Cleveland and he did not play in Saturday’s defeat of Minnesota.
Of Payton’s 22 shots so far this season, 15 have come from within five feet of the basket. He converted six of those shots, but he’s had trouble with big men coming over to contest his drives to the rim and six tries have been swatted away. Payton has made one jumper from 15-to-19 feet and one shot from 20-24 feet, but he’s mostly stayed away from those attempts while trying to play to his strengths as a driving playmakers.
In time, he knows that he emulate the likes of Rose, Wall and Lowry and can work on his jump shot – something that should making his driving abilities even more lethal.
``I have to keep running my race and doing what I do best,’’ Payton said of his game plan for now. ``Of course, I’m going to continue to work on my game and the rest will come.’’
Rose said he’s watched plenty of film on Payton and he came away impressed with the way the Magic rookie can attack off the dribble. Payton had the best game of his young career on Saturday with 16 points, nine assists and just one turnover against the Toronto Raptors and Lowry.
``He’s a good player and I hear a lot about him. He can go either way and finish with either hand,’’ Rose said. ``You can tell that he is just a baller. He doesn’t talk when he’s on the floor and I just really love his game. He’s somebody that I’ve got to look out for.’’
Magic guard Ben Gordon, who had the best years of his NBA career with the Bulls from 2004-09, said that he’s worked with Payton some on his jump shot and he sees a willingness from the rookie to continue growing his game.
``I definitely getting the work in whether it’s with myself, individually or with coaches. I see him every day working on his craft,’’ said Gordon, a career 40 percent shooter from 3-point range. ``The knock on him right now is that he’s not a jump shooter, but you saw in (Saturday’s) game that he came out and hit a few mid-range shots. I think the more he’s able to do that, defenses will have to play him honestly and that will make everyone around him better as well. … Someone like John Wall, who came in mainly for their abilities in penetration, I look at Elfrid and I think the same thing. Now you see John Wall turning into a respectable jump shooter and you can’t just sag off him. He can hit mid-range shots and even 3-pointers. I think Elfrid has that same ability, but he just have to continue to work and get reps.’’