Tag: Orlando Magic

2020 aggregate NBA mock draft 3.0: Michigan State players are climbing

After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA Draft will look like.

After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA draft will look like.

For example, Georgia Bulldogs freshman Anthony Edwards is beginning to separate himself as a near-consensus No. 1 overall pick. On the other side of the coin, though, several of the projected top selections (LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton) will miss extended time due to either injury or suspension.

In order to get a better read of the bigger picture, we collected opinions from the top experts and analysts that cover the draft. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic as well as USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.

One of the most interesting takeaways is that the Michigan State Spartans have three players (Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman) all trending up.

After making the Final Four in last year’s March Madness, the program was expected to take another leap forward for their 2019-20 campaign.

Despite three losses in their first 10 games, the Spartans still rank No. 15 overall this season. This can be attributed to the fact Michigan State currently has the third-best offense in college basketball, per KenPom.com.

They also have three of the most improved players since our last aggregate mock draft. The full list, and more on each of the MSU players moving up draft boards, is included below.

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Cassius Winston, Guard

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

AMD Rank: 29

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 17 spots in our rankings.

Despite already being 21 years old, the 6-foot-1 guard currently has a first-round grade from ESPN as well as Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports.

Winston has been one of the best distributors since he began at MSU. 67.1 percent of all field goals for the Spartans have been assisted, which is the sixth-most among all teams so far this season. His career assist rate (44.1 percent) ranks No. 1 overall among all college players who have played at least 50 games since 2009-10, via Sports-Reference.

During his freshman season, he had the second-best assist rate (46.7 percent) in the NCAA. Then as a sophomore, his assist rate (43.5 percent) trailed only Trae Young for the best in college basketball. Last season, his assist mark (44.8 percent) ranked third-best and behind only Ja Morant among all who played for teams that made the tournament.

But he has also shown strength as one of the more accurate shooters in the NCAA.

Winston was 75-for-151 (49.7 percent) from beyond the arc in 2017-18. That helped him join the exclusive 50-40-90 club for field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Even as a sophomore then, the guard was one of the few to have a membership with at least two three-point attempts per game.

There is some enough NBA readiness to show he can contribute right away for a winning team.

Aaron Henry, Wing

AMD Rank: 33

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 26 spots in our rankings.

Henry was of the players who helped himself the most during the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Then a freshman, he put up 20 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists during a victory over LSU.

While he has not yet taken the leap some expected as a sophomore, draft experts still have confidence in him as a prospect. His highest ranking right now comes from Jonathan Wasserman, who has him at No. 28 overall (via Bleacher Report):

“The eye test on Henry looks more convincing than the numbers. He isn’t a high-level creator, which limits him in Michigan State’s offense. But the 6’6″ guard is hitting open shots, capitalizing on driving lanes and making impact defensive plays. This late, teams will overlook Henry’s production for his fit.”

Perhaps the best news for the wing is that there is room for improvement. However, there have also been moments that show what Henry is capable of accomplishing at the next level.

This season, for example, the sophomore has been one of the most effective shooters off the catch. He is averaging 1.78 points per possession on catch-and-shoot attempts in a set offense, per Synergy Sports, which ranks in the 98th percentile.

Henry is also shooting 72.7 percent at the rim, which is an especially solid rate for a wing. Overall, he looks like someone capable of being a 3-and-D player in an NBA rotation.

Xavier Tillman, Big

AMD Rank: 50

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 13 spots in our rankings.

Michigan State has always been a team that plays better with Tillman on the court. Last season, for example, the big actually had the third-best box plus-minus in the NCAA — trailing only Zion Williamson and Brandon Clarke.

Jeremy Woo recently helped contextualize what professional teams may like about the 6-foot-8 junior (via SI.com):

“Tillman specializes in doing the dirty work and has been a largely unheralded yet invaluable piece of the Spartans’ success dating back to last season. He’s not particularly tall for a center but has a chance to be a quality rotational big in the pros with what he adds defensively and on the glass. Tillman has worked on extending his shooting range, and if he ends up being able to shoot the three, he’ll have a fairly strong window of opportunity as a role player. A lot of the things he does as a screener and defender don’t show up in the box score, and while he’ll never be more than a fourth or fifth offensive option, he might be able to thrive in that capacity.”

His best trait so far this season has been his ability to cut to the basket. He is shooting 15-for-17 (88.2 percent) on these attempts, per Synergy.

But he has also added value on the offensive glass and as a rim protector for Michigan State. His willingness and ability to make the most of time on the floor makes him a draftable professional prospect.

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Pelicans vs. Magic Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

The Pelicans’ losing streak reached 12 games on Sunday afternoon with a 130-116 loss at home to the Orlando Magic.

The Pelicans’ losing streak reached 12 games on Sunday afternoon with a 130-116 loss at home to the Orlando Magic.

The Good: The time of the game

Much like last weekend’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the good news for Sunday’s loss is that it happened in the afternoon with plenty of time to do other things on the day. The Pelicans were in the game for most of the first half but then were outscored 41-27 in the third and never could make up the deficit in the fourth.

The Bad: The effort

It’s been a reoccurring problem for much of the losing streak, but on Sunday in the second half, the effort was terrible. The meltdown was highlighted by Josh Hart’s technical and a pair of technicals and an ejection from Alvin Gentry.

It’s the same old song and dance with this team currently. A handful of good quarters are wholly undone by either a stretch or even a full quarter of bad play. At a certain point, questions about Gentry’s role in their lacklusterness should be asked.

The Ball: Start fast, finish slow

Lonzo Ball’s play on the night mirrored that of the Pelicans on the night. The Pelicans started fast and so did Ball as he had one of his best halves of the season. But he followed it with a half that is becoming all too common for him and the team as he drifted and had little impact.

At the end of the day, he finished with a stat line of nine points, six assists and five rebounds on 3-of-7 shooting overall and 2-of-4 shooting from deep. But that stat line is deceiving for all the reasons lifted above.

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All-Decade Power Rankings: Golden State Warriors rule the 2010s

The Golden State Warriors were easily the most dominant NBA team in the 2010s decade. What teams followed them? Our full rankings included.

The end of the decade is upon us, which a good time to look at the teams that thrived and those that took a nosedive over the 2010s.

For clarity, the period examined begins with the 2010-11 NBA season and ends Dec. 12, 2019, rather than bridging games that were played in the second half of 2009-10. Remember, the 2011-12 season was limited to 66 games due to a players’ strike.

30. Sacramento Kings

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Kings have been consistent … as in consistently under .500. The last time the franchise had a winning season was 2005-06. It will be interesting to see if they can get over the .500 mark this go-round. The Kings are currently flirting with .500 but still under.

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In star-studded week, Jonathan Isaac puts James Harden atop list

Jonathan Isaac faced Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and James Harden this week and says Houston’s star was the hardest.

Over a five-day period this week, the Orlando Magic have faced three consecutive NBA heavyweights.

In the first two games, the Magic (11-14) lost by single digits to both the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

On Friday, however, they were crushed at home by the Houston Rockets (17-8) in a 23-point loss, headlined by 54 points from James Harden.

When asked postgame to compare the opponents and probable 2019-20 NBA season Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidates, Magic defensive ace Jonathan Isaac seemed to put Harden at the top of the list.

Isaac’s comments on Harden, compared to the others:

I would say he’s the toughest so far, with the way that he’s able to get everybody else involved on top of him having a great shooting night.

Even after giving up 130 points to the Rockets, Orlando still allows the second-fewest points of any NBA team. Isaac, in particular, is an athletic menace at 6-foot-10 with good instincts — giving him plenty of standing to make such an evaluation.

In Friday’s blowout, Harden scored 54 points against the Magic and became the first player in NBA history to score 50+ points with 10+ made three-pointers in consecutive games. But on top of his scoring binge, the former MVP also led the Rockets in assists with seven. That helped the Rockets connect on 22-of-39 three-point attempts (56.4%) as a team.

Isaac was far from alone in his postgame praise of Harden. Courtesy of Orlando’s official team website, here’s a sampling of what other Magic players and coaches had to say regarding Harden’s big night.

Evan Fournier, on Harden:

When a guy has 54 on you, it’s almost like embarrassing because you want to give it your all, but he’s just that great. And the fact that he does it every night is really impressive. I think he had 55 last game, and this was pretty much the same game. He’s just different and give him credit.

You know, I feel like we lost against just him tonight. He’s the MVP for a reason. We talked about it pregame that you have to contest shots and just live with the results, but he did not miss tonight, period. He’s incredible and give him credit.

Magic coach Steve Clifford, on Harden:

Listen, Evan guarded him in a similar manner to what he did last year, and both times we played him last year we defended him well, We actually went quicker this year to double him than we did last year. You’ve got to try and keep him off balance. Last year, they were playing more pick-and-roll, but tonight they just [isolated]. That’s a different world. In [isolation], he’s so good. He’s looking at the guy coming at him, and he’s got such good feel and vision. It’s just hard.

Tonight, it was just iso, which is the hardest thing [to defend]. You’ve got a great player in the middle of the floor with more room to cover… and then when he starts making… it’s just really tough.

Fortunately for the Magic, they won’t see Harden and the Rockets again until a return visit to Houston on Sunday, March 8.

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James Harden makes more history as Rockets rout Orlando

James Harden scored 54 points and again tied the franchise record with 10 made three-pointers in Houston’s blowout win Friday at Orlando.

James Harden scored 54 points on extremely efficient shooting and made all sorts of history in a dominant 130-107 road victory (box score) by the Houston Rockets on Friday against the Orlando Magic.

Harden made 10 three-pointers for a second consecutive game, with both tying the all-time Rockets record for made treys in a single game. He’s just the second player in NBA history to make 10 or more three-pointers in two straight games, joining Golden State’s Stephen Curry.

Friday’s win is the sixth in eight games for the Rockets (17-8), who are now six games better at the 25-game mark than they were in the 2018-19 season at 11-14. Orlando fell to 11-14 this season with the loss.

Between Wednesday’s win at Cleveland and Friday’s victory in Orlando, Harden has combined for 109 points in his last two games on better than 60% shooting from the field and from three-point range. In those wins, the NBA’s leading scorer has averaged just 5.5 free throw attempts per game — reflecting the diversity of his scoring prowess.

On top of his scoring, Harden made key plays defensively with three blocks and two steals — including multiple sequences late in the game where he followed up a takeaway with a bucket on the other end.

Russell Westbrook continued his recent hot stretch with 23 points on 50% shooting, along with seven rebounds and six assists. Ben McLemore had 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting (85.7%) on three-pointers, while P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela each had a team-high 11 rebounds.

Harden also contributed as a facilitator with a team-high seven assists, including this one on a McLemore trey in the fourth quarter.

The Magic were led by 27 points from guard Evan Fournier, who made six three-pointers of his own on 11 attempts.

The Rockets return to play Saturday night at home in Houston against the Detroit Pistons (10-15), with Westbrook likely unavailable due to planned maintenance on the second half of a back-to-back sequence of games.

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LeBron James believes Dwight Howard is ‘thriving’ in role with Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was asked about the former Magic star’s role for the Lakers so far this season.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers came out with a victory in the first game of their five-game road trip on Wednesday night, 96-87 over the Orlando Magic.

But aside from an excellent first quarter where they held the Magic to just nine points, most of the action on Wednesday was fairly forgettable except for a scuffle at the end of the game involving both teams that began with several Magic players shoving Dwight Howard. It ended an ejection for LA.’s Jared Dudley and Orlando’s Wes Iwundu, but with Howard back where his career started in Orlando, it obviously led to questions about how he’s been with the Lakers.

LeBron James couldn’t be happier with the fit, according to his postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet.

(H/T Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll)

“He’s thriving. He’s thriving. He’s gonna have more years in his career and he’s gonna add an ingredient to our team’s success because of the role that he’s accepting. He’s just making the most of it every single night. Defending at a high level, rebounding, blocking shots, catching lobs and with zero ego.

“When his number is called he goes out there, and when he’s subbed out he cheers on his teammates every single night. We were lucky to be able to snatch him up late in the summer like that, and we’re happy to have him.”

Howard’s numbers have normalized a little bit after his monstrous start to the season, which briefly included leading the NBA in plus-minus. But he’s still been incredibly important for the Lakers, often playing crunch time for them and averaging more minutes than starting center JaVale McGee.

Another reason why Howard’s numbers have stabilized as of late is that McGee has played better as well, which is a great sign for the Lakers as a squad moving forward. Howard is averaging seven rebounds and seven points per game while shooting 72 percent from the field in just under 20 minutes per game.

 

LeBron James says Jared Dudley backed up his words in earning ejection at Magic

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James believed his teammate Jared Dudley had his heart in the right place when he ejected on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers earned yet another road victory and their fifth straight overall on Wednesday night as they began a five-game road trip with 96-87 victory over the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers led by 24 early on in the game and even held the Magic to just nine points in the first half, but the Magic clawed back the subsequent quarters to make the game a lot more interesting. They got the lead down to as few as two points before the Lakers started to regain control. But in the fourth quarter, the Magic got a little rowdy with Dwight Howard after Howard drew a loose ball foul after getting two offensive rebounds in the same position.

Orlando’s Wes Iwundu had a shove on Howard after the play, which triggered Dudley to step into the fray and shove Iwundu. The altercation would result in a double ejection for Dudley and Iwundu.

However, after the game, LeBron loved what he saw from Dudley as the veteran forward backed up his words from Lakers media day that he would defend his teammates if opponents messed with them, according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times.

Here’s what LeBron said after the game.

That’s all it take to get ejected these day? Just a little shove? I’ve seen a lot more than that. Duds would do whatever like he said. He told you guys at media day that if someone were come in to do something crazy to to me or AD or whoever on the team, he’s going to be the muscle. Y’all forgot about that right?

…

They tried to gang up on Dwight right there so we got to try to even the numbers up a little bit, no jump sessions.

After the game, Dudley compared defending his teammates to defending his own child, according to The Athletic’s Bill Oram.

With the win, the Lakers won their 12th straight road game and managed to remain undefeated away from Los Angeles so far this season. But they will continue to face challenges throughout the rest of their current road trip, starting Friday night against the 18-6 Miami Heat.

 

 

 

 

LeBron triple-double helps Lakers hold off Magic to win fifth straight

The Los Angeles Lakers led by as many as 24 on Wednesday night and although the game got close, the Lakers handled the Orlando Magic.

The Los Angeles Lakers came out on Wednesday night with a ton of energy and held a lead of as many as 24 against the Orlando Magic but while the Magic cut their lead down to as low as two points, the Lakers never wavered as they won their fifth straight game and their 12th straight game on the road to remain undefeated away from Staples Center, 96-87.

LeBron James led the way with a triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on a night when the Lakers struggled to shoot for much of the night. Anthony Davis was again instrumental in establishing a defensive tone, especially when the Lakers surrendered a season-best nine points to the Magic in the first quarter. In addition to the two stars, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had another big night from the outside, making a team-high four 3-pointers, including some big ones in the fourth quarter.

The Magic pushed the Lakers throughout the game and did so literally in the fourth quarter. After Dwight Howard earned a loose ball foul, Orlando’s Wes Iwundu pushed Howard after a play, leading to Jared Dudley pushing Iwundu. After a review, both players were ejected.

Following the dual ejections, the Lakers were able to extend their lead and win yet another road game.

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Lakers start road trip by holding Magic to season-best nine-point quarter

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers started their next road trip on the right foot.

The Los Angeles Lakers started slowly on the offensive end as they missed eight of their first 10 field goal attempts, but as has been the case all season, their spectacular defense has helped be a guiding light during times where the offense has slipped. And their defense has not played a better quarter than they did in the first quarter on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

The Los Angeles Lakers held the Lakers to a nine-point first quarter, the lowest total they’ve allowed in a quarter this season. The Lakers had 26 points and held a 15-point lead after the first, despite the fact their usually good offense was struggling against an active Orlando defense.

The Lakers welcomed back guard Avery Bradley to the line-up but he came off the bench for his first game since Nov. 15. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got the start at shooting guard but as expected, the Lakers aren’t missing a beat despite having pieces come in and out of the lineup.

Anthony Davis, once again, was a monster in the quarter as he had seven points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals to help lead the way for the Lakers.

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Lakers news: Kuzma (ankle) out, Bradley (leg) probable at Magic

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without one of their key contributors but they will also be getting another one back on Wednesday night.

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The Los Angeles Lakers are back on the road again as they begin a five-game road trip that will take them through five different Eastern Conference cities, including four teams that are currently in the playoff picture, starting tonight with the Orlando Magic. But as they begin their trip, they’ll be without a key piece while they’ll also be getting one back on Wednesday night.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been ruled out of Wednesday’s road-trip opener with a sprained left ankle, according to Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group. Kuzma is day-to-day going forward, according to Lakers.com’s Mike Trudell.

Kuzma missed the start of the season recovering from a stress reaction that he suffered while playing for USA Basketball over the summer and he had been dealing with this same ankle injury for parts of this season as well.

However, the Lakers will be getting back guard Avery Bradley tonight against the Magic. Bradley has been out since November 15 with a hairline fracture in his leg but he had been slowly ramping up his workload during the team’s last road trip before being cleared for full-contact this past weekend.