Orlando Magic missing Evan Fournier

Since Evan Fournier’s injury the Magic have lost 11 of 14 games. So what are the Magic missing without Evan Fournier?

Evan Fournier has been out of the Orlando Magic’s lineup for over a month and is not rumored to return for at least another week.

Fournier said he expects to be back before the end of the season and revealed on his Instagram that he is working hard to get back into game shape and get back on the court.

Before Fournier was injured, Orlando had won three of its last four games. Since Fournier’s injury the Magic have lost 11 of 14 games. Clearly, the Magic have not benefited from this young forward’s absence.

So what are the Magic missing without Evan Fournier?

The most obvious place to start is on the offensive end. Fournier provides Orlando’s offense with a career-high 11.9 points per game. His ability to stretch the floor and create opportunities off the bounce is a quality any team would miss.

During the regular season, with Evan Fournier on the court, the Magic have an offensive rating of 101.3 which would be good for 20th in the NBA. Without him on the floor, the Magic’s offensive rating drops to 97.3, which would put them at third worst in the NBA. With those numbers it is safe to assume that when the pony tail-sporting forward is not on the court, the Magic struggle on the offensive end.

Luckily the Magic have been able to maintain a 100.3 offensive rating during Fournier’s absence. Previously without Fournier on the court, Orlando’s offensive rating is a 97.3, so how is it possible that the Magic have increased their offensive production in the absence of Fournier?

Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton have exploded onto the scene becoming two of the hottest players in the NBA. Due to the stellar play from the backcourt, and the faster-paced offense since James Borrego took over, Orlando is actually slightly improving on the offensive end of the floor.

The Magic are also missing Fournier on the defensive end (slightly).

(Disclaimer: A lot of the numbers could be skewed because Evan Fournier’s and Dwayne Dedmon’s absences due to injury overlapped.)

In March, Orlando’s plus/minus (essentially how much the team is winning or losing by) is -9.0 points per game, which is about eight points more than in the month of February when Fournier was playing (-1.6).

In February, with Fournier, the Magic’s defensive rating was 100.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. In March, without Fournier, the Magic’s defensive rating is 109.7, which is tied for second to last in the NBA. Overall on the season, when Fournier is on the floor for the Magic have a defensive rating of 105.6, and during his absence the Magic have a defensive rating of 109.2.

The biggest factor to the struggling defense (besides the absence of Dwayne Dedmon) is in the place of Evan Fournier. Ben Gordon and Willie Green have been receiving Fournier’s minutes and neither have the perimeter defensive presence that Fournier can provide. Ben Gordon has never been known for his defense in his 10-year career, and if Willie Green played defense he would not have bounced around five different teams.

Fournier shows more ability on the defensive end. He is an average on-ball defender, but he plays aggressive at all times. He is a great team defensive player, which means he makes good rotations off the ball.

Certainly, the defensive woes are not all to blame because of Fournier’s absence, but it certainly does not help. The Magic could certainly use Evan Fournier back in the lineup as soon as possible, but with the season nearing the end don’t be surprised if he sits out for the remainder of the season.

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