Dewayne Dedmon’s defensive presence making the difference

Dewayne Dedmon has impacted the game with a lot of defense, and also a career-high 12 points in the win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov 7.

Dewayne Dedmon was not hailed as a blue-chip prospect coming out of high school. He did not attend a top college program and become a top-three pick in the NBA draft.

His opponent Jahlil Okafor was all of that and more. And initially it showed as Okafor was able get get a variety of crafty looks over Dedmon early on in the Orlando Magic’s 105-97 win in Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Okafor still even outscored Dedmon on the evening.  But in the end, Dedmon had slowed a major talent down and kept him in check, as Okafor finished with 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting.

It was the Magic who were victors Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, and a lot of what was seen from Dedmon was revelatory.

It began with an aggressive approach toward pursuing his offense.

Dedmon had not only gotten to the line eight times in the game, but hit all eight free throws with calm precision. In the end, he had a career-high 12 points to go with nine boards (three offensive) and three blocks.

In Friday’s win over the Toronto Raptors he had four points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Dedmon faced off against Jonas Valanciunas on Saturday and Okafor on Sunday — two traditional and skilled back-to-the-basket post-up centers — and he, by and large, held his ground as the Magic won both games.

Maybe it should not be such a surprise the Magic can win without Nikola Vucevic available.

What is allowing Dedmon to work has been the Magic’s great balance.

With starter Nikola Vucevic nursing a bone bruise, Dedmon has absorbed a small part of that offense (11 points per game the past two nights), as have several other Magic teammates. Evan Fournier has looked more aggressive in the past three games than he has been during much of his time in Orlando.

The Magic put seven scorers in double figures and it was Dedmon’s second straight game in double figures himself. Even with Tobias Harris having a quiet nine points, the Magic were getting contributions from all over and the bench produced 33 points too.

To be sure, it is not as though Dedmon is posting up and drawing attention like Vucevic. But the Magic have learned to spread the court better in the past two games and shot 6 of 13 from three against the Sixers.

The offense has looked fluid with Dedmon on the court, rendering the class argument he pits the Magic 4-on-5 offensively as somewhat bunk. Teams are paying due attention to him because Elfrid Payton dictates he will be found if left open.

Besides, it is not as though Dedmon lacks finishing abilities.

He still knows his limitations. He did not attempt a single look outside the paint against the 76ers. But he did take six shots and his free throws were the result of him aggressively pursuing his offense and rolling to the basket when the space opened.

Dedmon is not simply lingering around the rim hoping for rebounds or lob passes, but rather initiating pick and rolls and becoming an integral part of the offense.

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The hope is when Vucevic returns from injury Dedmon remembers what he has learned in this increased role. The chances for him to score have been there, and he has certainly looked to make the most of them.

Okafor still made a big impact with his 19 points and Valaciunas had 14 rebounds and eight points—but Dedmon is right there battling with those vaunted stars.

Also, due credit must be given for the fact he and the Magic eventually did slow Okafor and came close to running away with the game on the Sixers.

At the end of the game, Dedmon was putting suffocating defense on Okafor.

After starting off the game a bit overeager, Dedmon settled down and helped put the clamps on the promising rookie from Duke. Only his penchant to go for blocks and foul kept him on the bench late in the game.

The end result was a 105-97 win over the Philadelphia 76ers and a 92-87 win over a then-undefeated Toronto Raptors club. The Magic are 2-0 with Dedmon starting at center and just a game under .500.

With Dedmon continuing to grow and mature all the time.