Fun With Lineups: The 2014 Orlando Magic

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Mar 28, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and forward Tobias Harris (12) celebrate after Harris drew a foul in overtime as the Magic beat the Charlotte Bobcats 110-105 at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Lineup #5: Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic

“Sugar and Spice.”

At first glance, this lineup has some flare to it. You would think Harris and Vucevic would be troubling, but the triage of Payton, Oladipo, and Gordon on the perimeter should salvage anything they lack at the rim. Not to mention, Harris is a solid one-on-one post defender. If he were to struggle, he can switch assignments with Gordon, who at 6’9’’, 220 pounds, should be able to contend with some big men. The lineup is also interchangeable in that Oladipo and Payton can also switch and maintain the ability to defend their man.

Straight away, the shooting – or lack thereof- stands out to me, with Vucevic being the only one who can stretch the floor at the moment. This is a lineup with two strong cutters in Gordon and Oladipo, as well as an excellent pick-and-roll partner in Tobias Harris. If Oladipo can improve as an offensive player, this lineup could have some potential in Vaughn’s arsenal. It can work in spurts, and while the three pointer and attacking the rim are revered, some teams (Washington) seem to emphasize the long two-pointer. A lineup like this would take advantage of just that.

The Magic have plenty of options to form a formidable five-man lineup without being brutal on one side of the ball. Victor Oladipo’s ability to run an offense will be key in Orlando’s offensive evolution, but Tobias Harris, Channing Frye, and Nikola Vucevic will also have a say in this. On the defensive end, Orlando has the right amount of perimeter defense to help with the lack of a rim protector. Moe Harkless and Evan Fournier are potential 3-and-D talents, rookies Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon’s calling cards are on the defensive end, and Kyle O’Quinn is the team’s rim protector. Jacque Vaughn will have plenty of options to go to, and if he maximizes his talent, maybe fighting in the back half of the Eastern Conference isn’t an outlandish goal.