Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic’s second-half goals

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 2, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; The Orlando Magic get ready to play the Brooklyn Nets before the first quarter of a NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Nets won 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; The Orlando Magic get ready to play the Brooklyn Nets before the first quarter of a NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Nets won 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz
Dec 19, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and center Enes Kanter (0) defend during the second half at Amway Center. The Jazz won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Make Nikola Vucevic more of a star

Nikola Vucevic is the Magic’s best shot at an All Star this year.

He has had coaches singing his praises all season. He has taken steps forward offensively, averaging career high 18.4 points per game and sits at 11.1 rebounds per game. All solid numbers for him.

The only problem is his team is not getting much better, sitting at 13 wins and seemingly sinking fast. That should not detract from his individual accomplishments or his All-Star qualities.

Being named to the All-Star team is what it is. The coaches will either vote him in or they will not. And Vucevic is extremely modest, he is not going to campaign or go on some rampage if he does not make it.

“I just want to keep playing good for my team and help my team win and do better,” Vucevic said. “I want to improve as a player and a teammate. I just want to keep getting better.”

Live Feed

4 Bulls who deserved a higher ranking in B/R's NBA Top 100
4 Bulls who deserved a higher ranking in B/R's NBA Top 100 /

Pippen Ain't Easy

  • 2023 FIBA World Cup Phase 2 Day 1 Recap: Team USA doesn’t lose, chaos in Groups I and L, and upsets galore FanSided
  • NBA rumors: Lakers eyeing Trae Young, Zach LaVine trade market, referee bias data FanSided
  • Nikola Vucevic claims this is the Bulls' 'last chance' Pippen Ain't Easy
  • Bulls' Vucevic the 4th-best NBA player in World Cup, stats say Pippen Ain't Easy
  • Bulls News: Vucevic one-man show falls short in FIBA World Cup Pippen Ain't Easy

    • So, here is what the Magic have to do — MAKE VUCEVIC AN ALL STAR.

    If not in reality, then in name only.

    Vucevic has a career-best 25.2 percent usage rate and he is asserting himself more offensively. The Magic are usually getting him involved early though. He scores just 8.2 of his 18.4 points per game in the second half. In clutch situations, Vucevic actually becomes one of the worst “big-name” players in the league. He is shooting 25.0 percent from the floor and scoring 10.3 points per 36 minutes in situations where the Magic are down five points or fewer within five minutes. His usage rate in those situations goes to 20.6 percent.

    Vucevic’s numbers go way down and the Magic do not look to him as often despite his general reliability there.

    If you want to be an All Star you have to demand the ball and your teams has to feed it to you.

    The Magic did that in Portland and then in Chicago. And it worked. He stepped up to the plate. And that is a big statement from a player on the borderline of stardom in this league.

    Time for the Magic to make him a star this second half.

    Next: Make the picture clearer