Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Is it time Orlando Magic should change frontcourt starters?

By Brett David Roberts

Jan 26, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) holds the ball as Orlando Magic centers Nikola Vucevic (9) and Dwayne Dedmon (3) defend during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) holds the ball as Orlando Magic centers Nikola Vucevic (9) and Dwayne Dedmon (3) defend during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Mar 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Maurice Harkless (21) defends Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Maurice Harkless (21) defends Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

So, who is giving full effort then?

Given the struggles of the starters, it seems more and more that it should be the gritty play of Harkless and Dedmon that gets the minutes.

Dedmon came in for the fourth quarter and went full on beast on the glass again, grabbing and scoring on pure effort alone following a Ben Gordon miss which capped an 8-1 Magic run and forced the Hornets to call for a timeout. His block minutes later on Cody Zeller was a picturesque defensive play, save for the fact he did graze Zeller’s arm and pick up a personal. Just the effort alone vindicated Dedmon’s play though.

Dedmon finished the Hornets contest with nine boards in 20 minutes of play, his most minutes played since Feb. 11 against New York when he saw 21. In Dedmon’s last eight games, he is averaging 16 minutes per game and tallying 3.8 points, 4.4 rebound and 1.4 blocks. Per-36, that works out to 8.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.15 blocks. All of those numbers, if sustainable, are starter-worthy on this Magic team.

So, start Dedmon, right?

Maybe not.

Dedmon’s lack of offensive skills fail to complement the Magic starters in the same way Channing Frye’s pretty three-point stroke does. While Frye may not even be a casted shadow of Dedmon defensively, he is one of the few Magic shooters other teams fear.

Because Nikola Vucevic has been attracting so many double and triple teams, Frye is having easy pickings at the arc. There is just no other power forward the Magic can expect consistent three-point shooting from.

Andrew Nicholson has shown hints he can be that guy, but he is every bit as much of a defensive liability as Frye is, if not more so. But that is the frustration of a mediocre, even bad, team. The talent level is so low as to have a lot of guys who do some things well, but not a rich enough blend to produce winning basketball.

Next: Where is that bearded fella now?