Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Channing Frye

Best Game of 2015

March 6: Magic vs. Kings
22 pts., 7/11 FGs, 6/9 3FGs, 10 rebs.

This game was a major rarity.

Channing Frye grabbed at least 10 rebounds in just two games all season and at least eight rebounds in just eight games. Frye is not a rebounder — and as was noted around the Lottery, the Magic’s chances of winning the Lottery were the same as Frye grabbing a rebounder on any given possession. So maybe Orlando used up all that ping pong luck in this game.

This game against the Kings at home late in the season was very much what the Magic imagined they would be.

Victor Oladipo scored 32 points in one of the best games he played all season. He pushed the pace, attacked the basket and made jumpers, making the defense pay for ignoring him.

Tobias Harris contributed 19. Andrew Nicholson came off the bench with 14.

Frye though was the true difference maker, playing alongside Dewayne Dedmon starting at center.

Frye was a team-best +21 for the game. More importantly, he just hit his shots. No other player had a simpler directive.

More impressively, Frye made 7 of his 10 uncontested field goals in the game. Heck, he got 10 uncontested field goals in the game.

Oladipo and Elfrid Payton were able to get into the paint and collapse the defense, kicking it out to Frye for open jumpers. That is exactly how the Magic offense was supposed to work. If teams left Frye open, he made them pay.

What more could you ask for? At least for this game.

Next: 2016 Outlook