Orlando Magic White hungry for opportunity, making most of this one
The Orlando Magic White team is full of no-names, D-Leaguers and cast offs. They are beating everyone and showing how much effort and opportunity mean.
38. Final. 68. 170. 81
The Orlando Magic White team was going to play hard through the final buzzer. Everyone on the roster knows just how precious every minute in front of NBA scouts and eyes can be. They have to show as much of what they can do in a short amount of time with the hopes of getting a training camp invite or a fresh European contract to keep the dream going.
That hunger and that desire has given the Orlando Magic White a surprising edge.
Rebounds they cannot get to get tipped to open areas or teammates. Balls destined to go out of bounds get saved. Dunks and open lanes to the basket, well… just ask Aaron Harrison what happens to them.
“It’s a good story,” Benson said. “We’re all hungry. We’re all free trying to get jobs. We’ve been here for a couple days practicing, we’re doing well.”
Once again, the Orlando Magic White team played with that edge and desperation a team full of not-even-roster-invites has to play with to get noticed. Orlando’s supposed “B” Team improved to 3-0 with a 81-68 win over Charlotte at Amway Center on Wednesday.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando (White) | 81 | 102.1 | 45.1 | 36.8 | 15.0 | 26.8 |
| Charlotte | 68 | 92.8 | 51.0 | 16.1 | 23.0 | 41.2 |
The Magic defended and hounded the Hornets, allowing only 43.1 percent shooting while shooting only 40.8 percent from the floor themselves and forcing the Hornets into 18 turnovers converted into 28 points.
They got hot from beyond the arc with Scottie Wilbekin scoring 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. The Magic placed five players in double figures and had 10 players score in the game (by halftime at that!). They shared the ball with 16 assists on 29 made field goals and four different players with three assists.
This is a team that looked like it has been playing together for a lot more than one week and has bought into a style and ethos that is necessary to make the most of a week like this.
“One thing we’ve really emphasized since the beginning when we were here on Wednesday is you’re trying to catch somebody’s eye,” Erie Bayhawks coach Bill Peterson said. “It’s not just from shooting the ball or scoring, it’s from making extra plays, helping somebody else out, setting a great screen, making an extra pass. You’re trying to make a vet camp and a NBA team, you’re not going to be the guy who gets to shoot all the time. So how hard can you play defensively?”
So far, everyone on the Magic White team has answered that bell. It has been a balanced scoring effort throughout. But more impressively has been the defense.
John Bohannon has made his presence known with his defense, helping fill in anywhere he is needed thanks to his versatility at either forward spot.
Former NBA player Chris Singleton has fought his way back into the spotlight by playing sound defense throughout and showing he can play some small-ball 4. Peterson said in a previous game he was prepared to take Singleton out when he started making defensive effort plays that made it difficult for him to pull him before the quarter ended.
Keith Appling, more of a shooting guard in his time at Michigan State, has controlled the tempo of games, hounded guards on defense and taken advantage of his quickness with steals from his constant pressure. Or, if not steals, at least ball deflections.
Benson, who scored 16 points off the bench, has traveled as much as anyone. He has played in the Philippines for a team called the Talk ‘n’ Text Tropang Texters and last year was playing in Estonia. Those are hardly basketball paradises.
“Pretty much everyone on this team is one year removed from college,” Appling said. “We all understand the pro game and what we have to do to get wins. It’s all coming together because we have experience.”
Everyone has seemingly come in and played a role and helped make everyone else on the team better. At some point, it just becomes an avalanche against a typical Summer League squad.
Few teams have been able to keep up with the Magic once they get rolling. Unlike the Blue team, the Magic have not led leads dissipate, keeping up the defensive intensity and finding ways to answer runs when they come up. The Magic gave up seven points in the third quarter, leading by single digits entering the final 10 points, yet it never felt like the Hornets would make that run.
When Orlando needed it, the team found the steal and run out for the easy basket or the big stop.
If this were not Summer League, you could say all these are signs of a winning team. Since it is Summer League, we just have to take it as a group that is extremely focused and has a clear goal in mind.
All these guys want is a chance.
“I think we play with a chip on our shoulder,” Benson said. “We just want to show we’re just as good as anybody else. I don’t think about everybody else watching. I just focus on the game.”
So far, this Magic team has proven they are much better than everyone else at Summer League. That should get them all the notice and the attention they desire.