The Orlando Magic have the best team approach in basketball with different leaders in every stat category. I looked at how they achieved this rare feat.
Fantastic duo? The big three?
The Orlando Magic are trying to subvert that typical building method, at least early in the season.
The NBA’s ultimate democracy, the upstart Magic have six different players leading six different statistical categories. No other team can claim the same.
The Magic have very nearly been one of the surprise teams of the league. Nearly.
The season started with two absolute heartbreakers: a one-point loss to the Washington Wizards and a three-point, double-overtime loss to the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder in easily the season’s most thrilling game yet. And then six of nine games decided by five points or less including Wednesday’s buzzer-beating win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
It cannot be truer for any other team. A couple of different possessions, and the Magic steal the crown of biggest surprise from the Detroit Pistons.
Just how have they managed this? Is this more Scott Skiles voodoo?
Essentially, Orlando has the most balanced seven-player rotation in the league. Who can honestly say who is the star on this team? Who is the weakest of the starting five? Who is the true Sixth Man?
Good luck answering these questions.
The Magic are a whole squad descending on you, danger at every turn.
In one starting lineup, opponents must deal with sharp, constant changing speed dishing off accurate dimes, sharpshooting screen runners, muscular scorers who attack inside and out, swarming defenders ready to turn your mistake into a highlight and a muscular, no nonsense big who will simply overpower your under the basket and surprise you with touch away from it.
And that is before the young bench comes in with a mix of athleticism and shooting.
That is, when the Magic are working on all cylinders.
To use another incredibly accurate analogy, the Orlando Magic are basically a platter of nachos for all to share.
I will abandon the analogies for now, let’s go to the numbers, which show just how varied the contributions have been for this team.
Stat: Points per game
Team Leader: Evan Fournier (18.7)
Until he went down with a knee contusion, Vucevic held this spot. But the oft-forgotten Fournier is having the best season of his career. After scoring just three points in the opener, Fournier has gone for 22, 29 and 30 already, taking advantage of defenses simply not being able to cover all threats.
Stat: Rebounds per game
Team Leader: Tobias Harris (8.3)
A surprise leader (and certainly benefiting from Vucevic’s swollen knee) is Tobias Harris. Known as the scorer and clutch man of the team, Harris has been hitting the boards hard so far, especially in the last few games. While this might not last, the effort he made in Vucevic’s absence is very encouraging.
Stat: Assists per game
Team Leader: Elfrid Payton (6.1)
Payton may be the most up and down of the bunch, but he is incredibly capable of carving the defense and making the big play, shown repeatedly in the overtimes of the Thunder game. Even though he shot 1 for 13 in Wednesday’s game, he dished out eight assists and had some value as a distributor even without his shot falling.
Stat: Steals per game
Team Leader: Victor Oladipo (1.6)
How many times has Oladipo swiped through the passing lane, flashed to the other end and pulled off a ridiculous jam all while singing Sinatra? The player with possibly the most upside has an incredible impact on the team. Scott Skiles has said he is playing at an All-NBA Defensive Team level early on this season and it is exemplified in how opportunistic he has been with his thefts.
Stat: Blocks per game
Team Leader: Nikola Vucevic (2.2)
I had to get him in somewhere. Vucevic is near the top in almost every category and continuing his brilliant play from last season. There is also the small matter of him taking a few games off for his knee and then coming right back and hitting an amazing jumper to seal a needed win. But back to blocks. Vucevic is averaging 2.2, more than double his previous career high set back in his second year.
As you can see, everyone gets their say on this team. The ball moves well and with good purpose: it always lands in a capable destination.
The Magic are ironing out the kinks and adapting to their new coach. But a sense of hope is palpable in the air, the squad are coming and other teams know it.
Oh and by the way, the Magic have only two players older than 30 years old: C.J. Watson and Channing Frye.
Here is a list of Magic players aged 25 and under: Vucevic, Fournier, Harris, Oladipo, Payton, Hezonja Gordon
If this continues and the team continues to grow . . . Good luck, future NBA.