Five goals for the Orlando Magic’s second half of the season
By Joe Buckley
GOAL TWO: FIGURE OUT THE BACKCOURT ROTATION
The backcourt for the Magic is both incredibly talented and yet a mess of inconsistency and questions.
First there are the injuries. Elfrid Payton, possibly the Magic’s most important player, has missed time. Victor Oladipo, who is not far behind him, is currently just coming back from injury. The great mystery that is C.J. Watson continues.
Watson, whose leadership and general doggedness would have been a massive help this year, went out with a calf injury in mid-November and there has been little word on his progress since. He has played just eight games this year and there is no word on his return.
Meanwhile, the Magic are trying to integrate D-league call ups on the fly.
With only Nikola Vucevic as the true inside scoring threat (on a team that is also not that great on 3-point shooting), the backcourt needs to produce.
When you add the above problems to Evan Fournier‘s continual and worsening struggles, you are left with a hole to fill. Payton and Oladipo are producing quality type defense, but their offense is up and down.
Do they try and shop someone to bring in a new guard? After all, do they really want D-League call ups playing playoff minutes? Shabazz Napier seems to be in the doghouse already.
Whichever they choose, something needs to be solidified if a playoff push is going to come.
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