Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

The Curious Case of Dewayne Dedmon

By Sam Skubala

Oct 30, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) blocks Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kyle Singler (5) shot during the second half at Amway Center. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Orlando Magic 139-136 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) blocks Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kyle Singler (5) shot during the second half at Amway Center. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Orlando Magic 139-136 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dewayne Dedmon, Orlando Magic, Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns
Mar 19, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) attempts to block a shot by Phoenix Suns center Miles Plumlee (22) during the second half at US Airways Center. The Suns won 109-93. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The Numbers

Dedmon’s numbers, both per-game and advanced, show the big man to have lapsed in several areas of the game this season.
His offensive rebounding rate has collapsed from 15.5 percent to a disappointing 10.3 percent entering Sunday’s game, which is reflected in his overall rebounding numbers dropping by about one board per contest in his limited minutes.

Furthermore, his defensive numbers have stayed relatively flat. His defensive box plus-minus improved from 0.3 to 2.2 and he has equaled his defensive win shares from last year with 1.0.

Offensively, Dedmon clearly struggles. He is almost completely ignored on offense. His offensive box plus-minus has improved only a little — and mostly in the last three weeks — from -3.6 to -2.9. It is these offensive struggles which have kept Dedmon out of Scott Skiles’ rotation.

The 26-year old struggles on the offensive end of the floor, having poor hands and lacking a post game. Furthermore, the lack of an outside shot leaves his only points coming off putbacks and dunks, a hindrance for a player who is good, but not elite on the defensive end.

Orlando’s other big men are all more reliable contributors, who do not sacrifice enough defensively for Dedmon to gain big minutes.

The fact that defenses can take him out of the equation and leave the Magic in a 4-on-5 situation makes it too risky to give him significant minutes.

Next: Defensive IQ