NBA names top 10 plays of the Orlando Magic’s season
NBA.com named the top 10 plays of the Orlando Magic’s 2017 season, featuring plenty of Aaron Gordon dunks, some Evan Fournier and a bit of Serge Ibaka.
The Orlando Magic’s season is nearly two weeks from its end. The team has begun to pick up the pieces, heating up its general manager search and the players getting some early vacations to reset the batteries.
The team will have a lot to do to get ready for the 2018 season. And there is a long way to go as the team prepares for a busy offseason.
There is still time for some reflection and celebration — what little we can find. Last week, Orlando Magic Daily completed its recap of the previous season reviewing what went right and what went wrong this season. This week, we continue on with our player evaluations.
The NBA is doing its part too. The league released the top 10 plays from the Magic this past season online.
Despite the Magic’s poor 29-53 record, the team still had plenty of highlights. It is tough not to do that with Aaron Gordon on the roster. It sometimes felt like he had a highlight dunk every game — #OneAaronGordonHighlightPerGame.
There were plenty of others too with Serge Ibaka hitting a few game-winning jumpers. And, of course, Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton, Bismack Biyombo, Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross had their moments.
Without the distraction of that pesky score in the way, these were the top plays for the Magic this season. And since I cannot embed the NBA video directly, here are their top-10 plays from the season.
10. Terrence Ross 360
Terrence Ross even admitted Aaron Gordon is probably the best dunker on the team. And the fact a 360 dunk is No. 10 on the list probably speaks to how much Aaron Gordon will dominate this list.
Ross is known for throwing down some incredible dunks in transition. It seemed like it took Ross forever to get a breakaway dunk like this in Orlando after arriving just before the All-Star Break.
Gordon may be the team’s dunk king, but Ross is not too shabby.
9. Aaron Gordon flying
This is the first of many dunks from Aaron Gordon. He is just filthy.
So what makes this dunk different from all other dunks? The dribble move, of course. Gordon rarely gets run outs like this for his dunks. He tends to come in for lobs off cuts or incredible feats of athleticism. He rarely gets the chance to run in the open floor.
So with this open runway, Gordon attacks and delivers an impressive open-court dribble move and a jam.
8. Serge warning
Looking back at this game for the Top 10 games of the 2017 season, I am still trying to figure out how the Orlando Magic rallied to force overtime. It was nothing short of wizardry to get the team to this point.
And nothing short of incredible that Serge Ibaka somehow grabbed this rebound and put it back in. The Magic went on to win in double overtime.
Oh, those days when the team had some hope.
7. The T-Mac
Tracy McGrady was in the building to be recognized for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when the Orlando Magic paid this unintentional tribute to his legacy. Mario Hezonja found Elfrid Payton who knows he can just throw the ball anywhere near the rim and Aaron Gordon will find it.
This was a new one. And Gordon, dutifully running the floor, gets the dunk.
No. 2 on this list. And also the second time Gordon has jumped out of his shoes in his career.
6. Oh no, Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez had a bad week in December. First Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. jammed all over him. Then Jeff Green rose up and got him in Orlando. Not a good look for Brook.
And one of the few great highlights from Jeff Green during this disappointing season for him and the Magic.
5. Evan to Biz
Cannot find an independent video of this one, so be sure to check out NBA.com’s video to see the play.
Fournier here makes an incredible play along the baseline, dribbling into a trap before spinning the ball behind his back to Bismack Biyombo diving into the lane for a two-handed jam.
4. Kristaps Googles Fournier
Evan Fournier is not the guy anyone really thinks of for putting up poster-quality dunks. But he did just that when Kristaps Porzingis switched onto him in a March game against the New York Knicks.
Fournier rocked Porzingis to sleep on the pick and roll switch and then drove left, finishing with a monster one-handed jam over Porzingis.
3. Gordon from half court
I would assume most of the rest of the plays on this list will be Aaron Gordon dunks. And so this is dunk No. 3 on the list — and a good one from the middle of the season.
D.J. Augustin does a nice job starting the fast break and then realizes he does not need to cross half court, delivering a perfect lob to a cutting Aaron Gordon for the reverse slam.
It is pretty safe to say, this is how the Magic envisioned their offense running for Gordon.
2. Aaron Gordon’s 360
No. 10 on this list was Terrence Ross similarly stealing the ball and going for a 360 on the breakaway. When Aaron Gordon does it, it certainly gets more gravitas. Gordon adds the pump for good measure.
When it rains, it pours for Gordon.
And the No. 1 play of the season, according to NBA.com is . . .
1. Dunk Smart
Only Tommy Heinsohn would claim this was a charge (it might have been). But Aaron Gordon nearly clears the 6-foot-3 Marcus Smart on this transition play, one of the most impressive dunks of the entire year.
When Gordon is charging down the lane with any path to the basket, it is best if you just get out of the way if you are a defender. That is just how it goes.
Next: 2017 Orlando Magic Season Review: A season of miscalculations
What do you think of NBA.com’s list? Are there any that they missed? Would you add Serge Ibaka’s game-winning basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter @omagicdaily!