Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Five promising statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 29: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic shoots a lay up against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 29: Evan Fournier /

Evan Fournier’s Clutch Play: 56.3% eFG%

The favorite game for fans to play is to ask who takes the shot late in games. There is a bit of a macho culture about it too. The best player should take the best shot — never mind what is the right play. It creates moments fans want to remember and can stand as snapshots for the season.

Never mind that close games are a bit of a crapshoot. Efficiency usually goes way down as teams abandon their playbook to create isolation situations for their best players. What happens in the final moments of a game is completely different stylistically from what happens the rest of the game.

Good teams do not win close games, they avoid them. Most of the best teams find a way to pull games out before they get overly tight. Still, teams have to find a way to win them. For the most part, teams finish about .500 in close games.

So it is not so surprising the Magic finished the year 18-21 in close games last year, according to NBA.com. They finished near the bottom of the pack in wins, but they were right in the middle in losses. To be sure, the difference between a good and a bad season will be clutch play and the ability to win close games.

This is where having Evan Fournier might come in handy.

Fournier does not fit that model of the go-to scorer. He is the Magic’s best offensive player, but not a great one-on-one creator. Yet, Fournier was among the best players in the league in clutch situations. Or at least among the most efficient.

That NBATV graphic is not lying. Fournier shot 56.3 percent effective field goal percentage in games where the score was within five points in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime.

Fournier has long had a penchant for hitting big shots. He did so again in Eurobasket when he hit two key jumpers in France’s opening loss to Finland.

Of course, everyone would point out France still lost that game.  And Orlando lost plenty more.

But if the Magic can get themselves in a better position and more confidence to play in these close games. Maybe Fournier’s efficiency late in these games can help turn that tide.

Next: 2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Elfrid Payton

It is definitely something to watch and keep in mind for this team. And a reason to be optimistic about its 2018 season.