Shelvin Mack the next man up as Orlando Magic scramble at point guard
Shelvin Mack is the next to step up to the plate as the Orlando Magic are down another point guard. They are confident Mack will deliver.
The Orlando Magic barely blinked Wednesday in the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies in a moment that surely would have led to some panic in previous years or for other teams.
On a breakaway layup late in the second quarter, D.J. Augustin finished his shot and then fell to the floor with a non-contact injury. He stayed on the floor as play continued and the Magic tried desperately to get a stop to get him out of the game (the Grizzlies were in the bonus and coach Frank Vogel did not want to give away the free points).
D.J. Augustin left the game with what Magic officials are calling a “mild to moderate” hamstring sprain. The same injury that has kept Elfrid Payton out since the second game of the season.
Payton is inching closer to a return. He participated in non-contact drills during the Orlando Magic’s shootaround ahead of Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. But he is officially out for the game. Orlando hopes Payton can participate in practice Saturday and return to action for Sunday’s game against the Boston Celtics.
That leaves the Magic with just one point guard — Shelvin Mack — for Friday’s game trying to help keep up the team’s momentum.
"“Day one of training camp, we built our offense around being a four ballhandler offensive attack,” Vogel said. “Not that it devalues the value of a point guard but all of our guys can get us into stuff. We have to make sure everyone is helping pick up the slack.”"
Mack will get the bulk of the minutes. But from there the Magic will platoon players like Jonathon Simmons, Evan Fournier and possibly even Wesley Iwundu at point guard.
The Magic often said earlier in the season they wanted to naturally flow into their offense. They aimed not to run many set plays if they could help it. That would seemingly make the point guard less important in the long run.
Mack said it takes some time to get used to this kind of offense since it goes so much off feel. The point guards have to learn where their teammates naturally like the ball as they get into their shell sets.
Still, it is hard not to look at what D.J. Augustin has done this season or what Elfrid Payton did toward the end of last season and not recognize the importance of strong point guard play to this offense.
Augustin is averaging 8.3 points per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. He has helped space the floor well for the Magic.
Mack is a very different kind of point guard than both Augustin and Payton.
Whereas Augustin and Payton will try to get into the paint and break down defenses, Mack is a much more cerebral guard. He is a game manager and several players and coaches note how much of a calming influence he can bring to the game.
"“I take a lot of pride in that, especially being a point guard,” Mack said. “I have been in a lot of situations with teams being in tough times and knowing how to deal with that, whether it is talking to a coach or talking to a player, and I bring that with me.”"
In 19.0 minutes per game across seven games this year, Mack is averaging 5.6 points per game and shooting 46.7 percent from the floor, including 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. More impressively, he is averaging 4.6 assists per game in his limited minutes.
In the second half against the Grizzlies, Mack finished with five points and six assists in 15 minutes to help the Magic to the win.
Mack is a distributor for this team and doing whatever the team asks of him. That is what he has done his entire career. Orlando largely signed him because of his experience throughout the league. He has 50 starts to his name and has played well whether he is starting or coming off the bench. Mack is always the same.
That is what the Magic are counting on from him in situations like this. And what they will be counting on from him in this short time the Magic are scrambling for a point guard.
"“I feel very comfortable,” Mack said. “The biggest thing is to stay ready. That is where my practice and hard work comes in for opportunities like this. You try to take advantage of it.”"
The great thing about Mack is he is not going to try to be something he is not. That should help the Magic continue to hum along at the pace they are playing offensively. Mack will play his game and keep the team moving. So far it has worked while he is in the game.
Orlando Magic
Orlando does not seem to have lost any confidence with him out on the floor.
The Magic though will still likely use some non-traditional lineups. They finished Wednesday’s game with Jonathon Simmons playing “point guard.” And that likely will be the finishing lineup for this stretch provided Simmons is shooting the ball well.
Orlando has played 25 minutes without any of their three point guards on the court, according to NBAWowy. They have scored 107.8 points per possession and given up 88.2 points per possession. In those very limited minutes, the Magic have not missed a beat.
With the Magic facing this stretch without their two top point guards, they are certainly thankful for their depth and their offensive system that seems to enable them to survive with just one natural point guard on the roster.
Next: Confidence key to Orlando Magic's offense
There is no doubt they believe Mack will step up when needed.