Shelvin Mack, D.J. Augustin turning into quite the duo
Surprisingly, Shelvin Mack and D.J. Augustin have turned into a strong backcourt duo for the Orlando Magic. It took time for Mack to adjust to his new role.
Fans online would groan when coach Frank Vogel would trot out an odd lineup.
Well, there are several odd lineups Vogel has used throughout the season as he tried to find the right combination that he trusts through injuries and uneven play from so many players this season. One lineup Vogel kept reverting back to. A seemingly unnatural lineup.
D.J. Augustin and Shelvin Mack are decent veterans. They have established solid careers off the bench as point guards. For the most part, they do not do much special but hold the boat steady and provide that mythical “veteran presence.”
Neither seems like a great fit at shooting guard. Neither has the size to hold the position down, it would seem. And both have established themselves as career backups. Able to do enough to stay on the floor and support stronger lineups, but not enough to distinguish themselves as clear starters.
With their lack of size and sometimes streaky shooting, Mack and Augustin seemed like an unlikely pair. Indeed, early in the year, it felt like the duo was as mismatched as everyone thought.
Something changed in the last few weeks. At the same time as the Orlando Magic seemed to make their uptick and start winning games, the surprising duo of Augustin and Mack became one of the Magic’s best lineup duos.
Leading a strong bench, they were a shot in the arm for a team that desperately needed some new energy.
"“That combination has been really successful for us,” Vogel said last week. “It’s a group I want to keep together. Shelvin has earned regular backup wing minutes. Playing those two guys together on a regular basis because it has been so good for us. Shelvin is creating a lot of looks for D.J. They both play the drive and kick game. The ball really moves when those guys are out there.”"
Overall, the duo has not produced a ton of results.
The Magic post a 102.5 offensive rating (below the team’s average) and a 103.5 defensive rating (better than the team’s average) in 266 minutes together. Those numbers are not impressive in the long term.
But in the last 15 games, the two have played significantly better.
Orlando Magic
The Magic have a 111.9 offensive rating when the duo is on the court together and a 104.4 defensive rating together. As part of that bench unit, the two have found success together. And so have the Magic.
Even though the minutes are still somewhat limited, and getting cut short more and more after the Elfrid Payton trade, it is a duo the Magic have seen a ton of success with.
It took some time for Mack to get adjusted to the role. In his career, according to Basketball-Reference, Mack has played roughly one-third of his minutes at shooting guard. There was some idea when the team signed him that he could split time between the two positions if needed.
Mack though had not played shooting guard as heavily as he has this year — 42 percent, according to Basketball-Reference — since 2015 when he was with the Atlanta Hawks. Mack was not known as a prolific shooter either, there were questions whether he could space the floor.
"“Early on, I was trying to get used to playing shooting guard,” Mack said. “I’m normally a point guard. Just making plays for each other and trying to understand what is best for the team and not worrying about who is playing point guard. We are just trying to make the right plays.”"
Mack has had his playing time go up and down throughout the year. Individually, he is averaging a meager 5.4 points per game while shooting a 48.2 percent effective field goal percentage. That is likely because of how few minutes he has played until this recent stretch.
In his last 15 games, Mack is averaging 8.8 points per game and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor in 20.3 minutes per game.
Those are not numbers to blow anyone away. But off the bench, it will more than work. Mack established himself as someone the team could trust in this time.
It seemed like he was not a perfect fit when the Magic brought him in with free agency. He was not the best 3-point shooter — he has made only 26.1 percent of his 3-pointers in that 15-game stretch.
If anything, the only thought was Mack would push Augustin for playing time at backup point guard after Augustin struggled in his first year in Orlando.
There was never a thought the two would play well off each other.
In these lineups, Augustin is more the shooter and Mack the playmaker and creator. It allows Augustin to display one of his best skills his 3-point shooting, which has found itself revitalized this year. Augustin is shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc this season.
Augustin’s versatility has made this and other similar combos that take him off the ball work.
"“That’s one of the values of D.J.,” Vogel said. “He is good with and without. He’s a good pick and roll player and attacker off screens. But if you want to spot him up and let either Vuc play in the post or other guys play the pin-down or pick-and-roll game, he is someone you have to respect out there. He has that gravity.”"
Augustin has been successful in lineups with other ballhandlers. It helps set up his shot and he is producing.
Maybe it is more perception. In his last 15 games, he is shooting just 40.9 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. That comes out to 9.7 points per game still. No one is confusing Augustin for the team’s long-term answer at point guard.
The bad news for the Magic is the team’s trade of Elfrid Payton will split these two up. The Magic have just two point guards on the roster now and Augustin will slide into the starting lineup.
Vogel said he would try to still use some lineups that ride these two players together. They have played extremely well off each other. And Vogel, notoriously slow to change his rotations, is not about to give up on it.
Next: Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live: Picking up the Pieces
Not on a duo that has surprisingly played well together.