Five biggest questions facing Orlando Magic in training camp
The Next Leap
Aaron Gordon undoubtedly took a major step in his career last year. He averaged a career-high 17.6 points per game and shot better than 30 percent from beyond the arc for the first time in his career. He also averaged a career-best 7.9 rebounds per game.
Orlando could rely on Gordon for consistent scoring and production throughout the season. But the raw numbers hid plenty of problems.
He finished the last 19 games shooting worse than 30 percent from beyond the arc and being largely inefficient with his shot selection. His defense took a major step back overall as he took on the larger offenisve load.
Orlando Magic
Both Jeff Weltman and Steve Clifford have said in various interviews that Aaron Gordon’s next step is to take all the offensive skills he has learned and figure out how best to apply them positively for the team. He needs to learn to pick his spots. Clifford specifically pointed out his need to improve defensively.
Gordon, to his credit, seems to believe this is the case too. He said he knows he still has a lot to improve on. And getting back to the strong defensive level that he displayed earlier in his career is certainly on the agenda.
And undoubtedly he needs to regain some of his efficiency from earlier in his career and earlier in the Magic’s season too.
Gordon has always had issues regaining his rhythm after an injury. Gordon’s 58-game season last year can rightfully be divided into the first 19 games and the final 25 games.
The first 25 games, he was a scoring machine and incredibly efficient thanks to his hot shooting. The final 19 games after concussions, shin and leg injuries knocked him in and out of the lineup, he was hunting his own shot too much and not hitting them effectively.
Gordon got his big contract nonetheless. He earned that faith with the potential he showed. But now the pressure grows for him to take his game to the next level. He has to become the team’s true leader on the court.
Orlando this year likely can go as far as Gordon’s growth and development will take the team.
The 23-year-old is still going to have his growing pains as every young player does. But the Magic need to see him take that growth and run with it to get the team moving in the right direction again.