The Orlando Magic have gotten a pleasant surprise in the re-emergence of Terrence Ross. He is having a career season to this point.
Terrence Ross has one of the prettiest jumpers in the league. He elevates to the highest point and then releases the ball with all most perfect form.
Zach Lowe of ESPN added a bonus to this 10 things I like column lauding Ross’ jumper and his quick release and ability to stop and shoot on a dime.
He has tremendous athleticism and speed. It looks like he is floating on the court instead of running.
Ross can hit an in-game windmill dunk with ease. Not to mention, he was the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest champion as a rookie.
Despite his sweet shooting and athleticism, it has not led to great success in the NBA. But he seems to be coming into his own this season with the Orlando Magic.
Ross has been extremely efficient for the Magic coming off the bench this year. Ross boasts career highs across the board. He is averaging a career-high 13.6 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from three.
Ross has always been a streaky scorer, and that has been his downfall throughout his NBA career. He once scored 51 points with the Toronto Raptors in only his second season in the league. But, as his coach Dwane Casey quipped when asked about it last year, Ross followed it up by scoring just six points.
It was actually 10 points.
Ross has not lived up to that game, to say the least. He has not averaged more than 11 points per game in any season. The Raptors tried him as a starter but found him unable to hold the role or provide consistent scoring. But he settled into a bench role for them.
But something is different this year, his eighth season in the league.
From the outset, he was given a role off the bench from head coach Steve Clifford. And he has played his role to the tee. Ross has become a key spark for the Magic. Their sixth man.
He comes in and immediately gives Orlando a boost. His teammates know to look for him and search him out for shots. Especially when the shot clock is winding down.
Ross seems to make baskets when his team needs it the most. When the Magic trailed the Philadelphia 76ers late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, they called his name and Ross delivered by hitting the game-winning three. Ross scored 13 points off the bench, made 3-of-4 three-point attempts and also had three steals.
He continued his stellar play against the Los Angeles Lakers. Ross came in and made both of his 3-point attempts and finished the game with 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting.
This kind of production and efficiency is becoming normal for Ross.
He has been the Magic’s most efficient player on the wing. This stands in stark contrast with the other players at his position.
Orlando Magic
Starting shooting guard Evan Fournier is having his worst shooting year, shooting a miserable 42.6 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three. Starting small forward Wesley Iwundu is a non-factor on offense. He is averaging 5.3 points per game while shooting 37.9 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three.
For now, the Magic have comfortably fit Ross into that bench role, providing some much-needed scoring punch to a unit that has struggled with offensive consistency.
In the future, the Magic could possibly insert Ross into the starting lineup. That is certainly a suggestion Magic fans have made because of how well Ross is playing.
Although he is not starting right now, he is finishing games for the Magic. They are trusting him to take the big shots in the final minutes of games.
Ross has spent much of the season playing in the team’s finishing lineups. That has led to plenty of clutch moments. And even when Ross is struggling like he did in Sunday’s win against the New York Knicks, he is someone the team turns to for instant offense.
With the Magic’s other starters and Ross, the Magic have a +12.4 net rating. it has been a positive group for the Magic and something they have in their back pocket.
Ross continues to move along and play at a high level. Fans have taken to him and fell in love with his effort and energy.
His career season seems set to continue.