Without Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic’s bench has stayed ready and stepped up

Aaron Gordon’s injury forced two players into the Orlando Magic’s rotation. Both have stepped up in surprising ways to give the team a boost.

Jonathon Simmons had fallen out of the rotation. He was struggling to make shots and struggling to find his footing. He was adding plenty defensively, but he could not find his fit or position. Coach Steve Clifford had to mix up the bench group and go with Wesley Iwundu, who statistically was far more effective.

It was a big fall for Jonathon Simmons. He was a starter and a breakout player last year. A wrist injury during the summer put him well behind and he struggled to catch up. All the while the Orlando Magic were desperate for wins to stay in the Playoff race.

Clifford officially moved Simmons out of the rotation on Dec. 30 against the Detroit Pistons. He only re-entered as the backup point guard because of an injury and then fell out of the rotation with DNP-CDs for five straight games. It was again only the injury to Aaron Gordon that brought him playing time.

It not only brought him playing time but put him back into the starting lineup — the Magic did not want to disrupt the rotation too much — but they were making a big ask of Simmons to come in once again and provide the defensive presence and controlled driving he struggled with in his first stint.

Simmons still has that scoring burst potential. But he has not let this opportunity go to waste, stepping back into the rotation and providing a consistent presence for the team. He has played within himself, kept the ball moving and taken shots when he is comfortable.

And provided the occasional highlight.

In his standout moment since returning to the lineup, Jonathon Simmons cut baseline where Nikola Vucevic could find him. Simmons caught the ball and gave a two-handed thunderous jam that helped propel the Orlando Magic to a 122-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Simmons scored seven points on 3-for-6 shooting on Monday. That followed his 10-points, 4-for-8 performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Simmons waited for his opportunity and when it came around, he took advantage. For the team, he filled in a necessary role and stepped up to the plate.

For a team that has had its issues with depth and bench production throughout the year, this was a surprising development. And more surprising because it was not the only player who stepped up.

Aaron Gordon’s absence had another effect. It brought Jarell Martin back into the rotation.

Before Saturday’s game, Martin had not played more than 10 minutes in any game since the Nov. 28 game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has not been firmly in the rotation at any point in the season.

But the need for some backup power forward minutes got Martin playing time the last two games. A player who is a career 33.6 percent 3-point shooter hit four of five 3-pointers in the game against the Bucks and then two for three from beyond the arc against the Hawks.

Jarell Martin’s size proved to be valuable in both games as he gave Giannis Antetokounmpo a different look in the post and held his own against the Hawks’ small lineups. Orlando went +10 against the Hawks with Martin on the floor.

Is any of this sustainable? The past history with both Simmons and Martin would suggest that it probably is not.

Simmons’ struggles from beyond the arc this year suggest he may return to his mean for this year. But Simmons is certainly capable of playing this consistently and under this much control if he gets minutes the rest of the year.

Martin has had spurts of strong play in the past, only to revert back to the player he has been when he played for the Magic so far this year. Neither are likely to find minutes when Gordon returns, in other words.

Clifford has been slow to make changes to his rotation. He said he tries to give groups who are familiar with each other time to right the ship or play together before making any changes. But the play from both Martin and Simmons in the last two games has been more than encouraging.

Those two players stayed ready and when their number was called, they delivered for the Magic in a major way.

It is the same way Wesley Iwundu stepped up to the plate after going to the bench when Jonathan Isaac returned.

Iwundu started 12 consecutive games in November but then did not rejoin the full-time rotation for another two or three weeks. Clifford said he trusted Simmons a bit more and it was no knock on Iwundu. There simply were not minutes to go around.

But as Simmons struggled more and Iwundu found himself back in the rotation. He did not pout or mope during the time out of the rotation, he kept working and the opportunity swung his way. He was ready for it and Iwundu, despite his offensive limitations, is one of the Magic’s most reliable wing defenders and players.

Clifford said as players moved in and out of the rotation that there is still a lot of the season left. Every player on the roster will have their turn to contribute. They just need to be ready when it comes up.

Martin and Simmons showed themselves ready when it came up the past two games. Orlando struggled against one of the best teams in the East. But it was the efforts from these players that helped them beat the Hawks, taking the lead in the second quarter and holding it through the rest of the game.

This kind of play is necessary for the Magic to succeed in the end. Their depth is a major issue. It will be that way the rest of the season. And the bench units will continue to struggle without consistent scoring or playmaking.

But with one of the Magic’s best players out and the team relying on two players who have largely been out of the rotation for the last month, they saw them step up. Their turn came and they have stepped up to the plate.