Lakeland Magic earn first round bye in G-League Playoffs

The Lakeland Magic completed a strong season that saw them earn a second straight playoff trip and a first-round bye into the quarterfinals.

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford can go on quite a rant about the state of young players coming into the NBA. They just are not as prepared for the league as they used to be for whatever reason.

His theory is that coaching at the grassroots level and the emphasis on AAU and travel ball has forced the elite players to learn how to improve their own games without teaching them the commitment to practicing and the team well.

Maybe some of that is the fact the elite players rarely stay in college long enough to pick up those habits. College is just a weigh station for them.

The NBA has become much more focused on development than it was even 10 years ago.

Mention a player like Amile Jefferson, and Steve Clifford brightens up. There is a young player who gets everything a coach is looking for. He practices the right way and has taken bouncing between the G-League’s Lakeland Magic and the Orlando Magic all in stride.

Amile Jefferson has his limitations as a player — which Clifford freely admitted. Jefferson is a tweener in every sense of the word. He still has to prove he can stretch out his shot and be a physical presence as a center.

Jefferson has logged only 27 minutes across seven games this season in the NBA. But Clifford said he would feel comfortable throwing him into any game. Jefferson has always been a grinder seeking an opportunity.

If his play in the G-League is any indication, he just needs the right opportunity to shine.

It is easy to get excited about Jefferson’s play. Just this week on Tuesday, Jefferson posted 33 points and 16 rebounds in a 141-119 win over the Windy City Bulls. That was before he rejoined the Orlando Magic for Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

That performance Tuesday helped Lakeland clinch a playoff berth for the second straight year (the second year of the franchise’s existence in Central Florida). He continued his stellar play to close the season.

Jefferson returned to the lineup in Saturday’s season finale to score eight points and six rebounds in 23 minutes. They clearly did not want to overtax him. But that was more than enough to secure the second seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round bye.

The rest of his teammates secured that with a 105-104 win over Raptors 905 on Friday. They did that with the same kind of rally the parent club gave to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in Orlando.

It is a good time for the Magic franchise as a whole. All parts of it.

The Lakeland Magic have had to deal with their leading scorer and rebounder in Jefferson bouncing between the main roster and the G-League. When Jefferson was down with Lakeland, he put up some crazy numbers.

Jefferson averaged 18.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, matching his big season last year with the Iowa Wolves. The Magic signed Jefferson to a two-way deal knowing they were getting one of the best players in the G-League and someone who was knocking on the door in the NBA.

He is certainly still knocking as the Magic — and the rest of the league — tries to figure out the best use of the two-way contract.

With players like Amile Jefferson, Troy Caupain and Melvin Frazier bouncing between the G-League and the NBA, getting a high seed in the G-League Playoffs is certainly an accomplishment.

Troy Caupain has been stellar once again for Lakeland, averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. Melvin Frazier played 18 games in the G-League, averaging 12.2 points per game and shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Orlando has learned the G-League can be used to develop its young players (Isaiah Briscoe also played a couple of games with Lakeland).

But Lakeland has developed its own players too. And that is why the team finds itself in such a prime playoff position.

Gabe York, a stalwart of the Erie BayHawks a few years ago, has re-emerged as a critical player averaging 16.4 points per game and hitting 3.0 3-pointers per game on 36.7 percent shooting. His shooting has been valuable to the team.

So too has the emergence of John Petrucelli. He got some buzz to receive a 10-day contract with his improved play this year. Petrucelli averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from beyond the arc. In the last 15 games, Petrucelli is averaging 15.3 points per game on 42.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Add in B.J. Johnson, who did get a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks, and the Lakeland Magic have a dangerous and versatile lineup. Johnson averaged 15.4 points per game and displayed improved shooting with 44.4 percent shooting with 1.9 3-point field goals made per game.

Johnson rejoined the team Saturday, scoring 34 points on 11-for-27 shooting, making five of his seven 3-pointers.

With so many offensive weapons, the Lakeland Magic certainly will be one of the favorites to win the G-League championship. Lakeland will open in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday at the RP Funding Center against either the Windy City Bulls or the Westchester Knicks.

It has certainly been a strong season for Lakeland. And the team’s development program and success certainly bode well for the Magic organization.