What is the most important part of any position group in the NBA?
Well-roundedness. Can you do it all from every aspect of the court?
This is the kind of versatility the magic have sought throughout their roster. They want players who are smart enough to play every position and then can physically do it. Players who can fit anywhere on the floor.
That is what it looks like the Orlando Magic’s shooting guards have in store.
With the ability to shoot, create, defend and even rebound from the guard position, the Magic look like they have the future right in the palm of their hands.
With all three shooting guards 27 or younger, they look to make improvements every season to become a dangerous backcourt. As much as any group, the team is developing its identity in its backcourt. And that group is just as promising.
A lot of focus for the Orlando Magic has been put on its growing front court. But the team’s backcourt and shooting guard group displays all the modern qualities the team will need.
Not only do the shooting guards have the skills, but they have the intangibles. The things you can not teach. They have insane athleticism. They have extremely high IQs for such young players. They hustle like no other. And they want to win just as bad as if not more than anyone in today’s game.
Jalen Suggs, R.J. Hampton and Gary Harris look like they just need some development to be one of the best shooting guard trios in the league.
Three-Point Shooting
The Orlando Magic’s shooting guards can score from anywhere on the court, especially from behind the arc.
In the current NBA, there might not be a more important shot than 3-pointers.
The Magic are still improving as a 3-point shooting team, but they give their players the green light to shoot. And they have several shooting guards who are on their way to becoming knock-down shooters.
Last year, R.J. Hampton shot 35.0-percent and Gary Harris shot 38.4-percent. The average three-point percentage is 34-percent making both of them above average from behind the arc.
As they will continue to grow and learn the Magic’s system they will be guards that have some gravity and require defensive attention. They will punish lazy defense and will be a top three point shooting team as time goes on.
They also both shot better then 39-percent off catch-and-shoot opportunities from three.
With the ability to make it rain from three in any game, defenses will have to be on their toes to make sure one of these electrifying shooters does not have a career night against them. When defenses have to worry so much about the three, it opens up the rest of the court for everyone.
The biggest concern is with Jalen Suggs. he struggled from beyond the arc in his rookie year, making only 21.4-percent on 4.1 attempts per game.
That could have to do some with general rookie struggles and adjusting to the league. He was a 33.7-percent shooter at Gonzaga showing he has the capability to be a good three-point shooter.
He is still capable of being a major 3-point threat. He had five games with three-plus 3-pointers showing he has the ability to be an outside threat. Suggs has shown plenty of signs as a developed shooter throughout the season.
Coming into his second year, he should be a more comfortable shooter, with his shooting efficiency on the rise. With rookie year adjustments out of the way, once he figures out his spots I am confident his three-point numbers will rise.
Orlando is invested in Suggs’ growth and the team will stick with him as he learns to shoot.