The Orlando Magic started 5-20 and were as unlikely favorites as you might find in a six-game winning streak. But Markelle Fultz is back and things are clicking.
To be clear, running back Markell Fultz isn’t the only reason the Orlando Magic have won six straight games, including straight road wins over the Boston Celtics. It had been 10 games since he returned from a broken toe in the preseason and the Magic had lost their first four games. They’ve also benefited from some luck with 3-point shooting — they hit 37.7 percent during this winning streak, while opponents only hit 28.8 percent.
But Fultz’s return was a game-changer in Orlando’s backfield, especially with Jalen Suggs still plagued by an ankle injury, moving the ball dynamically in an offense that leaned hard on their yet talented frontcourt.
What did Markelle Fultz give the Orlando Magic offense
For each game, Foltz leads as often as Franz Wagner or Paolo Panchero. The difference is that these two players are looking to score and just pass the ball 27.8 and 27.6 percent from their engines, respectively. Of the 51 players who have averaged 10 drives per game this season, only six — Zion Williamson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, RJ Barrett, Therese Maxie, Anthony Edwards and Keldon Johnson — pass less.
Fultz, on the other hand, passed on 48.3 percent of his drive, the sixth-highest mark in the same group of 51. That ability to attack from the perimeter and turn a moving defense into wide open shots, not just a challenger to be run from, gave the Magic offense a whole new dynamic.
Watch here as he notes Marcus Smart distracts himself for a split second and skips it to create a wide open triple pointer for Paolo Panchero.
Fultz developed a really great chemistry with Banchero and helped create more open looks for him. Banchero is 9-of-19 on 3-point assists that came after a pass from Fultz and you can see here, once again, how his dribbling penetration (in isolation, no less) is able to occupy multiple defenders and leave Banchero completely alone in the corner.
What people remember most about Fultz is the way his documentary player seemed to disappear with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he made himself a hugely influential scorer, someone who needed to at least be held accountable for the ball in his hands.
Foltz is rated 83 percent in isolation recording efficiency this year. He hits 42.9 percent on pull-up 2s and is very reliable with his combination of floats and drive shots, one of the reasons he shoots 55 percent between five and nine feet from the basket. He’s menacing enough as an on-the-ball scorer that he can distort defense and his ability to convert that into open shots for his teammates has really changed things for the magical attack.
What Fultz did at the other end of the floor was just as important. He averages 3.1 deflections and 1.9 steals per game, much of which has been converted into fast breaker buckets at the other end.
NBA defensive play data should always be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s at least worth noting how limited players like Fred VanVleet, Darius Garland, and Tra Young were when Fultz was It was the main match between them.
His point-attack defense was an important counterpoint to protecting the Bull’s Edge and you can see the outline of some very strong defensive formations that have been built around him, Paul and Galen Suggs.
The Orlando Magic still have a lot of work to do, and Fultz’s long-term availability will be a question mark until that happens (remember, he’s only played 20+ games in a season once in his six years of career). functional). But his skills filled in a lot of what was missing in a roster full of interesting young talents who haven’t been able to put things together regularly yet.
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The Lakers suffered a major loss due to an injury to Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis will be out for an extended period of time.
- infection: Davis suffered a foot injury against the Denver Nuggets.
- timetable: At least a month’s vacation for Davis.
- More information to come: Lakers It is expected to provide a more detailed update on Monday According to ESPN after further filming.
- Season so far: AD was a real candidate for the best player of the season. He pushed the Lakers into an early season turnaround after an 0-5 start and averaged 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. His 8.5 plus/minus fund would be his strongest season since 2018-19 if he holds up all year.
- Position switch: Part of Davis’ solid play comes along with a key switch. After splitting time between power forward and center for the last three seasons with Los Angeles, he returned to full-time center duties.
Former NBA star Amari Stoudemire arrested on battery charge
Trigger warning: Below are the details of domestic violence.
- Arrest details: Former Miami-Dade County basketball player Amari Stoudemire was charged with battery on Sunday. Stoudemire was released on $1,500 bond, and a hearing is scheduled for January 17, 2023.
- Allegations: According to ESPN, which obtained a copy of the police reportStoudemire, “allegedly hit one of his two teenage daughters during an argument at his Miami home Saturday night.” Other details indicated that Stoudemire punched her daughter in the jaw, according to the police report. Stoudemire told police the daughter “was heartbroken because she was yelled at by him for being disrespectful and a liar,” according to the report.
- Stoudemire’s statement: Stoudemire A statement was released on Instagram sayingIt is an allegation based on a report that does not correspond to the facts… As the investigation begins, the facts will emerge that the allegations are unfounded because my daughter’s health condition is not the result of her being assaulted by a father who was almost 7 feet tall and weighed 250 pounds. I could never have I see myself abusing anyone, especially my children. I respect, protect and love my family, especially my children.”
- Stoudemire’s NBA Career: Stoudemire is a 6-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA, and former Rookie of the Year. Stoudemire played his final year in the NBA in 2016 and spent 2017 playing in Israel.
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