Denver Nuggets vs Orlando Magic; What to watch out for
Mar 15, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Over the course of the previous 10 games, the Denver Nuggets have gone 3-7 to move to 8-15 overall and currently sit 11th in the Western Conference.
Denver are certainly in a slump. Their previous two losses were against the lowly Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets, while their most recent win, a 106-98 win over Philadelphia, wasn’t exactly convincing.
The Nuggets take on an Orlando squad that is in a similar place as them, both in the standings and rebuilding phase. The Magic roster is currently a combination of established NBA players such as Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic, while also featuring young up-and-comers like Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja.
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Our Nuggets are also stacked with established NBA talent in the likes of Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, while also possessing young guys like Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic.
Both teams are currently on the outside of their respective conferences, and desperately need a W to stay in touch with the playoff race.
Lets take a look at what to look for in game 23 of the Nuggets season.
Dec 9, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) drives to the basket as he is defended by Charlotte Hornets guard forward Nicolas Batum (5) and guard forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the second half of the game at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 109-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Which young guard is ahead in their develoment?
As mentioned in the intro, the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets have many similarities. One such simalarity is that they both have young points guards whom they drafted in the top 10 in recent drafts.
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Elfrid Payton had been the starting point guard for Orlando since entering the league in 2014, however has recently lost his spot in the starting lineup to veteran DJ Augustin.
Our very own Emmanuel Mudiay was taken with pick number 7 in the 2015 NBA draft, and like Payton, he was given the reigns to an NBA squad in his first season.
It will be interesting to see which of the two guards looks most comfortable on the floor on this matchup. Both players have tremendous upside, but have taken criticism during their young careers so far.
At some point we will see Payton and Mudiay go head-to-head and while the matchup will be a good indicator as to where each player stands in terms of development, it will also be a key matchup in terms of which team wins the game.
Dec 7, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the basket as Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) defends during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Battle of the international bigs
The Orlando Magic have one heck of a player in Nikola Vucevic. The 26 year old Montenegren is averaging 12.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest in 27 minutes of action so far this season.
His points output is down from last season, where he posted 18.2ppg, however Vucevic is still playing at a high level. His ability to crash the glass and pass out of the post are key for the Magic and the Nuggets must contain his influence on the game.
Vucevic is a big guy. He stands 7’0 and weighs in at about 260 pounds. For most players in the league he is an intimidating guy in terms of size and strength. For Jusuf Nurkic however, he is not.
Our own Bosnain Beast also stands 7’0 and weighs and additional 20 pounds.
The battle between Nurkic and Vucevic will be a bruising, grinding, exciting one to watch.
Jusuf Nurkic must be able to hold his own against the savvy Vucevic if the Nuggets want to come out on top in Orlando. Nurk needs to establish his game early and be extra tough when pulling down rebounds.
Dec 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) react after a basket during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Orlando Magic defeated Washington Wizards 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Evan Fournier, our old friend
In 2012, the Nuggets drafted Evan Fournier with the 22nd overall pick in that years NBA draft.
By seasons end, he was starting alongside Ty Lawson in the backcourt during the Nuggets playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.
Many Nuggets fans, myself included, were extremely excited about the future of Evan Fournier and were enamored by his game.
In 2014, after averaging 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest, Fournier was traded to Orlando in exchange for guard Arron Afflalo.
Since the deal, Fournier has gone on to become one of the brightest young combo guarss in the league. He posted 15.4 points per game last season on 46% shooting and was awarded with a massive five year, $85 million dollar deal this offseason.
The Frenchman has upped his scoring output again so far this season, currently averaging 16.6 points per game.
As an admirer of Fourniers game and personality, it will be good to see him compete against the Nuggets to see how he is continuing to develop.
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