Orlando Magic: 2018-19 player grade for Evan Fournier

Highlights

You will struggle to find a better indicator of Evan Fournier’s impact on the Orlando Magic then through two of his top highlights for the season. He had game-winners in the month of November and December, first against the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the Detroit Pistons.

He is the Magic’s closer and has shown to be willing and able to take shots at critical moments. These two wins were hugely important given that they finishes 42-40 on the year, and some of the clutch stats back up Fournier’s importance in this area.

The Magic played 47 games where there were five points or less in the difference with five minutes to go. They went 22-25 during that span, tied for the 11th best record for games that were that close heading into the final minutes.

What makes this more impressive is that the team played in the second-most close games, with only the Sacramento Kings playing more (49).

Fournier can take a lot of credit for that, as the ball was in his hands during many of those moments. However in those two games in which he pulled out game-winners, he had only 15 points against the Cavaliers and 13 points against the Pistons.

Fournier didn’t take over either game, but was there when it matter to knock down the decisive shot.

If you look at the rest of their roster, it is unclear who else you would want to put in that position. Nikola Vucevic probably, although as we saw in the playoffs that is no sure thing to result in a bucket either.

Vucevic actually had the highest usage rate on the team during the last five minutes of close games (26.8 percent), with Fournier lagging some way behind in second (22.9 percent).

Yet it was Fournier who made more of his time with the ball, resulting in many of the better moments of his season.