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Orlando Magic: 3 players who need to step up in NBA playoffs

By Luke Duffy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic is held back by Evan Fournier (10) after being fouled by Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 5, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic is held back by Evan Fournier (10) after being fouled by Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 5, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic, NBA playoffs (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /

3. Terrence Ross

With Terrence Ross, the Orlando Magic have known what they are getting for a couple of years now. One of the first players off their bench who is capable of getting hot in a hurry, Ross is the most consistent 3-point threat on the roster (not always the best, but he comes off screens and shoots so purely that he is the guy you feel most comfortable launching them from deep).

This has been crucial for the Magic as they haven’t been a particularly great offensive team for much of the time Ross has been there, outside of some periods of time where everything clicks for them. With the Bucks a superb defensive outfit, the Magic are going to need to be able to score from everywhere if they want to try and make this series competitive.

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Ross starting for the team probably isn’t the answer, but with injuries and the negative feeling around the organization currently, that might not be the worst call either. Ross has shot 35.1 percent from 3-point range this season, down on the much healthier 38.3 percent of last year.

This despite taking slightly more shots from deep (7.3 compared to 7.0) when on the court. Swapping him and Evan Fournier, for example, would give the team’s second unit a better player capable of creating their own shot (Fournier), while putting a player who works well without the ball and moves brilliantly around screens next to focal point Nikola Vucevic (Ross).

Even if that is too drastic a call to make, and really the Magic have nothing to lose here and should be doing anything they can to throw the Bucks off, they will need considerably more from Ross. He is not a bad defensive player but would need to stick rigorously to one of the many shooters the Bucks are going to be rolling out.

Averaging 14.7 points per game during the regular season (including in the bubble) is not a bad place to start. But with the rotation shortening and the role of Ross so clearly defined, they figure need to continue going north as well. If this can happen, Ross will give the Bucks some issues.

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