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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 Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) /

2. Aaron Gordon

Why does it feel like we’ve been here before? Every time we speak about the Orlando Magic needing a player to step up and make more of a difference in order to take them to the next level, Aaron Gordon is on, or at the top of, that list. So it is no surprise that we find him here again.

To be fair to Gordon, he was their best player during their brief playoff run last season. He stepped up against a better opponent when so many of his teammates did not, and if you came away from that series excited about how he was going to look this season, you weren’t alone.

As has happened before though, Gordon regressed some, while annoying still showing flashes of an even greater player inside. If the Magic were underdogs last season, and they were, then this year they are probably the favorites to get swept in their series. Gordon alone can’t change that, but he should be able to play this series without any pressure on his shoulders.

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He’s not expected to carry the team but again finds himself with an opportunity to step into a void created by injury. Isaac is gone, and Mohamed Bamba isn’t around at the moment either. They don’t share the same position as Gordon, but there are certainly more minutes to go round now. Minutes that will be heading Gordon’s way.

The 14.4 points per game average he sports this season is pretty pedestrian. They’re Ross numbers and he’s coming off the bench. The 30 percent from deep isn’t pretty either, but in Gordon’s defense, he is their best defender (with Isaac not around) and typically plays consistently well on that end. He is going to have his hands full as well, most likely guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In the sixth year of his career, although still only 24, it would be brilliant to see Gordon have the kind of postseason we saw last year. Even better would be if he carried that momentum into next season. If that doesn’t happen, and Gordon is in a more passive mood, this could be a swift NBA playoffs for the Orlando Magic.

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