Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: Grading Markelle Fultz’s 2019-20 NBA season

By Luke Duffy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 24: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of Game Four during the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

Markelle Fultz’s highlights

Is it too much of a cop-out to say that Fultz actually being ready to start the season, before taking over starting duties from Augustin after 12 games, and going on to appear in 72 regular season contests overall is the main highlight here? Because it really is. Fultz played a part for the Magic this season and was better than anybody could have expected.

But the most promising development of all for the front office and head coach Steve Clifford will have been how he played in the postseason. In fact, you could make the case that he wasn’t used enough, as good things appeared more likely to happen when he was out on the court dictating the action.

Those pedestrian numbers we spoke about earlier held firm in the playoffs (12 points and 5.2 assists) which is a great sign because the Bucks had five games to zone in on his strengths and tendencies and would have known pretty much right away that he wasn’t going to be a threat from deep. Yet he still at one point did this.

The Bucks also had the best defensive rating during the regular season and were tough to break down for much better opponents than the Magic, yet Fultz was still able to get his. If he could have just been more aggressive then he could have had an even bigger impact.

There is no greater illustration of how well Fultz did during the series than the fact coach Clifford, who is known for sitting younger players and trusting veterans in big situations, actually played Fultz more during the playoffs (29.4) then he did in the regular season (27.7). Fultz also shot 37.5 percent from deep, and even though the sample size was small (6-of-16), it showed he didn’t let whatever happened to him before hold him back.

Home/Orlando Magic