The Orlando Magic tipped off their Summer League slate on Saturday with a 89-79 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Magic have a chance to get in the Summer League winning column tonight against the Indiana Pacers.
Here are some things to watch in game two based on what we saw in Orlando’s opener:
1) Anthony Black Game Control
The 6th overall pick out of Arkansas showed great flashes of a potential point guard of the future in the NBA. Signs of elite ball control, manipulating the pace of the game with change of speed, and setting up teammates with wide-open buckets.
The 6-foot 7-inch guard stuffed the statsheet with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Black also used his length to nab 3 steals, but showed inefficiencies as far as taking care of the ball with 7 turnovers.
with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Black also used his length to nab 3 steals, but showed inefficiencies as far as taking care of the ball with 7 turnovers.
Now we don’t need to jump to conclusions based on the rookie’s first game in an NBA jersey - a Summer League practice jersey at that - but I think it’s something to look for tonight. How has Black learned from game one to find more efficient facilitating in game two.
2) Caleb Houstan Off-Ball Movement
The second-year 32nd overall pick from last season splashed home four deep balls against Detroit. Houstan plays in an off-ball fashion, allowing ball handlers to penetrate the paint and collapse the defense, leaving plenty of space for shooters such as Houstan to knock down a triple. Tonight, I’m going to focus on not only how the ball handlers on the team produce open looks, but how a full season of NBA basketball has taught Houstan to adjust and find open space based on the opponents defensive schemes.
3) What impact can Kai Sotto bring?
Kai Sotto is a 7-foot 3-inch Filipino center with a ton of question marks around him. Sotto has spent time playing in a number of professional leagues overseas, and this will be the first that NBA fans will get a good of Sotto after he was a “DNP - Coach’s Decision” in the Summer League opener. Sotta possesses a smooth lefty stroke that looks particularly enticing based on his frame. His highlights have shown flashes of the ability to put the rock on the floor and navigate coast-to-coast, and with the Magic waiving Bol Bol this offseason, Sotto is certainly a candidate to replace the breath-taking moments that Bol brought to the Magic last season.
Catch the Orlando Magic vs the Indiana Pacers tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBATV. Stefan and I talk more about the NBA Summer League on ‘In The Zone’ on 96.9 The Game at 3 p.m.