#PSBSportsChop: Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves – January 1, 2016
By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture
I had the chance to take in a game a couple of weeks ago at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. Plenty of the NBA’s top young players laced up their sneakers in this one. Here are some of takeaways from my court side seat on the hardwood:
Orlando Magic
I love Aaron Gordon’s energy. The former Arizona Wildcat averages around 18 minutes a night but uses every ounce of activity that he has. He talks on defense alerting his teammates of screens and how he plans on defending them. Gordon is a player to keep an eye on as his offensive game catches up to his frame and activity / energy.
Can Victor Oladipo continue to grow his outside game? There is no question that the budding star has the strength to make plays slashing to the rim. In a league full of dominant attackers, adding a consistent jump shot appears to be the difference in whether Oladipo will thrive for the next 10 seasons or settle into a career as a solid option at the off guard position.
With his ability to attack the lane and distribute the ball, Elfrid Payton has made an impact in his short time as a starting point guard in the league. Like Oladipo, Payton is still developing his outside range but his creativity with the ball bodes well for his NBA future.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Keep an eye on Zach LaVine. I remember watching him at UCLA two seasons ago wondering if he would be able to transition to the NBA as a point guard. This season, serving as the Timberwolves backup to Ricky Rubio, LaVine is answering that question with a solid yes. I still believe that his best days in the NBA could be spent as an off the ball option but for now he’s earning his check on it.
Speaking of Rubio, he is one of the best passers that I’ve seen in person. The Spanish National Team member’s ability to find the open player is uncanny. While his jumper might not stretch defenses the way Minnesota’s front office and coaching staff might want, Rubio is arguably one of the 10 best in the world at passing the ball right now.
The sky is the limit for Karl-Anthony Towns. The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he could make Anthony Davis like strides over the next two seasons establishing himself as a potential Olympian in 2020 in the process. Towns caught the ball in the trail post and made a rip through that nearly brought me out of my seat.
Andrew Wiggins is a problem. He’s got the length to play on the wing, the athleticism to finish at and around the rim and is developing the skill to be an effective scorer from outside. Wiggins start to his sophomore campaign is building on an inaugural season that earned him NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.