In Bol Bol’s first few weeks of the season, the Orlando Magic back-up heart was about getting a greater thought of what he might deliver to the crew.
Bol’s performances made it clear he was deserving of a job. He did what coach Jamahl Mosley usually asks for: Dominate the straightforward.
Less than a month into getting constant enjoying time for the primary time since being a second-round choose in 2019, he’s began to increase his offensive function.
“It’s great, what he’s comfortable doing,” Mosley mentioned. “We’re getting to know him more where he’s comfortable handling the basketball, coming off pick-and-rolls, dribble-handoff situations.”
The largest step Bol’s taken since his first few video games is as a shot creator.
Early on, Bol scored in additional easy methods: Putbacks, rim runs and roaming the baseline to make himself accessible for lobs and dump-off passes.
He blended in on-ball drives — typically in transition and different instances within the halfcourt — for his most frequent flashes of self-creation.
Those flashes have come extra usually previously week, with Bol mixing in pull-ups and stepbacks jumpers to maintain defenders off stability.
Bol confirmed consolation with taking pull-ups earlier, making 1 of 4 in his first 4 video games. It’s change into a daily and extra constant shot for him, going 7 of 17 on pull-ups, together with 4 of seven on 3s.
Because of his dimension (7-foot-2) and size, defenders have a tough time contesting his shot after he creates area on stepbacks.
The Magic have began operating extra motion with Bol because the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls, weaponizing his shot creation.
He’s averaged 19.3 factors (54.2% taking pictures) and 10.5 rebounds in his final 4 video games coming into Monday’s street sport vs. the Indiana Pacers.
“The more I play, the more I get more comfortable,” Bol mentioned. “Just wanted reps. That’s serving to me. The sport is slowing down for me and I’m seeing much more stuff.
“I got to do better with being aggressive the whole game. I need to stay in attack mode.”
Bol’s play will assist overcome accidents to gamers like common heart Wendell Carter Jr.
Carter Jr. was listed as questionable on the damage report due to a strained proper plantar fascia (tender tissue beneath the foot).
Carter was dominated out lower than an hour earlier than tipoff for Saturday — his second absence due to it — after trying to undergo his pregame warmup.
“A combination of both,” Mosley responded when requested if Carter’s ailment is extra about ache administration vs. additional injuring the foot. “There’s pain there — a lot of pain there. He’s playing through it, which is something he’s done before. Just making sure it doesn’t get any worse.”
Harris might play Monday
Gary Harris can be accessible Monday after being sat for Saturday’s loss to the Pacers due to left knee damage administration.
Harris had arthroscopic surgical procedure on his left knee in late August after tearing cartilage, which additionally compelled him to overlook coaching camp.
He made his season debut Friday, scoring 7 factors on 3 of 5 taking pictures in 24 minutes after lacking the primary 15 video games whereas recovering.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com