When the Orlando Magic traded for Bol Bol, a 22-year-old huge man, in February and re-signed him as a free agent, there have been questions on what he’d carry to the ground and his function.
Through 4 video games with the Magic, there’s higher readability.
Bol’s efficiency within the Magic’s loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York wasn’t simply notable due to his stat line — a career-high 19 factors to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 blocks in 20 minutes. It additionally marked the primary time he’s performed not less than 10 minutes in 4 consecutive video games since being a second-round choose in 2019.
The constant enjoying time has helped make Bol, who has averages of 10 factors on 65.4% taking pictures and 4.8 rebounds as a reserve getting into Wednesday’s street sport towards the Cleveland Cavaliers, much less of an unknown.
“It’s been very important for me because I feel like every game I’ve gotten better,” Bol responded when requested about enjoying a number of video games in a row. “I’m seeing stuff happen each game. The game’s starting to slow down the more I play.”
Through a small pattern of 4 video games (64 minutes), Bol’s offered the Magic with shotblocking, offensive rebounding and a flexible rim-attacking scoring risk — on and off the ball. He’s primarily been used as a backup “big” enjoying alongside Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba however has been the lone huge in some lineups.
“The versatility — we talk about the size and length he possesses, but also the basketball IQ,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned of Bol. “His ability to make plays down the stretch, he creates matchup problems.”
Bol’s 2.8 blocks per sport had been the league’s second-best mark amongst gamers who performed not less than two video games getting into Tuesday, solely behind Milwaukee Bucks huge man Brook Lopez (3.5 in two video games). Everyone else within the top-nine common not less than 21 minutes per sport in comparison with Bol’s 16.
He makes use of his size (7-foot-7 wingspan), anticipation and footwork to dam photographs. Bol’s simply as a lot of a risk to dam a shot outdoors the arc as he’s within it.
Of his 11 blocks, 4 have been on jumpers (1 midrange and three 3-pointers). His mixture of dimension, timing and nimble ft make it troublesome for perimeter gamers to get their photographs off cleanly over him — even when it looks like he’s not within the play and may’t get well in time.
The similar occurs contained in the paint.
Bol’s proven a willingness to do the soiled work for an enormous man — assault the offensive glass and rim run. Of his 40 factors, one-quarter have been off offensive rebounds and putbacks.
The Magic have put a higher emphasis on offensive rebounding to reap the benefits of their dimension and Bol up to now has been one in every of their vivid spots in that space, rebounding a team-high 9.5% of the Magic’s misses.
Bol’s been a risk to attain contained in the paint outdoors of offensive rebounding.
He’s run the rim properly in transition and has proven an understanding of angles and timing when roaming the baseline, making himself obtainable for lobs and dump-off passes for a straightforward 2 factors.
About 88% (23 of 26) of Bol’s photographs have been 2s, which he’s made at a 69.6% clip.
The extra distinctive elements of Bol’s sport are his ballhandling and driving talents for his dimension (7-foot-2).
He strikes with the dexterity of a guard with Eurosteps, spin strikes and stutter steps, creating photographs most perimeter gamers don’t as a result of they aren’t as huge or lanky.
Bol’s been a constant rim risk, making 88% of his photographs contained in the paint (16 of 18). He has good contact across the rim.
“We tell him all the time to play his game [and] be aggressive put there,” Banchero mentioned after Monday’s loss. “That’s what he did. He’s blocking shots. He has great touch around the basket. He’s playing with good energy.”
For as a lot as Bol has proven in a brief interval, there’s nonetheless extra to his sport and areas for him to develop.
Teammates raved about his 3-point taking pictures throughout the offseason and coaching camp however he hasn’t proven it (1 of three on 3s) due to how lengthy it takes for him to load up.
Knicks huge man Mitchell Robinson blocked Bol on Monday after he took further time to get his ft set and produce the ball from his facet, all the way down to his waist and again up above his head earlier than taking pictures.
Bol’s slower taking pictures mechanics make it simpler for defenders to shut out on him and contest his open photographs, although many gained’t have the scale and quickness to dam him like Mitchell.
Bol’s keen to take pull-up 2s however hasn’t made a midrange shot but (0-for-5).
Defensively, he must do a greater job of staying engaged off the ball all through a possession. There have been a number of occasions the participant he was defending obtained free for an open shot as a result of Bol misplaced monitor of them.
He additionally must be extra in keeping with boxing out and never taking himself out of rebounding positions by going for blocks. This might be troubling when he’s the lone huge on the ground as a result of there might not be extra rim safety behind him.
“This is new to me — playing in the rotation,” Bol mentioned. “It’s a new thing and something I’m still getting used to. The more comfortable I get with that, the more the game will open up for me.”
There had been a number of questions surrounding Bol when he arrived in Orlando. He was slated to be sidelined for the season after not being too far faraway from having proper foot surgical procedure. Injuries had been a major purpose why his profession had derailed.
Bol, a 5-star recruit within the 2018 class, performed 9 video games for Oregon his freshman 12 months earlier than lacking the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgical procedure. He was anticipated to be a lottery choose within the 2019 draft earlier than the harm, however he was taken forty fourth as an alternative. He solely averaged 6.2 minutes (328 complete minutes) in 53 regular-season video games throughout his three seasons with the Denver Nuggets.
The harm and lack of enjoying time considerations didn’t faze the Magic, who’ve prioritized growing youthful gamers as a part of their rebuild. Orlando’s brass noticed Bol’s expertise and potential though he hadn’t had many possibilities to indicate it.
Now he’s getting his probability and he’s making it rely.
“It’s very difficult but it’s part of the game — have injuries, be on teams you don’t play,” Bol mentioned. “It depends on your situation. I’m just happy to be in the right spot for me now.”
Markelle Fultz (fractured left huge toe), Gary Harris (left knee harm restoration), Jonathan Isaac (left knee harm restoration), Jalen Suggs (sprained proper ankle) and Moe Wagner (sprained proper midfoot) stay sidelined for Wednesday’s sport. Cleveland All-Star guard Darius Garland gained’t play due to a lacerated left eye.
Tip off is 7 p.m and might be watched on Bally Sports Florida/Bally Sports+ or listened to on FM 96.9 The Game.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com