Aaron Gordon is best used at both forward positions.

[fendilim]

- Will he get more picks? Because a 4/5 PnR seems too radical for Vogel to implement.
- Will he blow by his defender off the dribble? With the way he currently hesitates, that's unlikely.
- Will he stretch the floor more? If people believe he can't stretch the floor as a SF, why would he be able to do it as a PF? (Btw, hasn't it already been debunked that he's a spacing issue? His defenders don't sag. He's not left unattended. The spacing issues are because of the high-low Vuc-Ibaka combo).
- Will AG be posting guys up? Doubtful, because he hasn't got the strength, and his post game is arguably more non existent than his perimeter game.

1) More picks? No, other way around. He'll draw defenders when he pops, because his shot will be respectable for a PF. Two, he is also quick enough to make hard rolls.
2) Yes. Slower defenders. And most 4's aren't used to going for steals.
3) Yes. I think for a four, his shot will be more respectable. Thus drawing more big guys out, and opening the paint for Vuc and EP.
4) No. A four posting up is almost obsolete at this day and age.


I still remain to the idea of having him handle the ball less and utilize him like last year where he was good at cutting to the basket and offensive boards. And being at the four would put him at the position to do that.

My concern is his base skills are not for a 3 is not someone like a Paul George, but rather someone like Marion. Yet, we are forcing him to play like PG.

I like Howard's example of the Drew Gooden experiment we did when we tried to play him at SF. I just hope its not too late until we realize the repercussions.

[basketballRob]

Gordon at the 4 with ibaka at the 5
Trade vucevic for a sf
Tj warren would be nice.
Give them also hezonja

Yeah, TJ Warren is a shorter version Of Vuc, a scorer with little defense.

[basketballRob]

These are some of the questions I wish local media would press about. I understand there is an emphasis to play Gordon at the 3, but why have we totally eliminated his time at the 4? Just seems like a misuse of his skill set.

I think Vogel feels the need to have an offensive center because of the lack of offense that he feels he can rely on from Payton and Gordon. I think those 2 need to show him more in order for him to pull Vuc. He won't pull Vuc from the starting line up out of blind faith. So it's a tricky situation. Payton and Gordon really need to be aggressive and take the initiative to score with whatever minutes they get. The more they do that, the more confidence Vogel will have in them and eventually, and I think that's the hope. That one day we can rely less on Vuc as a starter and that Vogel can play the style of smash mouth basketball that he spoke of in the offseason.

Payton's game vs OKC was a GREAT sign of this. He was hot so the Magic were able to rely less on Vucevic as a scorer (4 pts)... and even his 19 minutes were low. THIS is the kind of showing we need to see out of Payton! Few things are more satisfying than watching a prospect improve during the season and transition from prospect to star. Hope he uses this game as a spring board. The was a breakout game.

Gordon needs to take note.

I hope Vogel see's the light and sends Vuc to the bench. Vuc can dominate certain centers offensively, while defensively he's always below average.

Biyombo always plays above average defense and I see a chemistry between him and Ibaka that I don't see with Vuc. Vuc could give us one of the better benches in the league.

[Patrick1978]

Gordon at the 4 with ibaka at the 5
Trade vucevic for a sf
Tj warren would be nice.
Give them also hezonja

Yeah, TJ Warren is a shorter version Of Vuc, a scorer with little defense.

We need a scorer

[basketballRob]

Defense he is a 3. Offensively he is a 4.

I think offensively he looked like a Paul George last night. When he's wide open now you almost expect for him to make a three. He's starting to become a good shooter and a better playmaker.

[fendilim]

Defense he is a 3. Offensively he is a 4.

I think offensively he looked like a Paul George last night. When he's wide open now you almost expect for him to make a three. He's starting to become a good shooter and a better playmaker.

You mean like a Trevor Ariza?