The Orlando Magic stayed afloat enjoying with out their 4 prime scorers. Now, they’re getting the perfect one again.
Paolo Banchero is reportedly planning to return for Friday’s recreation towards the Milwaukee Bucks. He performed solely 5 video games for Orlando earlier than an indirect harm price him the following two months and 34 video games. On the time of his harm, Banchero was averaging 29 factors, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Orlando’s second-leading scorer, Franz Wagner, who was averaging 24.4 factors and 5.7 assists, went down with an identical indirect harm one month in the past.
With the accidents to Banchero, Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and with Wagner’s, brother Moe, out for the yr with an ACL tear, Orlando has needed to piece collectively offense for many of the season. Its main scorers amid accidents have been Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze and rookie Tristan da Silva, none of whom are scoring in double digits on the season.
That is why Banchero’s return is so enormous. The Magic have maintained their wonderful protection, rating second within the NBA, even with all of the absences. They’re nonetheless 22-17 and fourth within the East. Nevertheless it’s laborious to win persistently whereas scoring the fewest factors within the NBA (104.8 per recreation).
Banchero has the staff’s highest utilization charge at 31.8 p.c. He is developed as playmaker, going from 3.7 assists in his first season to five.6 in his third. Banchero’s three-point taking pictures additionally rose from beneath 30% as a rookie to 34.4% this season. That is not an unbelievable charge, nevertheless it’s higher than the staff’s 30.9% taking pictures from deep, the worst within the league.
It could take just a few video games for Banchero to get acclimated, however he is an enormous value-add for the Magic. Practically any contact Banchero will get is a greater offensive possibility than virtually anybody else on the roster getting the ball, whether or not he is taking pictures, passing or drawing double groups for an Orlando squad that may wrestle to search out open photographs. The one participant who compares is Franz Wagner, and he is possible out till not less than February.
With out Banchero, the Magic have been an inspiring, scrappy staff holding on within the playoff race. With the All-Star and Olympian again in motion, the Magic are a severe risk to any staff within the league.
