The Orlando Magic could feel the change in the building. Paolo Banchero participated in his first practice. A few hours later, the Magic upgraded his status to QUESTIONABLE for Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shams Charania of ESPN reports the plan is for Banchero to play one of the two games in this back-to-back. But the point was made: Paolo Banchero is back for the Magic. It is just a matter of whether it will be Thursday or Friday.
The anticipation for Banchero’s return is palpable. The Magic believe they are
“It makes us so much more dangerous,” Goga Bitadze said. “He’s unstoppable. He’s so naturally physically gifted. When you add all the other basketball stuff, he’s un-guardable. All we have to work is when he gets double-teamed, where do we go in that space because we know nobody is stopping him one on one. To have him back is huge and is extra confidence and an energy boost.”
Bitadze said Banchero has an aura about him. There is an added level of confidence that comes from Banchero’s return. He was averaging 29.0 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game and 5.6 assists per game in the five games before his injury.
Two months is a long time though. Nobody is going to expect Banchero to step into that role immediately or put up those numbers immediately. Even a player like him will need some time to get into the flow.
But undoubtedly everyone is excited for his potential effects on the team. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is eager to the potential for more open shots with the gravity he creates with his passing and scoring. Defenses have to double him.
No player will probably gain more from Banchero’s return than Jalen Suggs.
Suggs has had a career season averaging 16.4 points per game. That is boosted in the past month when Suggs took on the role of the team’s primary scorer. He is averaging 18.6 points per game since Franz Wagner’s injury.
Suggs’ shot profile though has notably changed. He is averaging 6.9 3-point attempts per game and 2.7 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts per game since Wagner’s injury. He is shooting 30.4 percent from three overall in that time.
In the five games Banchero played, Suggs shot 42.5 percent on 8.0 3-point attempts per game and made 53.1 percent of his 6.4 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts per game.
That was just five games, too small of a sample size to make too many judgments. But that is a trend that everyone should be watching. Suggs will still be able to attack and apply what he has learned from the last month, but the Magic are also missing one of their best 3-point shooters because he has had to play this role.
Banchero will return his catch-and-shoot attempts. That is almost like getting a new player.
Other players are sure to have similar improvements when Banchero returns. That is the effect of the Magic’s star player.
His return is right around the corner.
