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Orlando Magic have issues beyond missing Paolo Banchero to solve
Nov 4, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) shoots a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images|Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
All Jamahl Mosley can seemingly do is encourage his team and try to pump them up.
Through the first three games played without star Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley has had to play team psychologist as much as tactician with the team clearly discouraged by the injury to their top player and the difficult losses they have faced.
Monday’s 102-86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder featured more positive play. The team defended well, putting together strong quarters in the second and fourth quarters. They were moving the ball and getting to the line. They scored in the paint.
One element was missing: The shooting.
For the second straight game, the Magic shot worse than 20 percent. The Magic could not keep up with the Thunder without making the open threes they were generating. The Magic gained more confidence elsewhere but were ultimately blown out again because they could not buy a bucket.
The Magic will not win until they make threes at a reasonable rate. They are buried in this version of the NBA where shooting is not an option, but a requirement.
It is easy to blame many of the Magic’s problems right now like the shooting issues and how that tilts the defense on Banchero’s absence. Some of it might have to do with Banchero.
But the Magic were not quite right even before Banchero’s injury. They gave up big quarters to the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies. As much as the shooting was a featured issue against the Chicago Bulls, the two 34-point quarters stood out, helping the Magic lose an early advantage.
All is not right for the Magic overall. Take the team’s bench scoring.
Last year, Orlando’s bench was among its superpowers. The team was fourth in the league in bench scoring. This year, they are 16th with 33.5 points per game. The bench players are shooting 37.7 percent overall.
That is not a group Banchero typically plays with. But it is a group the Magic leaned on heavily to succeed last year. That part of the team’s formula has not been present to this point this season. And they have seen major regressions from Moe Wagner with his efficiency and even Jonathan Isaac with his shooting and some of his overall defensive impact.
They have not found their footing. And that is something that was happening before Banchero’s injury and independent of Banchero’s overall impact.
To be sure, Orlando has a lot of issues it needs to resolve in the next month while Banchero is recovering.
Whether Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs can increase their usage is one of the big questions. But that is a question the team will be able to put away when Banchero returns in the next two months.
But issues like these persistent shooting struggles – even on open and good looks – and the bench scoring are issues that are independent of Banchero. And the Magic are going to have to find a way to improve them during this stretch.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Injury Orlando Magic suffer a blow as Goga Bitadze returns while Wendell Carter Jr. remains out, impacting team depth. (Sports Illustrated)
Replay Magic offense falters in fourth-straight loss, falling 102-86 to Oklahoma City Thunder, highlighting scoring inefficiencies. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview Unbeaten Oklahoma City Thunder face a struggling Magic team, putting their record on the line against Orlando. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Orlando’s road woes continue with a loss to Luka Doncic’s Mavericks, underscoring defensive vulnerabilities. (Sports Illustrated)
Fans Orlando Magic fans face growing frustration with the team’s recent losing streak, calling for improved performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
How Orlando Magic can rediscover joy without Paolo Banchero Can the Orlando Magic find their rhythm without Paolo Banchero? With their star player sidelined, the Magic are grappling with an identity crisis, struggling to maintain their signature joy on the court.
Life without Paolo Banchero: How the Orlando Magic are carving their path to win Can the Orlando Magic thrive without Paolo Banchero? The Magic faced a tough challenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling 120-109 in their first game without their injured star.
Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely: How the Magic keep their playoff hopes alive Paolo Banchero’s injury is a game-changer for the Orlando Magic. With a torn right oblique sidelining him indefinitely, the Magic face a significant challenge to keep their playoff hopes alive.
