Philip Rossman-Reich here, the host of the daily Locked On Magic podcast, with your daily Locked On Magic newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Magic and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Jalen Suggs still adjusting to life without Paolo Banchero
Nov 6, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images|Trevor Ruszkowski/Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Coach Jamahl Mosley never lost faith in Jalen Suggs. His teammates never lost faith in him.
He missed his first seven 3-pointers in Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Orlando Magic still fought their way to the lead, but they would need one more shot to get them over the top.
It was unblinking where they went. After Franz Wagner hit a step-back three to put the Magic up seven, they ran a ghost screen involving Wagner and Suggs to get Suggs on the wing. When the defenders both stuck with Wagner, he fed the ball to Suggs on the wing.
There was no doubt with the big shots Suggs has made in his career that this would be the shot that confirmed everyone’s faith in the young guard. The bigger the shot, the bigger the moment, Mosley said after the game.
Suggs delivered. He scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game. But he still shot 1 for 8 from three and 6 for 16 from the field overall. It continued a worrying trend since Paolo Banchero’s injury for Suggs.
Quite frankly, no player has struggled more since Banchero’s injury on Oct. 30 than Suggs. So much of his success especially from three got set up by the gravity Banchero created in the paint. Not only has Suggs’ shooting efficiency decreased, but so have the quality of his attempts.
It is part of the problems Suggs has had since Banchero’s injury.
Since Banchero’s injury nine games ago, Suggs is averaging only 14.2 points per game, shooting 39.0 percent from the floor and 21.8 percent from three. He has 4.0 assists per game against 3.3 turnovers per game in that period.
The shooting numbers tell the whole story.
Suggs shot 42.5 percent from three on 8.0 3-point attempts per game before Banchero’s injury. He has made only 21.8 percent on 6.1 attempts per game after the injury.
Additionally, Suggs shot 53.1 percent on 6.4 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts per game before Banchero’s injury according to data from Second Spectrum. He is shooting 27.8 percent on 4.0 catch-and-shoot opportunities since Banchero’s injury.
Even in terms of the quality of his looks, Suggs has gone from 55.6 percent shooting on 5.4 3-point attempts when the closest defender was 6+ feet away before Banchero’s injury to 20.5 percent on 4.3 attempts per game after the injury, according to NBA.com.
Suggs’ role has undoubtedly changed in the nine games since Banchero’s injury. He has had to fill in the role previously occupied by Wagner. That has meant more time on the ball and more lineups where he is the anchor scorer. He has struggled in that role too as his turnovers would suggest.
But as the Magic’s shooting has taken a nose dive, Suggs’ prominence and importance as a shooter has nosedived too. Orlando is still taking more threes this year – the team’s 39.0 attempts per game is 10th in the league and the team still leads the league with 12.4 corner threes per game.
The Magic are winning without Suggs. But as the team returns to the road, Orlando will need Suggs to find his stroke again.
Like they did late in the game Friday, they still trust Suggs to find his shot.
After historic back-to-back nights over the weekend I hope the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox is on your radar. Fox delivered a 60 point game against the Timberwolves on Friday (the Kings, after all that, could not wrestle away the win) and then 49 points against the Jazz in a winning game on Saturday. While these scoring numbers are certainly a touch more astronomical than Fox’s norm, he’s still an athlete who’s averaged 25 points per game in the last three seasons.
Beyond pure shooting, Fox is a pleasure to watch. I mean that in an artful sense, like taking your time in a gallery or museum and letting your eyes rove over every flourish and detail. Fox has a knack for hang time, able to lightly adjust his body mid-air to tweak the angle of his jumper just so. It’s a bane to defenders because it’s nearly impossible to pre-calculate where Fox will wind up releasing the ball, but it’s startling, and fun, to see.
His passing follows the same rules. Namely: his own. One hand flings and scoops to teammates running down the lane, or flashing out to the wing, dependent on the sort of timing it takes trust and seasons of practice to nail. It speaks to the cohesiveness of the Kings, a team many are still quick to dismiss from contention but who will prove a difficult team to match up against once their roster returns to full strength.
Cade Cunningham
Admittedly, I hadn’t been paying that close of attention to Cade Cunningham, even with my well documented dedication to the Detroit Pistons. I changed that last Friday when the team was in Toronto to face the Raptors, and I spent a good chunk of pregame warmups watching Cunningham run through his drills.
There’s a new level of patience to Cade, who’s been — by circumstance — forced into holding pattern since he entered the NBA. This new level filters through his game. There’s still the juddery, at times mesmerizing, stop-start motion of his handle and with it the ability to force the pace he wants in a game, but now Cade’s letting the game come to him. Where there simply isn’t time to draw out a possession, or altering one might upend his team’s momentum (momentum has been something Detroit is relying on this season, to their benefit), Cade instead adopts the rhythm of the floor in motion. Now into his forth season, his maturation is evident, and it’s winning games.
Jabari Smith
It’s felt a touch disingenuous, how down on Jabari Smith those in the wider sphere of the Houston Rockets have been this season. Yes, he’s had some slow shooting nights, and made some frustrating decisions, but he’s also come back in the games that follow those less than stellar performances and done all the right things — leading to wins.
Smith’s a third year player in the league on a franchise that only really started to get the foundation of their rebuild right last season. He’s learning to adjust to quicker pace, tighter and more effortful defence (the Rockets are the league’s best rebounders), and what it means to actually compete versus playing at the whims of a single game, on a game-to-game basis. There’s continuity showing here, and it’s great.
Smith tends to have his best rebounding games when he’s also scoring, which just tells me that energy generated on one end of the floor is essential for him at the other. It’s also true of younger players — and teams, like the Rockets — learning what it is to stay consistent through a game’s many tide-turns.
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
Biz Deep breaths. The NBA has settled its broadcast lawsuits, and “Inside the NBA” is here to stay. (Sportico)
Preview Major changes could soon be coming to the All-Star Game. (ESPN)
Analysis The “unicorn” era of Anthony Davis may be over, but could the “Lakers AD” era just be starting? (The Ringer)
Preview The Magic aim to maintain their defensive prowess as they embark on a challenging West Coast trip, starting with the Phoenix Suns. (Orlando Sentinel)
Replay The Magic’s victory over the 76ers showcased their defensive strength, holding Philadelphia under 100 points and extending their home winning streak. (Orlando Sentinel)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Sunday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Roundup
Nov 17, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after being called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images|Nick Wosika/Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, it’s clear that Sunday was packed with intriguing performances and unexpected developments. With 10 games on the schedule, there was no shortage of excitement and fantasy implications to unpack.
Injury Updates and Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings are dealing with some significant injury news. Domantas Sabonis, usually a reliable presence, is doubtful with a back issue, potentially missing his second consecutive game. This opens up opportunities for players like Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles to step up. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan is officially out for his third consecutive game.
Key Performances and Fantasy Implications
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Phoenix Suns highlighted some strategic missteps by the Suns. Starting Mason Plumlee and Jusuf Nurkic together against Minnesota’s big lineup didn’t pay off, with Nurkic playing only 14 minutes. His inconsistent performances make him a risky fantasy option, as his playing time and production fluctuate wildly.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Mike Conley’s increased minutes are worth noting. While his scoring was minimal, his contributions in other areas helped secure the win. Naz Reid, despite his scoring potential, continues to struggle defensively, which could limit his fantasy upside.
Click the button below to see why one of KD’s newest running mates could be worth a look, and how Charlotte’s injury concerns will affect your lineup.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
Orlando Magic’s playoff resilience shines in win over Philadelphia 76ers The NBA Cup is not the NBA Playoffs. But every moment this season is preparing the team eventually for those critical games in the spring. Their stunning victory over the Philadelphia 76ers showcased all the traits they will need as they prepare for the postseason.
Goga Bitadze on the Rise: Bitadze steps up again With Wendell Carter sidelined, Goga Bitadze has again emerged as a key player giving the team some needed rebounding, rim protection and interior presence. While Carter has played well this season, it is undoubted that Bitadze has boosted the team nad helped them find stability at this critical juncture of the season.
Orlando Magic’s defense dominates in only the way it can The Orlando Magic showcased their formidable defense, holding the Indiana Pacers to just 18 points in the fourth quarter and locking them down for a come-from-behind win that could have major ramifications for their Playoff chase.
