Orlando’s Offense Hits a Wall - and Paolo Banchero Isn’t Hiding It
The Orlando Magic came into this season with real expectations - not just to make the playoffs, but to make some noise once they got there. But as we hit the All-Star break, the Magic find themselves stuck in a familiar spot, and frustration is starting to bubble to the surface.
After a tough loss to Milwaukee, fourth-year forward Paolo Banchero didn’t mince words when asked if the team’s half-court offense is living up to its potential.
“I think our record answers that question, honestly,” Banchero said. “I’m not going to sit here and harp on the problems with our offense or what I think is wrong with our offense. But I don’t think anyone would say that it’s where it should be or could be.”
It’s hard to argue with him. The Magic currently rank 23rd in the league in points per possession in the half court - a stat that paints a pretty clear picture of their struggles to generate consistent offense when the game slows down. Injuries have played a role - Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner have all missed time - but even when healthy, Orlando hasn’t quite found its rhythm.
Despite swinging a major trade to bring in Desmond Bane, the issues that have plagued this team offensively haven’t gone away. Floor spacing continues to be a problem, and the lack of reliable outside shooting has limited the team’s ability to open up driving lanes and create clean looks.
The Magic are sitting at 28-25, good for the No. 7 seed in the East. That’s not a disaster by any stretch, but it’s not where they hoped to be.
They’re middle-of-the-pack in offensive rating (No. 16) and carry a -0.4 net rating, which puts them at No. 17 league-wide. Perhaps most concerning, they’ve lost some of their defensive edge - the identity that carried them the past two seasons.
After finishing second and third in defensive rating the last two years, they’ve slipped to 14th.
And according to big man Wendell Carter Jr., the drop-off on defense might be tied to their offensive struggles.
“It’s human nature,” Carter said. “It’s an offensive-driven league.
Everybody wants to do good offensively, including myself, and sometimes we fall into that aspect of when it’s not going our way offensively, we allow it to affect our effort. We allow it to affect our defense.
We allow it to affect us getting back [on defense after we miss shots]. And that’s something, as a fairly young team, that we have to do a better job of, including myself.”
That’s the challenge for a young team still learning how to win consistently. When shots aren’t falling, can you still bring the energy and focus on the other end? For the Magic, that’s been a work in progress - and one that’s cost them games.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley still has the public backing of team president Jeff Weltman, but with the team underperforming relative to expectations, the pressure is mounting. If the post-All-Star stretch doesn’t bring a turnaround, it’s fair to wonder how long that leash will be.
Déjà Vu at the Break
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Orlando. Two years ago, they were 30-25 heading into the All-Star break.
Last season? 27-29.
Both times, they made the playoffs - and both times, they bowed out in the first round.
So while the record is respectable, the question is whether this group can take the next step.
“We’ve kind of been in the same position every year,” Banchero said. “So … coming off the All-Star break is when we’ve got to start to turn it up.
But at the end of the day, we’ve got to figure out how we can be better for the postseason because we don’t want to have the same result as the last two years. We’ve got to come out hungry off the break … and figure out what type of team we want to be.”
That’s the challenge - and the opportunity. The Magic have the talent.
They’ve shown flashes. But if they want to be more than just a first-round team, they’ll need to find answers on offense, rediscover their defensive identity, and bring a level of consistency that’s been missing.
Around the Southeast
Alex Sarr Ready to Mesh with Anthony Davis
In Washington, rookie center Alex Sarr is already thinking about fit - and he likes what he sees next to Anthony Davis.
“He has a very complete game,” Sarr said. “I can also step out and play inside-out, so I think it’ll be pretty seamless [playing alongside him].
Just getting the reps in, that’s definitely going to help us.”
Cam Whitmore’s Season Ends Early
Tough news for Wizards wing Cam Whitmore.
The third-year player has been ruled out for the rest of the season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder - a serious condition that’s already required three surgeries. Whitmore recently opened up about the ordeal in an interview with Monumental Sports Network’s Chris Mills.
RayJ Dennis Lights Up the G League
Meanwhile in Atlanta’s pipeline, second-year guard RayJ Dennis is putting on a show with the College Park Skyhawks.
Dennis dropped a franchise-record 47 points on Thursday - his second 45+ point game this season. Not bad for a guy on a two-way contract.