Orlando Magic Daily
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Breaking down the Orlando Magic’s congested frontcourt

By Ricky Scricca

Feb 3, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) fouls Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) on a shot attempt during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) fouls Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) on a shot attempt during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo, Dwyane Wade, Toronto Raptors, Miami heat
May 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) defends during the third quarter in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Bismack Biyombo

Bismack Biyombo broke through in last season’s playoffs, setting a Raptors record with 26 rebounds in one game and proving how much of a terror his 7-foot-6 wingspan can be on the glass and on defense. Just about every metric ranks him among the best rebounding and defensive bigs in the entire NBA. But offensively, he is close to the bottom.

In Toronto’s playoff series against the Heat, Biyombo gave Miami fits because of his ability to lock down the post and control the perimeter when necessary. His agility allowed him to switch onto guards on the pick and roll and defend them successfully.

As we saw in these past Finals, that skill is more valuable than ever in today’s NBA.

If Frank Vogel wants his Magic to run and gun with the best of them, Biyombo’s skill set will offer him a lot of crucial advantages.

But the downside with giving Biyombo significant playing time is his tendency to bog down an offense. With him on the court, the Raptors offensive rating dropped by more than five points per 100 possessions during the regular season.

If the Magic shoot more threes and drive inside a little bit less with him on the court next season, his tendency to clog the post on offense might not be as significant as it would be otherwise.

Next: Serge Ibaka