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Line Change: Why the Orlando Magic need to shake up the starting lineup

By Zach Palmer

Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic
Nov 11, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) points after he makes a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Amway Center. Utah Jazz defeated the Orlando Magic 87-74. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Biz the first fix

The first move to make is to insert Bismack Biyombo into the starting lineup for Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic has been in a severe slump and his body language has been fairly abysmal.

The thing Biyombo brings to the table the Magic need is the constant energy and the screens that actually free people up. Biyombo is good at initiating much more contact on his screens than Vucevic, freeing up ball handlers to attack the paint. This contact is critical for the Magic, if Biyombo connects on these picks, Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier should both be able to get into the paint more, thus breaking down defenses.

Granted, the Magic are not rich with perimeter shooters right now. But open looks will help the guys look good.

Another aspect of bringing Biyombo into the starting lineup is it allows the ball to spread around more. Biyombo does not really want the ball unless he feels like he is in an immediate position to score.

That means more ball for Serge Ibaka, Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton. The poor assists from the current Magic starting lineup has some to do with offensive scheme. But it has more to do with there not being enough ball to go around, which is why the Magic swapped out Aaron Gordon for Jeff Green in the first place.