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2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Bismack Biyombo

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 11: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic during a game on November 11, 2016 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 11: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball against Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic during a game on November 11, 2016 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando magic, LA Clippers
The Orlando Magic’s Bismack Biyombo (11) tries to get the ball from the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, right, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

What To Look For

Bismack Biyombo’s impact is not measured in statistics. Stating he averaged 6.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game is never going to quite capture what Biyombo is supposed to be on the floor.

His role has always been to be a shot blocker, defensive presence and game changer on that end. Without sure hands or much of a post game, the Magic simply needed him to be an impactful player on the defensive end. And he did not provide that last year.

His raw numbers stayed relatively flat, but other indicators did not look good for Biyombo.

He had his lowest block rate (4.1 percent) of his career. His offensive rebound rate (9.3 percent) was the lowest since his rookie year. He gave up 52.9 percent field goal percentage at the rim last year, according to NBA.com’s Player Tracking statistics. In his final year with the Raptors, he gave up 45.2 percent.

It was a down year for Biyombo by those measures.

Other measures suggested Biyombo at least stayed relatively even with where he has been, if a tad down. He recorded 2.1 defensive win shares, in line with his career averages, and posted a 2.0 defensive box plus minus. So it was a bit of a mixed bag, depending on what measurements you go by.

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Biyombo still helped the Magic’s defense. It just was not transformative. Then again, no one probably could have saved the team’s poor second unit. The Magic had a 108.4 defensive rating with Biyombo on the court, according to NBA.com.

Undoubtedly Biyombo suffered from being on the court with a bench unit that rated as one of the worst in the league. But he also struggled defensively playing alongside another defensive-minded big in Serge Ibaka in the early part of the year. His eagerness to go for blocks would often get him out of position. The risk did not match the reward for much of the year.

For the Magic this year, they will want Biyombo to keep his defensive numbers at least level, if not take a jump up. The hope is pairing him with more shooters off the bench — like Arron Afflalo — and more defensive minded wings — like Jonathan Isaac and Jonathon Simmons — will give him a bit more defensive freedom and cause more impact on the game defensively.

For sure, Orlando needs to see Biyombo become a defensive menace again. At that price especially.