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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 30: New Beginnings

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 09: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic dunks against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on December 9, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 09: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic dunks against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on December 9, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks
ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 4: Bismack Biyombo #11 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 4, 2018 at 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

I wrote about the Orlando Magic’s problems trying to get the most out of Bismack Biyombo late in the season as Nikola Vucevic slowly got shut down. It was a hard thing to figure.

Statistically, Biyombo was not great last year — his 5.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game were both worse than his previous year totals and his 1.2 blocks per game were in line with his career averages. Quite simply, Biyombo is never going to live up to his contract and those numbers certainly do not. And neither does his defensive impact.

Biyombo is just such a tough puzzle to resolve.

As a rim-protecting big, it seems like the best defensive strategy would be to funnel things to him. But Biyombo will often overplay and bite on pump fakes as he searches for blocks. He is a bit late to rotate and is undersized. Dwight Howard, the hulking behemoth in the middle, he is not.

With his offensive limitations, it would make sense to spread the floor with shooters or have effective mid-range shooters. That seems to be how the Toronto Raptors survived him offensively. The Magic certainly do not have that.

It just feels like Orlando does not have a roster that can remotely take advantage of Biyombo. And that contract? Yeah, no one is taking that. The Magic overpaid for a backup center. He is just not someone who can change the game defensively like a Rudy Gobert. And, at this point, even Gobert is getting played off the court in the Playoffs.

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It is all a bad equation.

The best lineup this year that Bismack Biyombo played in that played at least 12 minutes contained D.J. Augustin, Arron Afflalo, Jonathon Simmons and Aaron Gordon. It had an 81.5 defensive rating and a 134.6 offensive rating in 12 minutes across six games.

The best lineup that played together for at least 48 minutes had Elfrid Payton, Jonathon Simmons, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon. In 219 minutes, it had a -8.6 net rating, including an 111.1 defensive rating.

That is not good, to say the least.

It leaves very little clues on how this roster can make the most of Biyombo and get the most out of him.

There may not be a “perfect” combination for Biyombo on this roster. There just are not enough shooters and Biyombo’s defensive output with the Raptors is probably overstated.

There is no way to get around this, Orlando is going to have to eat this bad decision until it is done. At least, the team is another year closer.

Unless, of course, Biyombo improves and becomes a much more impactful player. At this point, that seems unlikely.