Being paint bullies is working for the Orlando Magic

One look at the Orlando Magic’s roster and it is clear they are a big group who are able to switch defensively and cause opponents issues in the paint.

In the last 10 games, in which they have gone 8-2, the team have ranked sixth in rebounding (46.9 rebounds per game) and have commanded the interior en route to victories over playoff regulars like the Boston Celtics, LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors.

But if you look into the numbers some more, you will see that the Magic have stumbled onto a formula that is really working for them, and that they need to continue to build around in order to win games.

The paint is a war zone, and the Orlando Magic have the players and scheme to win most of these battles.

If you are starting with Wendell Carter, Mo Bamba, Moe Wagner, Bol Bol, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, then you are off to a good start.

All six big for their position on the court and able to make an impact as a result. Even Wagner has a level of underrated interior importance for this group that is already bordering on special.

The eye test is one thing, but let’s take a look at some encouraging numbers that show why coach Jamahl Mosley should be looking to hammer the ball inside to his players as often as possible.

This season, Carter has ranked 20th in the entire league in paint touches per game (6.1). This despite missing some time through injury. In the last 10 games, Markelle Fultz, a guard who does his best work in the paint, has averaged 1.6 touches in the paint per contest.

We mention these two players because Carter is the Magic’s do-it-all interior presence, while Fultz is able to get into the paint at will with the way he moves. It is no coincidence that during this extended period of winning, key members of the Magic have been more active in the paint.

It is also easier to score closer to the basket, and on the season the Magic are just below league average (16th, 46.9 percent) in field goal percentage. They have also gotten to the line the 10th most of any team (24.8 times per night) and have the sixth best free throw percentage at 80.4 percent.

Even better, they have the third most points per game in the league from the free throw line on any given night with 18.1 percent of all of their points coming from the charity stripe. Talk about cashing in on these opportunities that are usually reserved for more veteran-laden outfits.

The Ringer have already done an excellent job in illustrating how impressive Banchero is for a rookie in getting to the line. Historic levels of competence in that area.

But this is a team wide success story, and knocking down their free throws has helped the Magic to win games.

This is notpossible without getting into the paint to force the referees into having to make tough decisions, and the gangly Bol and smooth Wagner are adept at creating contact while driving to the basket.

Diverging from the point slightly, and the Magic still rank 17th in 3-point shooting this season (34.8 percent). During this 8-2 stretch, they have jumped to 10th at 36.8 percent. It is encouraging to know the roster will rely primarily on paint touches and scoring, but can still knock down enough shots from deep to make opponents think twice about packing the paint.

At 4.9 blocks per night thanks to the shot-altering abilities of Bol Bol and Mo Bamba, as well as Wendell Carter and Jonathan Isaac whenever he returns, the Magic are also currently 11th in this category. Put all of these numbers together, and this is a group trending in the right direction in all of these areas.

Really then the Magic should be looking to be as aggressive as possible around the rim, and to design as many plays as they can that have them finishing at the basket. Consider this excellent graph to illustrate the point.

When the Magic take it to the rim, they make the shots at a higher rate than any other team. Why not then lean into this strategy even more? Surely doing so will open the court up even more for Terrence Ross and Gary Harris to knock down some more open 3-pointers?

Jonathan Isaac will be back from injury soon, and Chuma Okeke is another player who may not be the tallest but is able to barrel his way inside. The depth the Magic are displaying in recent games is leading to success.

Even their guard rotation is full of players who are big for their position, such as Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs, who do some of their best work in the paint on both ends.

Do not be surprised then if the Magic turn up their activity in the paint and have success off the back of it. The numbers already tell us that they will.