Orlando Magic Daily
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3 keys for the Orlando Magic to make the Play-In Tournament

By Coby Leibowitz

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic find themselves playing meaningful games and with a real chance to make the Play-In Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic find themselves playing meaningful games and with a real chance to make the Play-In Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 13: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on January 13, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 13: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on January 13, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

3 Keys for Orlando Magic’s Play-In push

Shooting and Moving the ball

The Orlando Magic score the third-fewest amount of points in the league and have the sixth-worst offensive rating. That might have to do with their abysmal three-point shooting and passing.

Once again, the Magic are a bottom-five team in 3-pointers made per game (10.7 per game) and bottom 10 in three-point percentage (22nd at 34.8 percent).

Orlando is the only team in the NBA without a player who makes at least two 3-pointers per game. And Franz Wagner is tied for 95th-most three-pointers per game as the team’s leader. Gary Harris does not qualify due to lack of games (he makes 1.9 per game anyway).

This is partially due to their lack of attempts.

The Magic attempt the fourth-fewest threes per game at just more than 30 per game and make just more than 10. They are also the only team that does not have a player who attempts at least five threes per game. Wagner, again, leads the team in attempts per game at 4.5 which is tied for 100th in the league.

In a league that is more reliant on 3-point shooting than ever before, this just is not the area the Magic try to attack. This creates quite an uphill climb for the team’s offense.

The Magic need to create more open shots, take more threes and, most importantly, make more threes.

One way to fix this is to improve their ball movement.

The Magic make the fourth fewest passes per game in the NBA. And they record the fourth-fewest assists per game. Paolo Banchero leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game which is 66th in the NBA. Markelle Fultz (5.5 assists per game) and Cole Anthony (4.1 per game) do not qualify for NBA leaderboards yet.

But it highlights how much the Magic can struggle to move the ball.

The Magic get stuck in a lot of isolation situations and do a lot of one on one scoring. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but this means fewer threes taken and when they do take threes they are mostly contested.

It is hard to score the ball this way.

They need to keep the ball moving, stop over-dribbling, and get shooters open. More off-ball screens, and more off-ball movement is necessary as well. The Magic lost two of their best three-point shooters by percentage in Terrence Ross, R.J. Hampton and Mo Bamba, so this second half of the season is very important for their shooters to step up.

Paolo Banchero specifically needs to step up.

He is shooting a team-worst 27.7 percent from three. He is only a rookie but he needs to start hitting his threes or take fewer of them. A lot of the offense goes through him, so he needs not to settle for as many threes and create more threes for his teammates.

If the Magic can turn around their shooting struggles from deep they will have a great chance at the play-in.