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5 questions for the fourth quarter of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic enter the final quarter of the season with a lot to play for and a lot of growth still to make. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic enter the final quarter of the season with a lot to play for and a lot of growth still to make. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s fourth quarter

How does Paolo Banchero wrap his Rookie of the Year campaign?

Paolo Banchero is going to be the Rookie of the Year.

Even in his worst month of the season in February — where he averaged only 16.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37.4 percent from the floor and 1 for 33 from beyond the arc — Banchero was far and away the best rookie, at least in the Eastern Conference.

Do not let anyone try to convince you that Bennedit Mathurin or Jaden Ivey or Walker Kessler should win Rookie of the Year — even all of those players have had fantastic seasons. Banchero is operating on a different wave than those players.

And that is the big question Banchero has as he tries to close his season. Does he fade a bit or does he burst through this mini-slump he has struggled through and make a statement to close the season?

Banchero is still plenty capable of big games. He showed that in scoring 29 points in Monday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans to close the third quarter of the season. It is all still in there.

But Banchero has struggled with the way teams have started to blitz him and double-team him. His adjustment just has not come quickly to this new wave of pressure. And the fact his shot just has not followed him through the season has only further put him in the hole.

There should be very little concern about whether Banchero can bounce back. The rookie wall is a natural thing for even elite players to experience in their first season. The fact he is still able to attack and make some raw production is a testament to how good he already is and will continue to be as he develops.

But everyone wants to see him finish strong. For the Magic to make this postseason push, the team needs Banchero to rediscover some of his previous form.

Orlando is certainly not going to take the ball out of his hands. For better or for worse, the Magic are going to make Banchero their closer and offensive focus. They want him to go through the mistakes and poor decisions now so he can learn the right time to impose himself and how to make those decisions down the road.

This is a season for making those mistakes and learning and growing from them. Banchero will be better for any of the failures he has this year– be that late-game mistakes or his struggles to handle, diagnose and attack double teams.

Certainly, though, the Magic would love to see Banchero build some consistent play to end the season. That growth will come in the offseason. but they want to see him finish the season strong.

And that goes double on defense where he has alternated between having some really good moments and play and struggling to diagnose plays and make the correct rotation.

So much of what the Magic want to do is still based on what they get from Banchero.