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3 players who can help the Orlando Magic’s defensive malaise

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic grabs a defensive rebound in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Amway Center on February 25, 2023 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. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/2023 Julio Aguilar)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic grabs a defensive rebound in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Amway Center on February 25, 2023 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. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/2023 Julio Aguilar) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic grabs a defensive rebound in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/2023 Julio Aguilar)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic grabs a defensive rebound in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/2023 Julio Aguilar) /

3 players to help Orlando Magic out of their defensive malaise

1. Goga Bitadze

Big man Goga Bitadze was added to this Orlando Magic roster a number of weeks back for this exact reason, which is why he tops the list here.

With Wendell Carter currently out injured, Bol Bol not a defender at all and Moe Wagner experiencing a slump in form, the importance of what Goga Bitadze can do has suddenly come to the fore.

Using words like “big” and “tough” are generic, catch-all phrases. But in the case of Bitadze, they are also true. The Magic don’t have another player like him on this team.

He played 170 regular season games for the Indiana Pacers, and in roughly 10 minutes of action in four games for the Magic so far, he has managed to chip in with 6.3 points while shooting a seemingly out-of-nowhere 33.3 percent from deep.

A small sample size, but also a career-high and encouraging if he is to receive more minutes.

These may be small numbers, but we collectively lost our minds with Bol Bol earlier in the season, and he is averaging a not too different 9.6 points per contest and 31.2 percent from deep.

Best of all, the Magic have a defensive rating of 105.8 when he is on the court, which would put them comfortably top of the defensive rating category.

dark. Next. Magic need to be about their defense at all times

That Milwaukee Bucks defeat was an indicator of how Bitadze may be used while Carter is unavailable, as he played for 20 minutes and managed 12 points and eight rebounds.

If the Magic want to remain competitive for the rest of the regular season, as they should, and keep chasing the Play-in while it is still possible, then the numbers show Bitadze can really help.