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3 Orlando Magic stats to be encouraged by, concerned with through 11 games

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic are off to a solid start to their season. But there is clearly a lot of work to do. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic are off to a solid start to their season. But there is clearly a lot of work to do. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – NOVEMBER 02: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic drives into Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on November 02, 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 – NOVEMBER 02: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic drives into Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on November 02, 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 Orlando Magic stats to be encouraged, discouraged by through 11 games

Encouraged: Points in the Paint

Just as the defense’s main goal is to stop points in the paint and protect the rim, the Orlando Magic’s major offensive goal is to get into the paint and score near the rim.

This enables the team to get to the foul line — Orlando is second in the league in free throw rate — and it at least theoretically help the team kick out to get open, feet-set threes. The kinds of threes the team can make.

On this front, there is some positivity offensively.

The Magic are 14th in the league in points in the paint at 50.2 per game (and again, they are 10th giving up 47.1 points in the paint per game). This is a good sign for the team and something the team needs to be more attentive with. This is another offensive number that has been slipping of late. The Magic have to avoid settling for threes, as they did in Tuesday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

But this is the game for the Magic.

When their offense is working, you can bet the team is getting into the paint and using that as the impetus to create movement and passing lanes.

According to NBA.com’s tracking data from Second Spectrum, Orlando is 11th in the league with 23.2 paint touches per game. That is at least a start for this team.

Of course, that is not always a good thing. One of the Magic’s biggest problems this year has been turning the ball over on these drives when players try to make too many passes on the interior or trying to overpass or squeeze the ball through tight windows.

Still, getting in the paint and getting toward the rim is the goal. Orlando has to continue looking to get more shots right at the basket.

This year, the Magic are averaging 30.0 field goal attempts per game in the restricted area. That is fifth in the league. So the Magic can get quality shots and get downhill.

This has to remain a major focus for the team to make the offense better.

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