The Orlando Magic have grown together this season. They have battled adversity and injuries to win games consistently. The team has an unlimited ceiling with the defensive ability and youth that the roster possesses.
Orlando entered Tuesday's game ranked third in the league in defensive rating. They have established a clear identity and everything they do sprouts from that.
It has helped Orlando rise in the standings. The team is fighting for homecourt advantage in the season's final week and are within shouting distance of the 2-seed as the Magic head to Milwaukee for a critical road game.
Like any team, they can improve. Each player on the Magic can focus on a part of their game that will elevate the group as a collective. The Playoffs will test this team in significant ways.
Players cannot change the way they play overnight, and we are in the final stretch of the regular season. But small tweaks are necessary if this team wants to compete at the highest level.
Offense is an area of focus for a majority of the roster. The Magic have the worst offensive rating among all teams in the postseason this year. There will be a lot the Magic need to figure out as they aim to improve their efficiency heading into the postseason.
The Magic are far from perfect, but they are hungry to succeed and improve. This is the perfect mindset for a young team building as a unit and here I pose a question about each player on how they can progress before the first round tips off.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Paolo Banchero: How can Paolo start every game strong down the stretch?
Paolo Banchero is leading Orlando to a possible homecourt advantage in the playoffs. He is a first-time All-Star and has shown tremendous growth in his second season when comparing it to his rookie year.
Banchero is more efficient from the field (45.9 percent up from 42.7 percent last year) and from the three-point line (34.3 percent up from 29.8 percent) this season. And he is knocking down tough shots. He can operate on offense with several different looks.
He can operate the pick-and-roll, he can face up to the rim and make a dribble move to beat defenders or he can work with his back-to-the-basket. He can shoot pull-up jumpers, floaters, fadeaways and finishes at the rim. He is as versatile as they come and resembles well-rounded offensive players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James with his size and creation ability.
There is not much Banchero cannot do. And he is showing the NBA on a nightly basis how he can dominate games.
Banchero is 23rd in the NBA in field goal attempts in isolation, entering Tuesday's game, but does not qualify in the top 50 for points per possession. The Magic rely on him to take and make tough shots which can be difficult at times for the young forward.
He has the 25th most opportunities to score out of isolation in the league but cannot quite convert at the level like the games' elite.
One way he can start every game efficiently is by building his confidence and taking easy shots around the basket. Coach Jamahl Mosley and Paolo Banchero should work together to run early sets to get Banchero paint touches for easy finishes at the rim.
Banchero leads the team with 5.6 points per game in the first quarter. He shoots 44.3 percent from the floor. But he averages only 1.5 free throw attempts per game in the first quarter. Banchero has to be aggressive early and look to score.
The best players in the world are tasked to carry their teams and make contested shots. Banchero can do that. But building his confidence early to start each remaining game can instill confidence that will carry throughout each contest.
He is a star and if he wants to reach the next level it would be beneficial for Coach Mose to focus on getting the ball to Paolo where he is the most efficient.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Franz Wagner: What can Wagner do to improve his outside shooting?
Franz Wagner has had an odd dip in his shooting efficiency and has been struggling from behind the arc throughout the season.
It has been a blemish on an All-Star-level campaign in his third NBA season. He has improved as a facilitator and finisher at the rim. Wagner uses his length and a quick first step to blow by defenders for floaters and contested layups at the basket.
Wagner has been shooting most of his shots at the rim and wants to be as efficient as possible. When a guy of his caliber can get to the basket at will, he probably feels like he is settling if he initially shoots a triple. He needs to change his mindset.
Wagner should still be creating on most possessions and not just be a catch-and-shoot player, but his ability to knock down threes at a consistent level again will open up his game.
Wagner has struggled this year, hitting only 28.3 percent from beyond the arc. Wagner take sthe most threes per game on the team. Orlando needs Wagner to hit from the outside to find success.
When watching Wagner play, it seems like most of the threes he is shooting are off the dribble. Instead of taking the first open shot, he will put the ball on the floor and try to create but then often ends up shooting a step-back three.
He should always be shot-ready on the perimeter and step into his shot. That will help him regain his confidence leading into the playoffs.
If Wagner can rekindle some of his range before the end of the regular season it will be a huge lift for him and the team. He can shoot -- his college numbers and the last two seasons are evidence of that.
He needs to get over the hurdle of wanting to attack every possession and understand that he is a knockdown shooter.
Once his mindset switches and he starts to score on all three levels he will be quite the offensive player.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Jalen Suggs: How can Suggs solidify his all-defensive first team selection?
The Jalen Suggs comeback story has been an enjoyable one. It could not have been a better time for Suggs to show he is among the league's best young talents.
Orlando has given Suggs the keys to the defense and the Magic have quickly become one of the league's best defenses. He is the point of attack for the defense and it has become his calling card.
Suggs has the third best defensive field goal percentage at 23.1 percent and takes pride in limiting the opposition. His lateral quickness to guard elite offensive players from the half-court line is a sight to see. And his 1.6 steals per game is intimidating.
He is eighth in total steals, ninth in steals per game and 26th in loose balls recovered. He is the definition of Heart & Hustle. he can solidify his ranks as an All-NBA defender.
Suggs can make his presence felt by limiting the star guards the Magic are set to face to close the season -- Damian Lillard and Tyrese Maxey. If Suggs can impact these strong guards to close the year and affect their scoring abilities, the Magic will be in a great position to win those games.
That is what the Magic will expect of him in the playoffs too.
Orlando can build momentum heading into the postseason and an elite defensive effort led by Suggs can be a great way to close out the season with games in the victory column. This will not only benefit the Magic, but Suggs will solidify his campaign as a top defender in basketball.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Wendell Carter: What can Carter do to rebound the ball at a higher rate?
The Orlando Magic are surprisingly in the middle tier of the NBA when rebounding the ball.
Wendell Carter averages the most per game at a mere 7.3 boards per game. When looking at the rest of the roster, only Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner average more than 5.0 rebounds per game.
The team could use some more effort from Carter on the glass as he is averaging the lowest rebounds per game since joining the Magic.
The reduced rebounding is correlated with the more time Carter has spent on the perimeter as a shooting threat.
Carter was drafted to be a rim protector. And the Magic could do with using him closer to the paint a bit more. During his rookie campaign, he averaged 1.3 blocks per contest. His blocking ability has decreased as each season has passed and now averages fewer per game than Jalen Suggs.
As Carter's vertical shot-blocking ability has worsened he needs to focus on rebounding as his calling card. He is 6-foot-10, 270 pounds and still athletic at this size. Rebounding is a skill that can be developed. It is about will, but it is about understanding angles and positioning too.
The good news is Carter has improved his rebounding. Since the All-Star Break (entering Tuesday's game), he is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. Carter is picking his game up.
That will only become more importnat once the Playoffs begin.
Carter has become a 3&D big man who does a decent job with lateral movement when handling the pick-and-roll and contesting shots. If he can add a new wrinkle to his game and become an elite rebounder with anticipation and effort he can improve Orlando's already terrific defense.
Gary Harris: How can Harris be even better for the starting unit?
The Orlando Magic took another step in their development since the All-Star break when Gary Harris was called upon to start. He shoots it well and limits turnovers while continuing to defend opposing guards at a high level.
The point guard-less lineup has used the primary ball handling of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner while Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter and Gary Harris are spot-up, catch-and-shoot weapons.
On offense, Harris can look to take more shots. When he is in rhythm and is consistently taking threes he makes them at a higher clip. Most shooters do well with more volume as they become comfortable with their role and their shot.
In Harris' career, when he shoots more than 4.0 threes per game he makes them at 39.4 percent. When he shoots fewer than 4.0 per game he converts on 32.7 percent of them. He has split his career with seven seasons with fewer than 4.0 threes per game and six seasons shooting more than 4.0.
This sample size suggests the team will benefit if he increases his efforts to get more shots up.
Entering Tuesday's game, Harris is 37.1 percent on 3.8 attempts per game. The Magic are 17-8 when Harris takes four or more 3-pointers per game. They are also 16-6 when he makes two or more threes in a game.
If Harris can prove to be even more of a threat from behind the arc than he already is, defenses will have to adjust. This will not only provide more scoring potential for the rest of the roster but this adjustment could see Harris knocking down a higher percentage of shots to finish the season.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Cole Anthony: How can Anthony be more of a true point guard?
Cole Anthony had a difficult February.
He averaged 8.8 points while shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three. He bounced back from his slump in February and had a great March as he was fourth in total points off the bench in the NBA. He finished with 11.9 points per game and 44.9 percent shooting with 37.5 percent shooting from three.
But he still has not regained the level he was playing in November when the season began. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists as there were rumblings that he could compete for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
One area he can improve are his assist totals as he is averaging the fewest amount of his career at only 2.9 per game. Orlando averages the fifth-fewest assists per game which limits the ceiling of this offense.
The Magic rely too much on Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to create for others as there is not a true point guard on the floor for large stretches.
Two seasons ago, Anthony averaged 5.7 assists per game and led the team in assists when he was a starter. If Anthony can start to look for his teammates more as the playoffs are around the corner, it will elevate the play of the entire roster.
Moritz Wagner: How can Wagner put his basketball IQ and body to use?
Moe Wagner has lifted the Orlando Magic's bench as one of the better scoring units in the league. He plays within himself and takes efficient shots. He is eighth in the NBA in field goal percentage and Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only player ahead of him who also shoots threes on a nightly basis.
One way Wagner can improve even further is by creating more screen assists for his teammates.
Orlando is 19th in screen assists per game and do not have an individual who has taken on the role of setting good screens by sealing defenders to create open shots. Wagner is already willing to sacrifice his body on the court as he has taken the third most charges in the NBA.
Wagner already does so much for the Magic that this would only be additive, but he has the tools and basketball IQ to facilitate even more offense than he already does.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Jonathan Isaac: Can Jonathan Isaac force himself into the starting lineup?
Jonathan Isaac has played the second-most games in his career this season. He is +194 in his plus/minus this season which leads the team.
But he has played the fewest minutes out of the rotation besides Markelle Fultz. The Magic have been protective of him with his injury history. But it is also clear that Orlando needs to maximize whatever they can get out of Isaac.
March was easily his best month in years. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds ad 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 65.6 percent from the field and an unconscious 62.1 percent from three.
The question is just how much will the Magic use their giant lineup and how will they integrate Isaac and all he can do on both ends of the floor into their Playoff rotation.
Isaac gives the Magic a true rim protector without sacrificing perimeter defense as he can do that too. While Isaac is in such a rhythm he can capitalize on getting more opportunities to create mismatches, knockdown open shots, and finish at the rim.
Isaac's minutes should increase as the season closes and the playoffs begin. He could very well play himself into a starting position for next season.
Joe Ingles: What can Ingles do to give the offense a needed boost?
Joe Ingles gives the Orlando Magic's bench unit a strong playmaker who can operate out of the pick-and-roll. He has been a calming presence for the roster to slow the pace down and focus on taking good shots. He provides a lot of relief and gives Cole Anthony more opportunities to play off-ball.
Ingles is 26th in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio and rarely makes careless mistakes. The offense does work a lot better with him on the floor. Entering Tuesday's game, the Magic have a team-best 116.1 offensive rating with him on the floor.
The Magic would improve if Ingles looked for his own shot more. The team is 28th in the NBA in threes attempted per game and 29th in threes made. Ingles is the best three-point shooter on the team and does not prioritize getting himself more opportunities.
He is attempting 3.4 shots per game, which is a career low in his 10-year career. The 6-foot-9 shooter can still shoot over the top of defenders and run off screens looking for his shot.
The Magic are desperate for more production from three and if Ingles has any more scoring juice left in the tank he should use it.
Markelle Fultz: How can Fultz identify what his role is on the court?
Markelle Fultz has struggled with injuries this season and has regressed as a player. He has fallen to seventh on the team in usage rate, which is a large jump from when he was third only a year ago.
Orlando has taken the ball out of his hands, and he is averaging a career-low in assists. But he is still seeing 21 minutes of action each night.
As a player who needs the ball in his hands to be effective and create for others, Fultz needs to find an identity as a screener and cutter heading into the playoffs.
He has a big frame for a guard at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds and has shown his ability to be physical throughout his tenure in Orlando. If he initiates actions as a screener who rolls to the basket, this can open up teammates for open shots.
This also provides the opportunity for Fultz to catch the ball going full speed at the basket. There he can finish at the rim or find teammates on the perimeter or dunker spot for open shots.
He is a hindrance to the offense when operating on the wing and allows for too much help defense by the opposition because he is not a willing shooter. If he is a screener who can use his body to seal and roll to the basket, this can allow Fultz to utilize his strengths.
One question for every Orlando Magic player heading to the Playoffs
Anthony Black: What can Black do right now to build on his rookie campaign?
Anthony Black has had a roller coaster rookie season.
He went from starting 33 games to being out of the rotation. Black has shown flashes with the ability to guard multiple positions and knock down open threes, but he needs to determine how he can hit the ground running at the start of next season.
If he is going to grow with the Orlando Magic, he will have to continue to develop his off-ball skills leading into next season.
He has already been in the gym all season working on his jump shot and it has shown. Last year at Arkansas, Black shot 30.1 percent from distance on 2.6 shots per contest. This season, he has only shot 1.4 threes per game but is converting on 38.5 percent.
Black has drastically improved his catch and shoot ability and he should study playoff guards that play off-ball. Guys like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Andrew Nembhard and Alex Caruso are great players that Anthony Black can learn from and prioritize skill sets that will help him fit with the current roster.
Goga Bitadze/Caleb Houstan: How can they both stay ready with a next-man up mentality?
Goga Bitadze and Caleb Houstan are rotational NBA players. They have proven they can contribute to winning basketball on the court. Both players can begin to prepare for the playoffs by scouting potential opponents.
Houstan is serviceable on the defensive end to hold his own guarding the perimeter and he has improved to 38.0 percent on the season from distance.
Bitadze is one of the main reasons the Magic are in this playoff position. The team was desperate for able bodies in the middle of the season, and Bitadze stepped up to the challenge.
They both need to be ready in case the Magic need them in the Playoffs.
Chuma Okeke/Jett Howard: How can they be great teammates off the court?
Chuma Okeke and Jett Howard are the furthest from cracking the rotation on the roster who are not two-way players. They have similar builds and resemble the 3-and-D prototype that has taken over the game in the last 5 years.
Neither can impact the team with on-the-court play, but they are still important.
Both players have to be willing to put teammates above themselves. Whether they are helping with scouting reports and studying film or getting up extra shots after practice, they should always be available.
It has been rare in Magic history for lottery-selected draft picks to join the team during a playoff run. Howard can prepare for the future this season by being a part of the process and soaking in this historic playoff run. He should be arriving early and staying late with the veterans and coaching staff as he grows into a franchise player now that Osceola's season is over.