The Magic’s Struggles Without Paolo Banchero

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The Magic’s Struggles Without Paolo Banchero Strengthen His MVP Candidacy

A Transformed Team

The Orlando Magic have proven to be a completely different team without their star, Paolo Banchero, who has missed the last two games due to an injury. With Banchero on the court, the team averaged 112.2 points per game and outscored their opponents by 4.4 points per 100 possessions. Known for their solid defense, the Magic had found a new identity on offense, averaging 25.6 assists and an impressive effective field goal percentage of 53.4%.

Banchero’s Absence

However, the situation has changed drastically in the last two games. The Magic have averaged only 97.0 points and have been outscored by 17 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, their three-point shooting percentage has dropped to a concerning 25.7%, highlighting a lack of offense. During the recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando couldn’t score more than 25 points in any quarter, which is surprising given that Dallas is not known for its defense.

A Strong MVP Case

Banchero’s absence only strengthens his MVP candidacy. In the four games prior to his injury, he averaged 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, shooting nearly 50%. According to Basketball Reference’s MVP tracker, Banchero was the third-best candidate for the award, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum.

With the two recent losses, the Magic have fallen below .500 for the first time this season, highlighting Banchero’s importance to the team’s success. He is not expected to return until the first week of December, which could cause Orlando to lose ground in their quest for the playoffs. However, if Banchero returns and leads his team back to the postseason, his MVP case will become even stronger.

The Importance of One Player

There aren’t many teams that rely as much on a single player as the Magic do on Banchero. Which is not a very good stat, because now you’re feeling what it means to miss your best player and not have someone who can carry the team while he is not on the court. If Banchero, just 21 years old, manages to return and win the MVP, he would become the youngest player to win the award since Derrick Rose and Wes Unseld. Therefore, NBA ODDS will be closely watching his return and performance throughout the season.