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With little over a month to conclude this 2023-24 NBA season, it's safe to say now that the Orlando Magic have been one of the most unexpected teams of this campaign. With a style characterized by electrifying defense while being one of the NBA's youngests teams, the Magic, now 5th in the East and just one game away from the Knicks (owners of the 4th spot) aren't a surprise anymore, they have become a reality.
Orlando is led by the 2022 NBA Draft first pick, Paolo Banchero, accompanied by the Wagner Brothers, Franz and Moritz. Together, they are the Magic's versatile offensive weapons, providing solid scoring while all of them being big size players can take advantage of the opponents smallest guys.
Banchero is coming off his first All-Star appearance, all of this while he's still the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year. Paolo can bring instant offense, as his averages show: 22.8 points per game, 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 46% from the field and a respectable 36.1% from three. The 21 year-old power forward has improved almost all his major stats in only one year, this means that his potential is off the charts.
Still, Orlando's offense ranks 23rd in the NBA, so their 38-28 record wasn't earned by outscoring their rivals. The Magic's seal relies on a sofocating defense. The 4th best defensive team in the league will make sure that every team that plays against them will have to run, they aren't affraid of being physical, they will make their opponents sweat just to score a bucket. Orlando's squad is number one when forcing turnovers, they will not back down.
Jalen Suggs has emerged as the team's referent when it comes to defense. Suggs is a lengthy combo guard that can play relentless lockdown D. He has embraced his role as a leader on the team, contributing both on offense and defense. Suggs' improvement as a three-point shooter has been particularly noteworthy this season, adding another dimension to his game.
Overall, Orlando remains being a newcomer in the Eastern Conference, a team that's going to try to outwork their rivals, a team that understands what they can do, what depends on them. Under Jamahl Mosley this franchise has the right mindset to improve, nobody expected how fast they've matured, but they are here and they're going to be a problem from now on.
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