Giorgi Kharshiladze

What is next for Bitadze and Magic?

Something just went wrong for Orlando Magic and Goga Bitadze. Stuck in the middle of the play off zone with a respectable record, this team just loses the touch for the most important stretch of the long, bloody regular season.

They are scoring just 105 points per game, good to be 28th in the league.

They grab a mere 41.5 boards per game, that puts them in the bottom of the table (27th) as well.

They make a miserable 44.2 percent on the field goals, good for 27th as well.

Their free throw percentage (76.7) is no good either (27th). And they are dead last in the three point field goal accuracy (30.7).

Their team basketball has taken a big hit, as evidenced in their assists per game (23, 29th) and also, in their assists/turnover ratio (1.7, 24th).

Sure, this team can still play some tough defense (6.1 blocks, good for being second) and they do steal a lot (8.9, 6th). But the chemistry is gone. For now, gone for dead.

The same can be said in Goga Bitadze’s case. Once a point/rebound machine have seen his time and productivity diminished in a big way. Goga is still leading his team in blocked shots (1.6) and field goal accuracy (over 62 percent in all), but his time is dying. In his last ten games he only amassed twice a twenty minute mark. He played less than 10 minutes twice. He never grabbed 10 or more rebounds and gets forgotten in a crunch time. All in the favor of Wendell Carter Jr, who lacks the aggression of Goga. Who never really dominated on defense and is shy of dominating on offense as well.

The results? Well, good luck with play in tournament, where a punch less Bulls is set as a sure thing. Where Orlando faces a minimum competition, but is set to be thrown away in the first round of play offs. The truth hurts. At least, for Magic.

There is still a lot of time until the play offs kick off. And, Magic has to be better. This team is just underachieving. As does Goga.