Zurab Talakvadze

Bitadze and Magic are off to a slow start.

Orlando Magic swung a  deal to upgrade the chances of finishing the season on a rise, when they took away Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies. Well, at least it was thought so. Now, off to a slow start in the ongoing season, team needs to balance the roster.

Bane is having a solid season to say the least. He is averaging 17.4 points per game and playing some solid defense, but the wins are hard to come anyway. You get the normal, expected production from always tough Franz Wagner (23.4 points, 6.4 rebounds), you get casual toughness from Jalen Suggs (14.4 pts, 4.6 assists) and you need to use better the tandem of Wendel Carter Jr (12.3 pts, 7.4 rebs) and Goga Bitadze (6.2 pts, 5.1 rebs, 1.5 dimes, 1.2 blocks).

Sure thing, Orlando will go as far, as Paolo Banchero (21.7 pts, 8.7 rebs, 4.1 dimes) will take them, but all in all, this team was built to compete in a weakened Eastern Conference and not to sit in a play in zone. Orlando is just much better than that. Suggs is playing some monster defense at a times (leading the team with 1.5 steals per game), but he has to have a better chemistry with Bane to control the perimeter and close the lanes. On defense, Anthony Black (1.5 steals) is doing fine and we get the better than expected job from both Wagner (1.1) and Bane (0.8).

In the team rankings, the Magic are slowing at a slower pace, than many expected them to do (117.6 points, ranked 18th) and are rebounding like an underdogs (16th, 44.8). They are in the second tier of shooters from the long range (20th, 35.0) and are also prone to turnovers (20th, 15.0).

Sure thing, this team sometimes relies to much on Banchero and his iso plays and this team still awaits for the healthy return of Moritz Wagner. The seven year veteran is still on the injured list, but should return soon and thus, bolster his team’s chances of finding some needed stability.

Orlando improved the overall results as of late. Magic (10:8) have won 7 out of last 10 games and find themselves in the play-in zone, but we expect them to upper the value and enter the playoffs territory. They are better than Atlanta (11:7), who are thriving in the absence of Trae Young and are better than Toronto (12:5). 

In the next few games, Orlando is facing a tough road battle in facing the surprising Sixers and strong as ever Pistons. The schedule does not get any better, but Magic needs to win the winnable ones.

Bitadze and his team are improving, but so does the rest of the East.

Magic needs to be more accurate and precise. Magic is just better, than the most teams ahead of them in the standings.

The long wait awaits.