Orlando Has Become A 3-Point Dynamo, And That's A Good Thing

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 25: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the net against Noah ... [+] Clowney #21 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a game at Kia Center on October 25, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic had a strong season last year, surprising fans with their competitive level, and the readiness of their defense.

Of course, the young ball club wasn't entirely ready, in large part due to a spacing concern that hindered their offensive efficiency.

(This is a tale as old as basketball time, as young teams will virtually always start off as dominant in one aspect of the game, and lacking in others.)

The 2024-2025 season is now here, and the organization has taken an enormous leap on the offensive end, ranking as the 9th-best offense in the NBA, while still ranking 6th defensively.

The reason? The three-point shot.

Last season, the Magic's season-high in three-point attempts was 46. They've eclipsed that twice this season, and are taking 42.3 per game.

And if you suspect the change is simply due to increased attempts from one or two players, you'd be sorely mistaken. Head coach Jamahl Mosley has gotten everyone to buy in.

Five players are taking over four attempts per game, with a follow-up grouping of an additional five players that take over two per game, primarily in limited minutes.

Gary Harris, who's averaging eight points per game, has yet to take a single two-pointer over the course of 43 minutes spread out over three games.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed a three-year deal with Orlando this summer worth $66 million, has taken just four two-pointers.

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Second-year wing Jett Howard, the son of former All-Star Juwan Howard, has a shot diet in which the three-point shot accounts for 80% of his total attempts.

Every two-out-of-three shots taken by Jalen Suggs and Cory Joseph are also three-pointers, with 61.5% of Cole Anthony's shots joining in as being three's.

One might suspect that Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are getting in on the fun. To some extent they are, especially Wagner who takes over seven per game, but that's not really the point.

The Magic appear determined to run a heavy load of their offense through Banchero and Wagner, and have them installed as decision-makers. To optimize the duo's playmaking capabilities, the franchise clearly decided to flank them with shooters, as to provide them with a ton of space.

Banchero, a player who needs space to operate when he's setting up moves off the dribble, has become a matchup nightmare for opponents. The 6'10 power forward, who is already one of the best bully-ball players in the league, is now given ample space to assert himself as just that, and should defenses decide to send double-teams his way, his court vision is strong enough to spot the open man, and quickly.

Wagner, who is more finesse than power, approaches the game similarly. Also a 6'10 forward, Wagner attacks from the outside and in, and is perfectly of reacting to double-teams by moving the ball.

It's obviously very early in the season, and opposing teams are probably still collecting data on this new-look Magic team, in order to develop a plan of attack. So there might be a slight downtick in production as the season advances.

That said, the Magic have genuinely found something in their current set-up, and it's worth it to explore just far they can go with it. After all, via the presence of Banchero especially, they have a counter to the days when the shot simply isn't there.

For Orlando to be able to play less predictably is a huge asset they didn't have last season.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.