Boston Celtics Face-Off Against Orlando Magic: Can Paolo Banchero Lead to an Upset?
====================================================================================
The Orlando Magic are set to face off against the Boston Celtics in their first-round NBA playoff series, and it’s clear that they’re heading into the matchup as heavy underdogs. According to NBCSportsBoston, if the Magic are going to have any chance at pulling off a historic upset, Paolo Banchero needs to deliver an all-time performance.
Banchero, who was selected by the Magic with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is a rising star in the league. This season, he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, as reported by NBCSportsBoston. The 22-year-old forward has tremendous size, length, and athleticism, standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing 250 pounds.
As NBCSportsBoston notes, Banchero is a legit centerpiece for Orlando, joining the ranks of franchise greats like Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dwight Howard. However, winning is the only way to solidify his position among the franchise’s all-time greats.
One way for the Magic to have a chance at making this series against the Celtics a long one is to slow the game down. Part of that is getting to the free throw line, and Banchero’s 8.4 attempts in the regular season ranked fourth-most in the league, as cited by NBCSportsBoston. Since the All-Star break, he’s been averaging 9.2 free throw attempts per game. Banchero is great at using his quickness and strength to get to the rim, draw contact, and finish.
The Magic are a great defensive team, ranking No. 2 in defensive rating and playing very physical on that end of the floor. However, as NBCSportsBoston points out, defense alone won’t give them a chance to win this series. They have to score at a much higher rate than they did in the regular season. Boston scored the eighth-most points at 116.3 per game, while Orlando ranked 28th with 105.4 points per game.
If the Magic are going to close that 10-point gap, Banchero has to take his game to another level. And it’s possible he could get there, as NBCSportsBoston suggests. Just look at the Magic’s first-round series against the Cavaliers last season. It was Banchero’s first time in the playoffs, and he didn’t look rattled at all. He averaged 27 points, 8.6 rebounds, and four assists per game in the series. His best performance came in Game 7 at Cleveland, where he scored 38 points with 16 rebounds and three steals.
Banchero won’t just be asked to lead the offense for the Magic; he needs to be a stopper on defense, too. In the one head-to-head matchup where the Celtics played the Magic at full strength this season, Banchero excelled defensively. He spent most of his time guarding Jayson Tatum and limited the Celtics superstar to four points on 1-for-4 shooting in that matchup, according to NBCSportsBoston.
As NBCSportsBoston notes, it’s probably a little too early for the Magic to make a statement in the playoffs. This is a really young team, and the Celtics have a distinct advantage in playoff experience, talent, depth, and coaching. This should be a short series.
However, the Magic play hard and don’t quit. Banchero is going to be a superstar in the very near future, and as NBCSportsBoston reports, he has the potential to make this a five- or six-game series if he dominates at both ends of the floor.
Original source: NBCSportsBoston
Source link
