A beginning of “Rookie Wall” for Paolo Banchero?

After lining up eight wins in nine games, Orlando has been in trouble for three games. There was the loss against the Lakers, the famous game in Detroit, and the last loss at home against Washington with six players suspended (the NBA having spread out the suspensions to allow the Magic to field enough players…) .

To this bad series is added a drop in speed on the part of Paolo Banchero to shots. While the strong winger had just completed three big weeks, he ended 2022 at the end of the line, with a 1/6, a 4/12 then a 7/24 in shooting. This is the first time this season that he has played three games with less than 33% shooting success.

Asked after the lost match against the Wizards, the rookie did not shirk his responsibilities.

“It hurts when you can’t score. We started with good energy, we defended them well, but we couldn’t get our shots. In any case, I couldn’t do it.”he lamented. “I had shots close to the circle, jump shots that I usually put in, so I just have to get rid of this bad pass and move on.”

Four days in a row without a match before the reception of OKC

It may still be a little early to talk about “Rookie Wall”, this drop in speed which often occurs around January-February among rookies faced with the infernal rhythm of an NBA regular season. However, Paolo Banchero is well aware that he could again have worse shots like this week.

“Sometimes that’s what can happen. That’s what I learned. Sometimes you’re successful at first and you think it’s going to be like this all the time. And then you have a few bad matches like that and you just say, ‘Damn, I suck right now., he added. “When my shot doesn’t fit, I still have to be able to highlight others, to create situations for them. I don’t think I was good at that either. I was trying to get the right readings, but was a little slow a few times. It was clearly not a good match, I have to bounce back and do better”.

To recharge the batteries, Paolo Banchero and the Magic will benefit from four days “off” before the reception of OKC this Wednesday. It will be up to Jamahl Mosley to find the balance between recovery and training.

“It’s a delicate balance. We have a group of young guys who give their all every day, and we have to find the right balance with the physical need to observe rest. We don’t want to overdo it in training to the point that their energy levels in matches are lower.” he recalled.