7/15/2023 0 Comments Pinstriped teamIt’s the start of a five-game road trip for the Magic, with showdowns against the Western Conference sides currently ranked ninth, fifth and seventh. This week’s schedule: at Warriors (Sat) at Kings (Mon) at Blazers (Tues) Perhaps the more relevant question now, however, is whether Paolo can also muscle his way into the All-Star debate. There’s a reason that he is comfortably, and rightfully, the frontrunner for the end of year award for first-year players. However, his claiming of this most recent rookie nod – and his recognition here in this very space! – speaks to the overall quality of the campaign that he’s putting together, and sets right the fact that he was passed over in the opening month (likely because of his seven-game absence). He was again the offensive focal point for an oft understrength Magic side, creating his own shots with ball in hand, getting back to the free-throw line with dominant regularity, tying a career-best with 7 assists against OKC, and punctuating it all with a 20 point third-quarter explosion against the Grizzlies.īanchero’s total of 19.1 points per-game in December was actually a little down on his season average of 21.0, and he’s also been more impressive in the couple of recent January dates than he was for the majority of December. It was an award well-deserved, with the freshman continuing to impress with his scoring exploits, evidenced most recently in the trio of 20+ point games he posted last week. DeFelice/Getty ImagesĪ few days ago the NBA formally acknowledged the on-court contributions of Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, announcing the dynamic forward as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December. Who won the week that was? Photo by Douglas P. With the working week winding to an end, let’s check the pulse of all things pinstriped.
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