Is Magic Guard Desmond Bane Playing to His Potential?

After a rough 2-7 start, the Orlando Magic seem to be finding some momentum as they return to the Kia Center on Friday with a pair of wins in their back pocket. 

The Magic defeated the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz on Monday and Tuesday to snap a four-game losing streak that likely helped the team gain some confidence. In the win over Utah, guard Desmond Bane played a big role.

Bane scored 25 points in the win and had his most efficient shooting night of the season as he went 9-for-16 from the field, and 7-for-11 from 3-point range. Recently, Bane struggled with an illness that sidelined him for the Magic's loss against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 7. 

After a rough shooting performance in the win over Sacramento, he rediscovered his form against the Jazz and the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a tough start to the season for Bane, who shot just 33.3% from the perimeter over the course of five games in October. But over six games in November, he is shooting 46.8% from deep, and Orlando has needed every bit of it.

Following the Magic's wins over the Kings and the Jazz, I went on the Full Court Magic Podcast to talk about Bane's impact. Here is what I had to say:

"I want to discuss Desmond Bane. Has Desmond Bane found his form again? I mean, Bane is a player who the Magic acquired to be a legitimate scoring option when everyone's healthy.

He is supposed to be arguably the number three on this team behind Wagner and Banchero, and his role is elevated even further when one of those guys is missing time or when his backcourt mate Jalen Suggs is missing time. It hasn't been the easiest stretch for Desmond Bain to start the season.

We know he got off to a little bit of a slow start last season, too. He dealt with an illness on this road trip that hampered him. Obviously, like I said, he missed the Golden State game.

But when he returned against Sacramento, it was bad. I mean, he went 5-of-19 from the field, 4-of-13 from three, for 15 points. You know, he is having a season in which he's hitting his lowest marks in terms of points since his rookie year.

He's at 18 points per game, shooting 39.2% from the field, which is also his lowest mark. But he's up to 39% from three, which is a good sign. I mean, he is a 3-point specialist in a lot of ways, and the Magic need him to be that kind of player, especially when their offense has looked so anemic, especially from 3-point range once again.

And he really turned things around against the Jazz. You know, 9-of-16 from the field, 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. That's what you need Desmond Bane to do. He gave them 25 points. He supported Wagner's effort, and the Magic are going to keep needing that from him, because if he can be at his best and Franz can be at his best, then this becomes a much more difficult team to beat, even with its flaws, even without Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and others. This becomes a harder team to beat."