Breaking Down Paolo Banchero’s Career-Best Night Against The Pacers

Paolo Banchero’s 50-point explosion against the Indiana Pacers on Monday felt easy. Recording 50 points in any manner — let alone 37 in the first half — is an impressive feat. Banchero is learning how to dominate opponents.

For his first two seasons, Banchero’s tendencies made life harder than it needed to be for himself. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward loved settling for tough jumpers and struggled from the interior. Against Indiana, 38.5 percent of Banchero’s shots came in the paint. The Pacers couldn’t match his overwhelming athleticism and force to the rim.

Why Banchero Thrived Against The Pacers

In the past, Banchero shied away from contact at the rim, electing to flip shots in like small guards do. On Monday, he ground down the Pacers all night with his size, speed and strength advantages.

paolo banchero annihilated the pacers with his sheer athletic dominance, he’s learning how to unlock his tools to the fullest

sky is the limit for this version of aggressive downhill paolo pic.twitter.com/bt3ZHjj3Io

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 29, 2024

Critically, Banchero shot 22 free throws. Though he only sunk 15 of them, drawing more fouls will be key to helping him spike his efficiency. His contact aversion lowered past free-throw numbers, so the high free-throw rate is an excellent sign and he currently sports a career-high .693 free-throw rate this season. The free throws made it an exceptionally efficient 50-point outing at 70.1 percent true shooting.

Indiana’s defensive cast isn’t particularly equipped to defend players of Banchero’s stature. Not many teams are, but the Pacers’ frontcourt is exploitable. None of Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin or Jarace Walker can manage Banchero’s power and speed. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard thrive on the perimeter, but lack the size to match Banchero.

Complementary Shooting

His jumper fell constantly, as Banchero made six of his seven mid-range jumper attempts. His intermediate jumpers don’t always consistently deliver, but they’re lethal when he heats up. Very few defenders can match his size and handling ability.

Banchero drained three of his nine triples (33.3), threatening Indiana’s defense from behind the arc. His willingness to rip threes off of the bounce forces defenders to contest him tightly, fueling his elite slashing counterpunch. 

look at paolo hitting a three off of the flare screen 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/KBYybs9cnA

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 29, 2024

He tallied nine assists as well, showcasing his upgraded processing speed and vision on the move. For some unknown reason, Indiana refused to double-team Banchero during the vast majority of the game. When it did, he picked apart rotations and located teammates.

We shouldn’t overlook Banchero’s defensive effort either. He provided critical backline help and emphatic rim protection. It was a superstar showing through whichever lens one chooses to view it.

i will not let this paolo banchero rotation be forgotten. goodness gracious, look at him protecting the back line amidst a godly heater pic.twitter.com/Ba0vMlu5wx

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 29, 2024

Beyond a career achievement, Banchero’s performance offers a glimpse into the future. At his apex, he should live at the free-throw line and basket. His jumper will always be a necessary weapon, but the interior scoring will drive his ceiling. He’s embracing the paint, attempting 6.8 shots in the restricted per game through his first four games. That places him in the 97th percentile league-wide.

Banchero’s growth will propel Orlando closer to its ultimate title goals. Though we shouldn’t overindex on this early season sample, his change in approach is highly encouraging. The Magic are dangerous if he continues performing like this.