ORLANDO, Fla. _ Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba is a frustrated young man these days and he directs the annoyance at himself. He's not having the kind of season he envisioned for his second year with the Magic and he knows he needs to play better.
His last six games have produced these offensive totals: 14 points, 26.1% field-goal shooting (6 of 23) and 11.1% 3-point shooting (1 of 9).
In fact, Bamba has scored just five points in his last four games. While he's contributed in other ways, Bamba feels his performances lately have been sub-par.
The biggest challenge, he said, has been trying to put a bad game behind him. Instead, he said he feels like he's letting those negative feelings pile up.
"It's pretty hard to say I'm happy with the last couple of times we've played out there," Bamba said. "I try to not let things carry over and I think I've done a pretty bad job of allowing things to bleed into the next day. But after talking with coach (Steve Clifford) and after getting with my teammates I think the biggest thing for me is just looking forward."
Now seems like the perfect time do that.
Can the Magic get more production from Bamba while Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon recover from ankle injuries?
As veteran forward Al-Farouq Aminu said on Friday, it's time for players to rise to the occasion.
For his part, Bamba said he's ready.
"I look at it as an opportunity, an opportunity not necessarily to prove anything but to play hard and play well," he said.
Bamba won't be the only player the Magic will lean on a little more as Vucevic and Gordon recover. But playing well would certainly help Orlando, which will be without Vucevic for at least the next three to five games, depending on when he's re-evaluated.
Magic coach Steve Clifford said the center minutes will go to Bamba and Khem Birch, who started the second half against Toronto after Vucevic was hurt and went on to post 12 points _ one below his career-high _ and four rebounds. Those 12 points were more than Bamba has scored in any game this season, although Birch did play 21 minutes.
But Clifford also said Jonathan Isaac and Amile Jefferson could see time at center as game situations dictate the usage at the position. Clifford played Isaac at the center spot earlier this season in Toronto.
Bamba, meanwhile, hopes to be more assertive and more decisive as he looks to make bigger contributions when the Magic need them most.
"I put a lot of that on me," he said. "When you have a guy like Vooch who goes out (that) was a team leader, you have to reflect and think, 'What can I do to help this team?' "
For Bamba, that starts with more consistency, and more playing time could help that.
He's been restricted to an average of 13.4 minutes per game in the wake of the stress fracture that cost him the final 30 games of last season. The Magic also have decided not to play Bamba in one game of back-to-backs to help reduce the load on the injury as Bamba continues to build game experience. That decision has cost him two games already.
Bamba played a season-high 15 minutes and 36 seconds on Wednesday in Toronto, the second straight game where he topped the 15-minute mark. There wasn't much offensive production (two points, 1-of-3 shooting), but he recorded three rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
Clifford, however, said that while Vucevic is out the team is willing to exceed the minutes limit on Bamba "if we need to."
Clifford said Bamba needs to play to his strengths. That means rebounding, protecting the rim, being assertive on offense, and delivering the right energy level and purpose of play, Clifford said.
"Those are going to be the nights when he gives himself the best chance to play well," Clifford said. "He's made good strides. That position is difficult for a younger player. I just think he has to continue to grow."
Bamba is averaging 3.8 points per game and shooting 33.9% from the field. Perhaps somewhat puzzling is his 47.8% shooting mark on shots within 3 feet of the basket, and his 3-point shooting has been virtually non-existent (5 of 21).
Still, his per-36 averages of 11.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks show his defensive potential. Bamba also contests 6.7 shots per game _ third-best on the team behind Isaac and Vucevic.
But the offensive struggles continue to stand out. His offensive rating of 89.3 is the lowest in the league among players who have appeared in at least 10 games and average at least 10 minutes per game.
Clifford said one area that could help Bamba is the pick-and-roll game with shooting guard Terrence Ross. Because Ross usually draws two defenders as he comes off a screen. Clifford said the roller just needs to find a little separation to create scoring chances.
"I mean whoever's in there with T-Ross, I think the better you screen for him, the more you're going to get the ball in really good positions," Clifford said.
League data shows Bamba's screen game has been relatively effective compared to Vucevic's levels.
Vucevic is averaging 5.2 screen assists and 11.9 screen assist points per game. Both rank fifth in the NBA.
Bamba, meanwhile, is averaging 2.2 screen assists and 4.9 screen assist points per game. But his per-36 averages jump to 5.8 screen assists and 13.2 screen assist points.
If Bamba can't find his shooting and scoring rhythm, he can still affect the Magic offense by setting good screens and hitting the offensive glass.
"When he goes in there, he's got to be on top of the game plan," Clifford said.
