Paolo Banchero addressed the talk around Orlando playing better without him and Franz Wagner together, calling the narrative false and frustrating. He stressed that the Magic do not change their offensive style and believe they are at their best when both forwards share the floor.
Paolo Banchero is aware of the talk around the Orlando Magic and the idea that the team looks better when he and Franz Wagner are not on the floor together. And he is not buying it.
Orlando Magic / Schedule
As injuries have forced Orlando to shuffle lineups this season, some have pointed to stretches where the Magic played well with only one of their young stars available. That has led to questions about whether Banchero and Wagner truly fit together on offense.
“I think that’s bull—,” Banchero answered per The Athletic. “I’m not going to lie. People are going to say whatever they want to say about me, Franz and whoever. But we know that we’re at our strongest when both of us are out there on the floor.”
“People say that the ball moves more (when only one of us is out there). I don’t think that’s true, honestly. I think sometimes you beat teams or you play certain games and it may look that way, but if you really watch and analyze, we play the same way every game.”
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Banchero pushed back on the idea that the Magic change their style when key players are missing, explaining that the team sticks to the same approach and feels strongest when everyone is on the floor together.
“Nothing changes when somebody is out. We play the same way, especially on offense. Nothing really changes. I don’t buy too much into that (perception), but it is frustrating to see that and hear that just because, like I said, we’re at our best when both of us are out there,” he explained.
The Magic numbers support Banchero’s argument. When the full starting group of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Wagner, Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. has been healthy, the lineup has been one of the most effective in the league, outscoring opponents by a wide margin. The problem has been availability, not chemistry.
Banchero and Wagner are both best attacking the basket, drawing help and creating open looks for teammates. While neither is an elite shooter from deep, their ability to pressure defenses has been central to Orlando’s offense.
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