Ashley Nicole Moss challenges the Jamahl Mosley firing, arguing Paolo Banchero’s stagnant development and shooting struggles deserve more scrutiny than the head coach's tactical failures.
With the Orlando Magic firing Jamahl Mosley, the national media is offering varying opinions on whether it was justified or not. One new perspective from CBS Sports, Ashley Nicole Moss, shifts the blame towards Magic star Paolo Banchero.
“Yes, you as a head coach, have to take what's on your roster and figure out how to make it work. And in that aspect, Jamal Mosley failed at his job,” Nicole Moss said. “The front office, though, has to be looked at and said, maybe the pieces that we have on the floor do not work together in the way that we need them to. They may work on paper, but that doesn't translate to the game. And if that is the case, which it looked like in this off-season, or rather this postseason, the front office failed at their job.”
“I go back to what I'm saying about Paolo Banchero.” She added. “Paolo has not taken the leaps and strides in his career that we think can be a bona fide superstar in this league and the leader of the Orlando Magic in the way that he needs to. He still doesn't have a mid range game that is reliable. He still doesn't have a three-point game that is reliant. And at some point, the finger has to be blamed at the guy who you put so much faith in that he can lead this Orlando Magic team as to what you're doing or not doing in the off-season that you're not taking these next strides in your career. The unfortunate reality is that the conversation will happen after you change the head coach.”
While she partially blames Mosley for failing to lead the squad past the first round, she makes the point Mosley didn’t miss 23 shots in a row during a potential close-out game six.
I do not think that Jamahl Mosley is fully at fault for what transpired. I think that he is the easiest piece to remove, especially when you talk about the fact that he has lost the locker room. Allegedly, Paolo Banchero Is not his biggest fan, allegedly, but let's call a spade a spade. Everything cannot be put on the head coach. He is not out there playing the game. He's not out there missing 23 shots in a row. And at some point, whoever you put in his position has to know without a shadow of a doubt that this roster is a roster he can win with, and I don't know if that's what this Orlando Magic roster is imagined.
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