Bane reveals the keys to battling the Heat, emphasizing physicality and defensive identity, while hinting at offensive rhythm and rookie contributions.
Desmond Bane:
On the keys to tonight's game:
"Physicality. Getting back to our defensive identity, guarding our yard, finishing possessions, getting out and running. I think will give us a chance."
On liking the looks the team has been getting with ball movement lately:
"Yeah, I think we've been generating some good shots. Really trusting getting the ball side to side and sharing it. Getting out, playing with pace to get some easy ones. And if the process is right, the shots will fall at some point."
On maintaining confidence when shots aren't falling:
"We put the work in every single day, you know, and that's how the season goes. There's going to be ebbs and flows, ups and downs. It's the guy right here. He going to bring it home for us tonight. But just stay with it. Everything he says correct."
On the rookies' performance:
"I thought they've been great. Steady for sure. It's tough being a rookie, not knowing when your number is always going to be called. But they've stayed ready and when their number's been called, they produced."
On excitement for Franz Wagner's return and what he brings:
"Franz is a guy who changed a lot for us, you know, on defense, on offense. High impact player. Yeah, we miss him for sure. And we know whenever he's ready, we'll welcome him back with open arms."
The Orlando Magic are Stuck. What Happens Next?
The Orlando Magic are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
On one hand, they continue to be marred by injuries that have led to an incredibly limited sample size of what the core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane can be. According to the team’s director of digital news, Dan Savage, the trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have only played in 17 of Orlando’s 126 regular season games together since the beginning of last season.
That number equates to just 13.5 percent of the time. By extension, it has kept Bane — the Magic’s big offseason acquisition — from building continuous chemistry with his teammates during his first year in Orlando. When Banchero, Wagner and Suggs play together, they make the Magic a force to be reckoned with.
On the other hand, there seems to be another element: Growing frustration.
Monday night’s 114-98 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers marked the fourth consecutive defeat for Orlando, and each loss has come by double digits. After the game, Banchero appeared to be visibly frustrated after a season-high 37-point effort was not enough to end his team’s losing streak. Read More: Here
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Remember to join our MAGIC on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form. and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Magic fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!