Banchero rallies his Magic, demanding a Game 7 focus after a brutal offensive collapse. Toughness and togetherness are keys to victory.
On the shift in the second half of Game 6:
"They turned up their defensive pressure and we just got caught on our heels. Game pressure builds and they went on a pretty big run while we didn't score."
On the team's long scoring droughts (24 straight misses):
"I don't know. I'm not really thinking about it. At this point, it's just all about Game 7."
On his leadership role heading into Game 7 in Detroit:
"Just keep everybody together. The series isn't over. They've clawed their way to tie it up 3-3, but we won a game there to start the series and we just have to go do it again. We can’t hang our heads; we have to wake up and get on the plane with a clear mind and do whatever we have to do to get the win."
On the confidence level after a tough loss:
"I just said we won the first game there. You don't have time to hang your head. Obviously, it's a bad loss, but there's nothing we can do about it at this point but chalk it up and move on."
On stopping a run and breaking a rut on the court:
"You just have to find a way to get a basket. Whether it's me, whether it's Dez, whoever—we have to figure out a way to get a good shot. It’s on the five guys on the court to stop the bleeding and find a way to score, which we weren't able to do tonight. But we can win Game 7, and that’s the mindset."
On why the offense stabilized in the first half but failed in the second:
"It’s the playoffs and this series has been a slugfest. I wish I had some complex answer as to what action or ball movement would have worked, but sometimes the game just goes that way. We had a very bad drought tonight and you just have to wipe it off. There’s no point in dwelling on what could have gone our way."
On what the Magic can lean on to win Sunday:
"Our toughness, our defense, and our togetherness. We held them to 93 points tonight, which is another great defensive game—we just came up short offensively. I think shots are going to fall on Sunday."
On the defensive focus on Cade Cunningham:
"He’s their engine; he does a lot of their scoring and facilitating. We have to make it hard on him and try to make others beat us. It’s one game, and that’s all that matters, so we have to do whatever it takes."
On learning from the Game 7 experience in Cleveland:
"I remember going up big early and losing the lead in the second half. Learning from that is knowing you have to play the full game and stay locked in for 48 minutes. You can't get comfortable at any point, especially on the road. It’s going to be a hell of a challenge."
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