Banchero reveals how the Magic will maintain focus, embrace physicality, and counter Detroit’s desperation to seize a commanding playoff advantage.
The Orlando Magic prepare for a pivotal Game 4 tonight at the Kia Center, holding a 2-1 series lead over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Forward Paolo Banchero has fueled the postseason surge, elevating his intensity as the Magic transition from a play-in tournament qualifier to a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference
Here’s what he had to say at shootaround before the game:
On the focus of shootaround and the team's mindset:
"Just cleaning up what we need to clean up for this game tonight. Just keeping everybody focused—I think the energy's good and everybody's excited for the opportunity tonight."
On the intensity and "will" in the back half of a series:
"Once you get to Game 4, that's when both teams start to get tired of each other. That leads to more physical basketball and more things that the refs are probably going to let go. You just got to be prepared for the atmosphere and bring the right energy as a group. Everybody understands there's a lot of basketball left to be played."
On learning from the Game 2 loss to handle Detroit’s desperation:
"Learning from Game 2 is realizing you can't let your guard down or relax at any point in the game—first half or second half. You can't give up big runs. You have to know they're going to come out with a heightened level of energy, effort, and desperation. We need to have the same amount, if not more."
On Wendell Carter Jr.’s performance and approach:
"I think he's just been focused. He's being a force on the glass and a force on both sides of the ball. He's communicating really well, and we're going to continue that."
On the key to keeping Detroit's bigs in check:
"Just be physical and communicate. Nothing easy for them. We have to keep them off the glass and just overall be physical."
On his personal growth and finding spots against the defense:
"It’s just about being aggressive and keeping the pressure up on them. However they want to play me on defense, I have to continue to put pressure on them with my aggressiveness and my ability to playmaker and get downhill. I’m just taking it one game at a time and keeping an aggressive mindset."
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