The Magic’s role players need to be way better to challenge Boston in their first-round series, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner carried the offense in Orlando’s Game 1 loss, while their teammates had a combined 27 points on 10-of-30 shooting.
“They’ve got a lot on their shoulders as the offensive scorers on the team,” big man Jonathan Isaac said. “We’ve got to do a better job as role players.”
Cole Anthony believes a quicker pace would help the cause.
“We did a great job in the first half pushing the pace and crashing that glass,” he said. “The second half, we kind of got away from it as a team. So, I think if we can maintain that pace for 48 (minutes), we’ll have a chance.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Following their Game 1 loss to top seed Cleveland, the Heat realize they’re not going to win the series on talent. Instead, they’ll have to rely on grit and determination. “We got to be the hardest playing team,” Heat guard Davion Mitchell told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “They’re a really good and talented team. They can score the ball with the best of them, so we got to be the hardest playing team. That’s what we got to do.”
- Terry Rozier is out of the Heat’s rotation but he still wound up on the injury report for Wednesday’s Game 2. Rozier suffered a left ankle sprain during an optional workout, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets.
- Brandon Miller is the only Hornets player close to untouchable status, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith opines in his offseason preview. Charlotte should try once again to seek a trade for Mark Williams and even consider moving LaMelo Ball if the right offer comes along. Getting some assets, even minor ones, for some of their other regulars to free up time for developmental players should also be a part of their offseason approach.