Game 7s are a story of life or death, qualification or vacation. This time, it was the Magic who fell to the Cavaliers. The fault of a great Donovan Mitchell and a Franz Wagner in great difficulty with shooting.
The German only scored 6 small points during this decisive match in Cleveland. Far from his 21 points average over the first six games of the series. Above all, he finished with 1/15 on shots, including 0/5 from distance. Obviously, by missing so many shots, Franz Wagner had the impression of letting his teammates down.
“ I couldn't get it from where I wanted. I probably rushed and the shots didn't go in» he thus concedes. “I expect more from myself. It sucks to end the season like this… I feel like I let my teammates down. »
Support from Jamahl Mosley and Paolo Banchero
On the Orlando side, however, no one overwhelmed the winger after the defeat. On the contrary, the team came together to support Franz Wagner, who is going on vacation with a really bitter taste in his mouth.
“Franz fought, he tried everything to get what he wanted,” says his trainer, Jamahl Mosley. “We have to take into consideration his three mistakes at the start of the match… I don't want to be fined but hey… He lost his rhythm, but he was able to attack the basket like Paolo Banchero and Donovan did Mitchell, without getting the same whistles. But this guy is as competitive as his teammates. He wants more, he's a tough kid, and an All-Star in the making. »
Paolo Banchero also defended his teammate, recalling the decisive role he had throughout the season.
“Sometimes the game doesn’t go your way. But we wouldn’t be here without Franz…” ensures the interior. “He has high standards, he expects a lot of himself. I have also been in this position, saying to ourselves that we can do better in a defeat. But knowing him, he will use it as motivation and take on another dimension. He didn't let anyone down, that kind of performance happens sometimes. These were just our first playoffs. I'm proud of the way he played, the way we played. We will be back. »
| Franz Wagner | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | ENT | 79 | 31 | 46.8 | 35.4 | 86.3 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 15.2 |
| 2022-23 | ENT | 80 | 33 | 48.5 | 36.1 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 18.6 |
| 2023-24 | ENT | 72 | 33 | 48.2 | 28.1 | 85.0 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 19.7 |
| Total | 231 | 32 | 47.9 | 33.2 | 85.0 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
