Difficult for the Cavaliers to take advantage of their full squad since last night, JB Bickerstaff was deprived of his leader, Donovan Mitchell. An absence impossible to compensate for since the Magic came to win in Cleveland, and while we expected big performances from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, it was the bench that stood out!
The five substitutes finished with a positive +/-, with Moe Wagner as leader, and the big contributions of Cole Anthony and Joe Ingles. It was in the wake of its “second unit” that the Magic made the difference at the start of the 4th quarter.
One of the most effective benches in the NBA
“They were fantastic, especially with their defense at the start of the match. There is great trust between the replacements,” emphasizes Jamahl Mosleythe Magic coach. “They believe in what everyone can bring to the group. You saw Cole catch fire, and the others continued to fuel him, knowingly… They have this ability to make the right move at the right time for the other. »
We don't talk much about it but the Magic's “second unit” is very effective since Moe Wagner (22 points) and the replacements rank 4th in the number of points scored (41.5) and even second in offensive efficiency (64.8). Ideal when we get to the heart of the matter and we will have to sprint in the home stretch to grab a place in the Top 6 in the Eastern Conference, in the fight with the Sixers, the Pacers and the Heat .
Young people discover high-stakes matches
“The real teams start playing now,” recalls Moe Wagner. “As we are a young team, we have not yet experienced that. We must accept and understand it. For training that aims for something, this is the moment when they improve the most. This is a mentality that we must adopt every day. »
Rougher than Franz, Moe is the symbol of this eye-catching and difficult to maneuver bench. “Don’t let that fool you, Mos is tough” warns Cole Anthony. ” He is strong. He swings the first punches through his shoulders and elbows. He makes contact, and he sets the tone physically. »
