Yahoo Sports contributing NBA writer Tom Haberstroh and NBA writer Dan Devine discuss how Orlando has performed with their two stars and what the Magic need to do to find the right chemistry. Check out the full conversation on “The Big Number” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
This is such a weird team, because you want to say that Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner win They’re on the floor together that they’re just gonna be ascending to the top of the Eastern Conference, but its been the opposite.
Like when theyre separated, It’s almost like this team’s better in a weird way, because of Anthony Black and because of Desmond Bain, his addition has been great and able to, You know, not just float and tread water when Franz is out or Paolo’s out.
But they’ve been really good, like you said, gang busters with a +32 net rating.
Whatever that is with those three on the floor, and that’s not to say those three on the Floor, and then no Franz and Paolo Bankerra, that those guys could still be on the floor.
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That sample size, but even if you take those guys off the floor, Franz and Paolo Baquero.
Uh, in 13 minutes with those three on floor without either of those two stars on floor, Uh, theyve outscored opponents 36 to, uh, 30, yeah.
36 to 24 in 13 minutes.
So, its a tiny sample size.
But that’s great, it’s true.
It’s like it shows this, This roster has gotten so much better over a year, and when you look at the numbers, just The star alignment where you have both Franz and Paolo the last two seasons, They are 27 and 27, damn, 500.
With just Paolo, they’re 9 and 14, a 32 win pace, Okay.
With just Franz, theyre 27 and 19.
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So, that’s a 48-win pace.
So, with just Paolo, no Franz, 32 with both 41, and then with just Franz, no Paolo; they’re a 48-win team.
It’s really wonky, like this season, uh, just Franz.
They’re 7 and 3, and luckily Paulo, for all the Paulo stands out there.
They won handily in this game versus Miami Heat, with Paolo and Desmond Bain going off, Desmond Bain going off, um.
It’s great to have these wild cards, and Anthony Black and Desmond Bain on the team.
Well, Anthony Black, of course, you know, is having a breakout season, But Desmond Bain.
Dan, he’s just kind of a wild card.
He had 37 points on Tuesday night.
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Its the third time hes scored at least 35.
In a game this season.
He’s also the only player with that many 35 point games and also three single-digit scores Games.
It’s just.
Its a bit of a wild card with Desmond Bain.
You just don’t know what you’re gonna get from a scoring number.
Like you’re gonna get that gritty defense, and he’s just, I mean, every time I see a photo of Desmond Bain, I’m just like, is he real?
Like those biceps?
Like, is he real?
Like, I don’t knowis he AI?
You know, sometimes you see these, uh, offseason, like, Oh my God, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Robinson just put on 45 pounds of muscle, and someone Just did.
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The deepfake of Mitchell Robinson is now Just looking like the Hulk.
Desmond Bain is the Hulklike hes legit, just a cartoon character, Uh, and cartoonish numbers, 37 points, in that game against the Heat where its just Like when they’re shooting as well as they did on Tuesday night.
And, of course, the Miami Heat did not shoot well, uh.
They got off to a great start but fizzled quickly after that, with Orlando at home Floor.
Uh, marching on because, like you said, This team has a much higher ceiling, it seems.
Like even with Franz Wagner out with that high Ankle sprain: they’re able to have that offense hum in a way that they just could not get to That next gear last season without Franz on the floor, and now with Desmond Bain, They just have another lever to pull, and that’s huge for this offense.