As Magic rotation shortens in playoffs, Orlando bench still helps team
The Magic knew as early as Thursday afternoon that they’d be without star forward Franz Wagner for Friday’s pivotal Game 6 between eighth-seeded Orlando and No. 1 Detroit at Kia Center . Regardless of the final outcome of the first-round playoff contest, Wagner’s status moving forward remains up in the air because of the right calf strain he suffered in the third quarter of Game 4 on Monday.
When asked by the Orlando Sentinel if Wagner was able do anything during Friday morning shootaround inside the AdventHealth Training Center, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley simply replied, “No. ” With Wagner unavailable for Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena , Mosley started Jamal Cain in his place. The Magic coach also did not expand his bench rotation despite having one fewer player available.
Key reserves have stepped up for the Magic throughout their first-round series against the Pistons and will have to be at their most productive without Wagner. Cain’s contributions in Games 3 and 4 sparked Orlando. Anthony Black’s 19 points in Game 5 helped keep Orlando close.
Goga Bitadze has also provided key blocks – two each in Games 4 and 5 – while helping clean up the glass as Orlando’s backup center this series. Although it’s common for NBA coaches to shorten their rotation during the playoffs, Mosley hasn’t utilized veterans such as Moe Wagner or Jevon Carter in the Pistons series. Both of them have some previous postseason experience.
Young players on the Orlando bench, Jett Howard, and rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, have also barely played against Detroit. All five players saw time throughout the regular season but entering Friday had only played three minutes at the end of the Game 2 loss in Detroit when the final result had already been determined. Mosley explained his philosophy around his rotation in the playoffs and how it could change, if it all, with Franz Wagner out.