Paolo Banchero wonders about the Magic's future after their playoff collapse against the Pistons
Paolo Banchero wanted to say the diplomatic thing. Shortly after Banchero's Orlando Magic lost 116-94 to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday in Game 7 of their playoff series, he was asked if they have enough talent to win in the NBA. Seated on the postgame press conference stage, Banchero hesitated before answering.
DETROIT (AP) — Paolo Banchero wanted to say the diplomatic thing. He just couldn't do it. Shortly after Banchero's Orlando Magic lost 116-94 to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday in Game 7 of their playoff series, he was asked if they have enough talent to win in the NBA.
Seated on the postgame press conference stage, Banchero hesitated before answering. “I want to say yes, but this the third straight time we haven't gotten out of the first round,” he said. “So if you are going off the last three years, the answer is no.
The nice answer is yes, but honestly speaking, I can't say we're good enough to be in the finals or the Eastern finals, because the last three years, we've had the same result. “So that's your answer. ” Banchero has every reason to wonder.
In the first four games of the series, he averaged 20 points and Franz Wagner scored 17. 8 per game as Orlando took a 3-1 lead. Wagner, though, sustained a calf injury that kept him out of the last three games.