Over the last ten games, the Orlando Magic scored a strong 8-2 record.
But they lost on Friday night to the New York Knicks and it was a bit of a wake-up call for Magic star Paolo Banchero.
After the game, Banchero spoke with Jason Beede and the press and talked about what his team needs to know and prepare for before the playoffs get started.
“We’ve got to realize that the playoffs [are] going to be a lot more physical, going to be a lot higher intensity and we’ve got to be ready for it,” Banchero said in a post-game press conference.
“We’ve got to realize that the playoffs [are] going to be a lot more physical, going to be a lot higher intensity and we’ve got to be ready for it,” #Magic forward Paolo Banchero said post-game.
His full remarks on what he took away from Orlando’s loss at New York: pic.twitter.com/v0XkXNadOK
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) March 9, 2024
Banchero said: “We got our a– kicked. We’ve just got to be better.”
He added that Friday night’s game was a taste of what the playoffs could be like and it should give his team a perspective on what’s ahead.
The Magic have been one of the most exciting teams in the league this season and they are currently qualified for the playoffs if they were to start today.
But the problem for Orlando is that they haven’t been a postseason threat for years which means that the players on the team haven’t learned just how different the playoffs are from the regular season.
If they don’t know what to expect, they will have a very short and disappointing playoff run.
Banchero said the Magic have to adjust and learn from their defeat on Friday.
He is the driving force behind the team so he will be at the center of any changes.
The Knicks are currently the fourth seed in the East, just ahead of the Magic.
If the playoffs kicked off today, the Knicks and Magic would be playing against each other.
Clearly, Orlando will have to get better if they wish to take them down in a seven-game series.
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