Magic Take Commanding 3–1 Lead Over Pistons

(AP Photo/Howard Lao)

After barely escaping the Play-In Tournament, the Orlando Magic are one win away from upsetting the 1 seed Detroit Pistons. 

Inside Detroit’s Struggles: What’s Going Wrong? 

After a 60-win regular season, Detroit entered the playoffs with confidence and clear momentum. Cade Cunningham was coming off the most productive season of his career, averaging 23.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Jalen Duren continued his development, posting near 20-point double-double averages throughout the season. Given that success, Detroit’s current 3–1 deficit to the 8-seeded Orlando Magic raises serious questions. There are several factors contributing to this unexpected outcome. 

The Magic have one of the biggest starting lineups in the NBA. All starters are above 6'5", with Banchero, Wagner, and Carter Jr. being 6'10". The NBA Playoffs always come down to matchups, and the Magic match up really well with the Pistons on both ends. Neither team has shot the ball particularly well this series, but all the starters on the Magic can get you a bucket when needed. 

Detroit is relying on Cade Cunningham to do everything for this offense. When the Pistons need a basket, they go directly to Cunningham given his skillset. However, when Cunningham's shots aren't falling, the Pistons seem to fall apart on the offensive end. Wendell Carter Jr. has done a great job on Jalen Duren, resulting in Duren's increase in turnovers, lower field goal percentage, and foul trouble. 

Detroit doesn't have the options that Orlando has on the offensive end, which is resulting in the Pistons crumbling in crunch time when Cunningham is getting doubled or shots aren't falling.

Why the Magic Are Finding Success 

When the Magic traded for Desmond Bane using four first-round picks, fans speculated that this was an overpay. However, in this series Bane has been a force on both ends. Bane has averaged close to 20 points per game in this series, with 2 games scoring 25 points. Paolo Banchero has been a force for the Magic on the boards and distributing but is only shooting at a 37% clip this series. Bane has helped the Magic with consistent scoring and on-ball defense. 

Wendell Carter Jr. has been the unsung hero for the Magic in this series, despite great efforts from Banchero and Bane. Carter Jr. is averaging an 11-point double-double this series as the 5th option for the Magic. While Carter Jr. has been phenomenal on offense, it is his defense on All-Star Jalen Duren that has changed this series. Duren has been completely taken out of this series, averaging less than 10 points per game this entire series. The Cunningham/Duren pick-and-roll was one of the most effective plays in the NBA this season, but the Magic have made it really hard for both of them to be effective. 

If this series has proven anything, it’s that momentum means nothing without execution—and the Magic have mastered both.

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