Franz Wagner was superb in Game 4 and he appears to be hitting his stride right when the Orlando Magic need it in the NBA playoffs. Emmet Ryan on the German star and his ever expressive brother, the joy of life that is Moe Wagner
It took a half for Franz Wagner to get truly comfortable on Saturday. Once he did, the Orlando Magic looked like world beaters as they dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their NBA Playoffs battle. He got a little bit of an energy boost from his brother Moe.
Finding the right key
The first half of the game was not exactly sexy basketball. This was a dogged brawl yet with nothing compelling to it. Both the Orlando Magic nor the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like sides trying to sort out kinks the way a team does in a season opener. Franz Wagner, efficient as he was, wasn’t immune to this.
The issue really was in embracing himself. It was like all of the players, Franz included, had been sucked into needing everything to be tight. There was a moment in the second quarter where he actually had real space and looked perplexed as to what to do with it.
The aid to Orlando during that time was in Moe Wagner. While the elder brother hardly logged heavy first half minutes, he was still reliable at the one thing he does better than anyone in the NBA. Being a wild person. Everything he half-did got a reaction from Moe like it was a big play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. That’s not a criticism. The Magic needed someone to give them a psychological boot in the rear. Moe succeeded in doing just that.
It took just one run
Those only checking the final score would be forgiven for thinking that the Magic made light work of this. If only. That dreadful first half showed how easily Orlando can be dragged out of their groove. Franz Wagner showed how effective they can be once in it.
The Magic dominated the front side of the third quarter. Well, they dominated the whole third quarter but the front side effectively decided the result. Franz led a superb run where the Cavs were made to look irrelevant in all departments as a game that was in the balance was over as a contest in a matter of minutes.
This was Franz set free. He has grown to enjoy being in more physical battles over the last couple of years. Still, his best basketball comes when he makes it oh so difficult for anyone to lay a hand on him. Wagner weaved and danced around the open space inside the arc before deciding what to do. Defenders felt the need to stand off of him because of the speed at which options were opening up for him to work with. This was the rhythm the good version of the Orlando Magic deliver like few others. It leads to moments like this:
https://t.co/BW23Tppmdl pic.twitter.com/QwzZDkGfb4
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 27, 2024
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Improving as he goes
Efficiency has been at the heart of the step up in quality by Franz Wagner over the last 12 months. That’s been visible for both the Germany national team and the Orlando Magic. The start of this NBA Playoffs series didn’t exactly go well for Franz.
The fear with such ropey shooting is that a player overcompensates, in either direction. The obvious worry that they keep going back to the well too often gets the most attention. When a player defers more than they should, it can easily be just as big an issue. The numbers show that the younger Wagner brother didn’t let that get to him.
Game 3 saw a return to the more clinical side of his game without Franz getting too conservative with his shot. This Game 4 display brought that blend Orlando needs to see. He leaned in when he had the hot hand yet still moved the ball well. That final line of 34 points on a ludicrous 76.5 FG% was nice. The 13 rebounds and 4 assists were as well. Yet it was that he did all of that with 0 turnovers which jumped off the box score.
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A bit of appreciation for Moe Wagner
Of course a site run by someone who loves to get the beers in is going to enjoy party animal Moe Wagner. He’s got the vibes that all pintmen love to see when watching a game. Moe Wagner is so much more than a character.
First, the fun bits. There was, of course, this dunk:
OH MY GOODNESS, MO WAGNER pic.twitter.com/xNBNEow2NN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 27, 2024
Which is the type of move you expect from a man with reactions like this:
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 27, 2024
Yet, underneath it all, is a clear engine that is vital to the Orlando Magic. Moe Wagner gets what Franz can do like few others. The elder brother can help guide Franz while still also contributing significantly on the floor. With fewer minutes for him in the playoffs, Moe is making each of them count.
More to come?
With the series returning to Cleveland for Game 5, the dynamic of Franz and Moe Wagner is one to watch. The Orlando Magic won’t have the home crowd to lean on to bring them out of a funk in that. They need their players, on what is a young roster, to show they can raise themselves on the road in the NBA Playoffs.
Franz Wagner has the potential to be a huge difference maker at this level. He was such a difference maker in Game 4. The guys that win rings are that player on a regular basis. He’s rising nicely but don’t underestimate the on-court chemistry with Moe. Big brother could be a big factor in getting the most out of the young star.
