The Orlando Magic are in a good mood after their victory in Game 1. However, this is also at the expense of Moritz Wagner, who is currently out of the rotation. The German now spoke about his feelings in his podcast.
The 28-year-old was last allowed to play just five minutes in the play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets, when the game had already been decided in the Magic’s favor. In the playoff opener, however, the international had to watch 48 minutes again. Coach Jamahl Mosley opted for a clear rotation of nine players, there was no room for Wagner.
“Of course I’m totally frustrated and I don’t pretend that it doesn’t annoy me,” Wagner said in his podcast Can’t you say that? “I’m an athlete and it’s a disappointment every time. At the same time, I’ve been involved for eight years now and I don’t want to be the player who sits destructively in the corner.”
Instead, he remains ready in case Mosley does decide to use him. But part of everyday life now is that he already has to play in the three-on-three of the reserves. Not an easy situation, as the 2023 world champion admits. That’s why he sets himself small goals to improve and motivate himself. “You need a certain maturity for that and have to be up for it, otherwise it’s all for nothing.”
Wagner on the change of mood in Orlando
At the same time, after the games against Charlotte and Detroit, there is no reason for Mosley to change anything after the season was almost over following the defeats in Boston and Philadelphia. Wagner also admits this. “I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought about the fact that we were going on vacation. And then we played by far our best game of the season against Charlotte.”
Before that game, there was frustration and some emotional discussions among the players. Now, however, the mood is good again and they were able to benefit from the fact that they were in rhythm in Game 1 in Detroit, while the Pistons had to wait almost a week for their opponent.
This gives Wagner a completely new feeling, as the big man has never led his team in a series once in his career. Whether it stays that way will be seen on Thursday night when the Magic face the Detroit Pistons again in Game 2.
