NBA 2024-25: it takes place at the Amway Center in Orlando Magic-Pistons, two franchises that in recent years have found themselves in the lower areas of the table, but which this season come to this match as the 4th and 6th forces in the Eastern Conference.
Magic-Pistons: the comparison between the two teams
Orlando Magic [9-7]: even without Banchero there team goes
Already last season the Orlando Magic had shown great results signs of growthwith a solid and united group capable of even reaching the Play-Offs.
Great credit certainly goes to the management, capable of building a young but competitive team, to coach Jamal Mosley, but above all to the arrival in Florida of Paolo Banchero. The young basketball player of Italian origins has grown from his first year as a rookie to his third year in the league.
The season of the definitive explosion of Banchero seemed to have arrived, with Paolo having collected some in his first 5 races of the season impressive averages: 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Then, however, theinjury. In fact, last October 31st, the Magic announced Banchero’s unavailability for one tear in the right oblique ligament.
Stop at 4-6 weekscon l’ex Duke who announced that he wanted to try to return to the field before Christmas. The serious loss of the team’s star could have weighed like a boulder for the Magic, and instead the team seems not to have been affected.
After 4 consecutive defeats in which Mosley tried to rotate several players and mix the cards on the table, he seems to have found the right squareobtaining 6 consecutive victories with the streak interrupted only in the last match, lost against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Great credit must be given to Franz Wagnerwho took the role of team leader on his shoulders. But also the “gregarious” like Suggs, Caldwell-Pope, Black e Bitadze they played perfect defensive basketball. Watch out for these Magic players who could really give anyone a hard time with Banchero’s return.
Detroit Pistons [7-9]: the surprise of this season
If there is a team playing a season far above expectations at the beginning of the year they are without a shadow of a doubt i Detroit Pistons.
After 16 races played, they are already there 7 victories for JB Bickerstaff’s men, who is doing an excellent job as the team’s new coach. Just think about that throughout the past season total victories they have barely been 14with the very last place in the Eastern Conference.
The former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers he brought great experience and above all defensive solidity: the Pistons in fact have the 9th best defense in the league with 110.9 points allowed on average. Certainly not impressive numbers, but if compared to those of previous seasons one would struggle to believe such exponential growth.
The cover man is Cade Cunninghamwho seems to have finally put his physical problems aside and is ready to take a place in the club of the league’s stars. With 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game he is the leader del teamshowing a consistency that only those born to play this sport can have. I already am 8 double doubles and 4 triple doubles put on the scoresheet this season for the first overall pick of Draft NBA 2021.
These Pistons also make staff their strong point, with people like Beasley, Fontecchio and Stewart who are proving to be real extra weapons coming off the bench.
Nobody knows where they will get to, but one thing is certain: they will take care of it Bickerstaff will continue in this direction Detroit’s future is in very good hands.
The match prediction
The challenge between Magic-Pistons sees two teams facing each other who find themselves in the medium-high positions of the Eastern table. Orlando he certainly comes into the match in better shape, having won 6 of the last 7 games played. The Pistons, on the other hand, are not managing to find continuity in victories, alternating them with defeats.
The team of Mosley it is certainly the best equipped and structured and despite the absence of Banker he’s proving he can win anyway. Furthermore within friendly walls the Magic have a record of 7 wins out of 7 games played. L’Amway Center it’s a real fort. This is why for this match I would recommend Orlando’s head-to-head victory, even with a few unfavorable point spreads (-2.5/3.5).
A curious fact: the last 6 precedents between Magic-Pistons they were all won by the Florida team, which proved to still be a few steps above its opponents.
