Banchero is hurt again, and the Magic's experiment may be running out of time
Paolo Banchero is set to miss four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain, and the Magic, already 0-2, see the trio with Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, together for only 25 games over two seasons, interrupted once again.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
O Orlando draftou Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner e Paolo Banchero em três loterias consecutivas, depois empurrou Donovan Mitchell e o Cleveland para sete jogos em 2024 e, após arriscar tudo na troca por Desmond Bane, parecia um candidato no Leste.
Dois jogos na nova temporada e o quadro volta a oscilar. Banchero deve ficar de quatro a seis semanas fora por uma entorse alta do tornozelo na derrota de sexta-feira para o Minnesota.
Os números são brutais. Nas duas últimas temporadas, o trio Banchero-Wagner-Suggs jogou apenas 25 partidas junto. Wagner e Suggs ficaram de fora, somados, 73 jogos no ano passado, e na temporada anterior uma lesão no oblíquo custou 34 jogos a Banchero — justo quando ele se aproximava da volta, Wagner rompeu o dele e ficou seis semanas ausente.
Houve lampejos. O Orlando liderava por 3-1 na primeira rodada contra o Detroit, cabeça de chave, na primavera passada, antes de Wagner cair com uma lesão na panturrilha e o Pistons virar a série. Banchero havia aberto a temporada com 35 pontos e estava com quase 70% de aproveitamento nos arremessos antes da lesão.
As dúvidas sobre o encaixe continuam. Os dois alas são arremessadores irregulares, e a única forma de responder se funcionam juntos é vê-los saudáveis por um longo período — algo que não para de não acontecer.
A preocupação maior é a tabela. O Orlando está 0-2, e seis semanas sem Banchero em um Leste profundo podem significar cavar outro buraco só para entrar na conversa do play-in.
Esta deveria ser a temporada que resolveria a parceria Banchero-Wagner. O Magic não tem ativos para outro grande movimento, e trocar de técnico não resolve arremesso nem saúde. Se este ano der errado, as perguntas sobre o elenco ficam muito mais difíceis.
Read also
StandardBasqueteThunder pick up Sorber and McCain options, decline Topic's
The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised team options on Thomas Sorber and Jared McCain but declined Nikola Topic's, a move expected to save around $60m and, per Justin Martinez, not a verdict on the player.
Redação
StandardBasqueteBrusque and AMAB Mafra 1 take the Santa Catarina 3x3 basketball titles
Brusque won the men's title at the Santa Catarina 3x3 Basketball Championship and AMAB Mafra 1 took the women's crown by beating AMAB Mafra 2 at the Wilson Buch gym in Mafra. The fifth edition brought together 34 teams and 116 athletes in the finals.
Redação
StandardBasqueteMogi beat Nacional 82-71 to close Group E unbeaten and reach the Final Four
Mogi beat Uruguay's Nacional 82-71 to close out Group E of the South American Basketball League unbeaten, with six wins in six games. Dikembe André led the scoring with 16 points and eight rebounds; the Final Four is set for 5 and 6 December.
Redação
StandardBasqueteNets beat the Pacers 98-90 on the road
The Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers 98-90 on the road behind 23 points from Michael Porter Jr., who also grabbed 9 rebounds. Julius Randle added 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Andrew Nembhard matched 23 for Indiana.
Redação
StandardBasqueteNBA suspends Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings one game for elbow to McGowens' head
The NBA suspended Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings for one game after ruling he intentionally elbowed Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens in the head. He will miss Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers without pay and averages 7.1 points and 4.6 assists.
Redação
StandardBasqueteBrazil lose to Puerto Rico and finish fourth in the AmeriCup 3x3
Brazil lost 19-17 to Puerto Rico in the bronze-medal match and finished fourth at the AmeriCup 3x3 in San Salvador. The team had beaten Argentina 22-15 in the quarter-finals and lost 17-13 to the United States in the semi-finals, ending with two wins and three defeats.
Redação
StandardBasqueteCoby White set to make his season debut for the Hornets on Monday
Coby White will play for the first time this season for the Hornets on Monday against Detroit, having lost his preseason and almost the entire opening fortnight to a left calf strain. Charlotte sit at 3-4 despite being without both starting guards. White averages 15.6 points and 3.0 assists in 19.3 minutes a night.
Redação
StandardBasqueteSpanoulis: Obradovic is one of the greatest, and this is not a personal rivalry
Vassilis Spanoulis's Aris beat Panathinaikos 101-91 in Thessaloniki on matchday five of the Greek championship, giving the coach his first win over Zeljko Obradovic after losing both previous meetings while in charge of Monaco. Spanoulis called the Serb a legend of European basketball and denied any personal rivalry between them.
Redação