Pistons Coach Monty Williams Praises Magic Star Franz Wagner
The Orlando Magic was able to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-99 in its last game, and it was due in no small part to the outstanding play of forward Franz Wagner.
The 22-year-old had a career night, and was able to run the pick-and-roll to deadly effect many times. Pistons head coach Monty Williams recognized the potential that Wagner has and talked more about what makes the young forward dangerous in his postgame interview.
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"He's big," Williams said. "When you have a 6-9 guy that can run pick-and-roll, he can see the floor. Smaller guys, when you put bigger guys on them, they have to create some distance to see the floor."
Wagner finished the game with 38 points, matching his career-high that he set in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks in his rookie season. Williams cites Wagner's euro-step as one of the other factors that makes the third-year forward so hard to stay in front of.
"He's got a big euro-step," Williams said. "He's pretty good at euro-stepping around the shield at the rim... He starts on one sound and ends on the other, because he euro-steps around the help, so you are almost better off switching with him just to keep the ball in front... He's a pretty efficient pick-and-roll player because of his size and he has a good feel."
If Wagner can continue to use his size and skill at the small forward position to his advantage, he cold continue to improve like he has over the course of his first three seasons, and maybe even going Paolo Banchero in the All-Star game next season.
Wagner and the rest of the Magic will be back in action on Tuesday against the Miami Heat. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Kaseya Center.
