On an individual and workforce stage, Orlando Magic ahead Franz Wagner’s time with the German males’s nationwide basketball workforce throughout EuroBasket 2022 has been profitable.
Individually, Wagner has shined. With averages of 16.2 factors (53.6% taking pictures from the sector — 55.9% on 2s, 50% on 3s), 4 rebounds and 1.4 assists, Wagner has offered glimpses as to why German basketball magazine “BASKET” referred to him because the “Face of the New Generation.” The spotlight of his match play has been his 32-point, 8-rebound efficiency in a double-overtime win over Lithuania on Sept. 4.
As a workforce, Germany carried out higher within the group-stage video games than most anticipated, going 4-1 in Group B to qualify for the 16-team single-elimination knockout stage.
Germany performs Montenegro (midday on ESPN+) within the Round of 16 on Saturday in Berlin. The winner will play both Greece, led by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, or the Czech Republic within the quarterfinals. The match closing is scheduled for Sept. 18.
Here are takeaways of Wagner’s play forward of Saturday’s matchup:
The positives
On-ball scoring probabilities
Throughout his rookie season with the Magic, Wagner confirmed he might deal with extra tasks as a ballhandler. The similar has been the case with Germany.
Wagner, 21, isn’t being tasked with being the workforce’s main creator or playmaker. That’s been Dennis Schröder’s function.
But when appeared upon to create scoring alternatives for himself, Wagner persistently delivered in a wide range of methods — pick-and-roll because the ballhandler, in isolation as a driver and pull-up 3s, to call a number of.
Wagner has been significantly environment friendly when put in conditions to attain off motion, particularly coming off zipper screens — a reduce off a down display up the free throw line.
He’s proven better confidence in his handles, utilizing a number of dribble combos to create area. Wagner doesn’t want a number of room to create scoring alternatives, particularly on drives. His actions and timing of them are idiosyncratic, which might throw off a defender’s rhythm and provides Wagner all of the area he must create attractiveness for himself.
Wagner is affected person when attacking as a ballhandler, studying the protection and his defender to determine which transfer in his arsenal — crossovers, stutter steps, Euro steps — to deploy.
At 6-10 with a 7-foot-plus wingspan, Wagner has the dimensions to complete round defenders even when they’re in entrance of him. There have been a number of instances he took benefit of his size by totally extending his arms round or beneath his defender for finishes across the rim. He’s been environment friendly together with his floater towards drop defenses, an space he additionally thrived in as a rookie.
Wagner has been extra prepared to let it fly from past the arc with Germany — particularly off the dribble, an excellent counter towards drop defenses — taking 5.95 3s per 36 minutes in EuroBasket in comparison with 4 in his first season in Orlando. The FIBA 3-point line could also be nearer to the basket than the NBA’s, however Wagner has been a number of steps behind the arc for a lot of of his 3s.
He’s even blended in a good quantity of pull-up midrange jumpers, a shot he didn’t take a lot in 2021-22. He took simply 26 lengthy midrange pictures final season, which was 3% of his area purpose makes an attempt in response to Cleaning The Glass, making 8. Becoming extra snug with this shot will give Wagner one other instrument in his “bag” when defenses are in a drop — a typical protection to remove the rim.
Cutting/spacing
With Schröder being the lead creator and Germany having a number of ballhandling guards, Wagner’s offensive function has been much like his one with the Magic. He thrived as a cutter and spot-up shooter throughout his rookie season and that’s continued with Germany.
Wagner has an excellent sense of timing on his cuts, ready for the paint to open up and for his defender to lose observe of him when turning their head.
He’s fast and decisive together with his cuts, leaving defenders little time to get better.
Germany has leaned on small-ball lineups throughout essential moments in video games. Wagner makes these lineups work due to the area he creates when stationed within the nook as a shooter.
He made 43.9% (29 of 66) of his corners 3 in 2021-22 and 37.6% of his 3s (62 of 165) during which he shot with out taking a dribble. Both are good-to-great marks.
Wagner matches into a wide range of offensive methods and schemes due to his versatility. Like the Magic did final season, Germany leaning on Wagner’s plug-and-play expertise has been useful.
Defense
Wagner primarily has guarded gamers whose offensive tasks are spacing the ground within the nook, leaving him with alternatives to indicate his superior expertise as an off-ball defender.
He was a complicated rookie defender as a result of he is aware of the place to be on the ground, stays able to sink into the paint or soar out to the perimeter and covers floor nicely away from the ball.
Wagner’s block (0.7%) and steal (1.2%) percentages could also be on the decrease finish for a much bigger ahead however he is aware of easy methods to disrupt performs even when it doesn’t present up in a standard field rating.
He does nicely aiding the helper and retains his arms unfold out to shut off passing lanes. Wagner additionally makes game-changing highlight-worthy defensive performs.
On the ball, Wagner has been Germany’s greatest defender towards greater wings. He was the very best matchup towards Luka Dončić of their lone loss to Slovenia on Tuesday, although Germany switched many of the on-ball screens involving Dončić to maintain a defender in entrance of him.
Wagner’s time defending Dončić was additionally restricted as soon as he received into foul bother.
He is aware of easy methods to swipe the ball out of gamers’ palms and get all ball however generally fouls are referred to as anyway.
Wagner seems noticeably stronger in comparison with how he ended his rookie season, serving to him maintain his floor defensively after taking bumps. He does an excellent job of forcing defenders into assist.
Wagner has proven he can maintain his personal towards smaller ballhandlers, albeit with the extent of guard play in EuroBasket not being on the similar stage because the NBA on a game-to-game foundation.
Even when smaller guards create area towards him, Wagner makes use of his dimension and size nicely to cowl floor and contest their pictures. Wagner guarding smaller gamers might open up greater lineups for the Magic, who’ve a number of versatile and greater forwards who might share the ground.
Areas of enchancment
Finishing at rim
Like many rookies, ending underneath site visitors was an space of issue for Wagner.
He does nicely with attending to the rim however can battle as soon as he’s there. Wagner made 60% of his pictures inside 4 toes of the basket final season, a below-average mark for forwards, in response to Cleaning The Glass.
Efficiency on the rim is vital for any participant trying to make strides of their improvement, particularly wings who deal with the ball.
It may be simpler for defenders to contest and disrupt his pictures on the rim as a result of he doesn’t persistently create a major quantity of area on his drives.
Wagner is greater and stronger than he was, however to not the purpose he’s bumping greater defenses off their spots.
He admitted getting faster, stronger and dealing with contact higher have been areas he needed to work on throughout the offseason. While it’s evident he’s made enhancements in these areas, extra may be made.
Screen navigation
If there’s one defensive space Wagner can enhance at, it’s navigating round screens.
This usually may be troublesome for greater wings as a result of they’re a much bigger goal.
He’s sturdy sufficient for an excellent display to not throw him off his path and large enough to nonetheless contest a shot after getting hit by an excellent display. But that sliver of area may be the distinction between an excellent and dangerous shot allowed.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com