The Athletic NBA Daily Knicks and Magic advance to NBA Cup Semifinals
Dec 10, 2025
Wes Goldberg, an NBA reporter and featured voice on Locked On Heat, shares insights on Desmond Bane's explosive performance and its impact on Orlando's offense, raising questions about Miami's struggle with shooting. Meanwhile, Esfandiar Baraheni reports from Toronto, detailing the Knicks' dominant victory over the Raptors, highlighting Jalen Brunson's early scoring surge. Their discussion hints at the Knicks' potential as Eastern Conference contenders, bolstered by OG Anunoby's defensive presence.
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Magic's Physical Identity Fuels Offense
- The Orlando Magic rebuilt around physicality and defense to power their offense and beat Miami in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
- Desmond Bane provides a new secondary offensive creator who relieves dependence on Paolo and Franz.
Bane Changes Orlando's Geometry
- Desmond Bane's shooting and pick-and-roll play create spacing and scoring bursts that force defenses to scramble.
- His fourth-quarter explosion against Miami highlighted his ability to close games as a microwave scorer.
Heat's Pace Is Fun But Risky
- Miami's pace-first approach creates excitement and offense but can produce poor shot selection and cold stretches.
- Eric Spoelstra can adjust with slower pick-and-roll sets if the Heat need to control games differently.