2024 NBA Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic – The one of the most interesting first round NBA Playoffs series.
Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers – H2H
This will only be the second time these two teams meet outside the regular season. The last time was back in 2009 when they had their first and only playoff series. Back then, the Cavs were led by LeBron James and managed to win only two games as the Orlando Magic proved to be a formidable opponent.
The young Cleveland team put up a great fight, with the losses being very close, indicating that they were on par but lacked the experience to potentially advance further. For instance, the first game ended by 107:106 in favor of the Orlando Magic, while the fourth game went into overtime, with the Florida team winning by 116:114.
It’s clear that none of the players from those squads are part of their teams today. The main star for the Orlando Magic back then was Dwight Howard, who dominated in those games. Alongside him was the legendary Hedo Turkoglu.
This season head-to-head
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic – 121:111
- Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers – 104:94
- Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers – 99:126
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic – 109:116
Orlando Magic Strenghts and Weaknesses
- Strenghts – The Cleveland Cavaliers boast a significant number of quality individuals in their team. This is primarily evident in Donovan Mitchell, who is having yet another phenomenal season. Alongside him, the Cavaliers rely heavily on Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, who has shown that he can be one of the best big men in the entire league. Additionally, the advantage of home court is a crucial factor for them, considering they have a 63% success rate at home this season.
- Weaknesses – Regardless of having very good frontcourt players, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to improve their rebounding. This is especially crucial considering the period after the All-Star break, where they are averaging five fewer rebounds per game. Additionally, one of the biggest issues throughout the season has been the team’s inconsistency, particularly in shooting, which has varied significantly. For example, in games where they suffered losses, the team made three fewer three-pointers per game.
Orlando Magic Strenghts and Weaknesses
- Strenghts – Orlando Magic’s greatest advantage lies in their defense. They are an exceptionally strong defensive team, ranking third in the league with a defensive rating of 110.8. This speaks volumes about their aggressiveness, a characteristic amplified by their young roster led by Paolo Banchero. Despite Banchero being the team’s star, the Orlando Magic prioritizes team basketball, with contributions also coming from brothers Franz and Mo Wagner, as well as Jalen Suggs. Additionally, their rebounding prowess is notable, as they rank fourth in the league in rebounding percentage.
- Weaknesses – As good as the defense is a significant part of the Orlando Magic’s game, problems arise on the other half of the court. The offense is something that will definitely need to improve if they want to have any chance in this series. The team, ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, holds only the 22nd place in offensive rating with just 112.9 points per 100 possessions.
X-factor: Donovan Mitchell’s superior talent
We emphasized that both teams prioritize team basketball, with defense taking the forefront. Consequently, the key to this series could lie in the individual offensive quality of one of the players.
In such a scenario, someone who is expected to be the X factor is Donovan Mitchell. In moments when the Cleveland Cavaliers were without many players due to injury, he took responsibility and led the team to several consecutive victories. Over the years with the Utah Jazz, he has demonstrated a rich offensive repertoire, and games like these could be ideal for him.
He has played 44 playoff games in his career, averaging 27.8 points, five rebounds, and five assists in those matchups, showing his comfort with the pressure of big games.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic: Three things to watch
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Paolo Banchero vs Evan Mobley: A duel that could be extremely important given the offensive potential of Paolo Banchero. The Orlando Magic’s superstar leads the team in all categories, but he will now face Evan Mobley. Mobley has evolved over the years into an elite defender, but injuries have so far prevented him from making another step forward. If Mobley manages to limit Banchero’s impact as much as possible, the Cavaliers will be in an excellent position.
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Cleveland Cavaliers’ Injury Report: This will be one of the key factors in this series. The Cleveland Cavaliers have had significant injury problems this season, with their top three players missing a combined 60 games. This is supported by the fact that in none of the four mentioned games against the Orlando Magic was the team at full strength.
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic Prediction
This will be one of the most intriguing matchups of the first round in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses but have shown throughout the season that they represent the future of the league in their own ways. The potential issue for the Orlando Magic in these games could be their lack of experience, as for many, this will be their first game at this level.
On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers should have the upper hand on paper. Despite facing an exceptional defensive team, they have home-court advantage, more experience, and a leader who has already made clutch plays at this level.
However, it’s realistic to expect at least six games in this series. Many analysts believe that the decisive game for advancing to the next round will be the seventh match, which is far from unrealistic. Our slight edge goes to the Cleveland Cavaliers, primarily due to their experience and the fact that everyone should be healthy at this point.
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers in seven