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After a day off and a fairly impressive 28-point win over the 76ers the Cavs host the 5-17 Orlando Magic. This is a game between a team that is 9-1 at home versus a team that is 1-9 on the road. I don’t know if I need any more numbers than that - on paper this should be the easiest game on the schedule.
In Game #4 the Cavs beat the Magic in Cleveland 103-92. Paolo Banchero, this year’s #1 overall pick, scored 29 and Franz Wagner added 22. The Magic’s talented young forward duo combined for 51 of the team’s 92 points in a 103-92 loss. Darius Garland was out for the Cavs. The Magic put up a good battle, trailing by just four points after three quarters.
The Magic have lost six in a row and 8 of 9. Starting center Wendell Carter Jr is out. Carter averages 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds so his loss is significant. Backup center Mo Bamba is a game time decision.
Banchero, 6’10”, 250, is averaging nearly 23 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie season on 46% from the floor but only 27% on 3’s. Wagner, the 8th pick in 2021, is also 6’10” and averages 19.6 points on 50% overall and 32% from deep.
The Magic have a lot of youth, length, and offensive talent at the forward positions and these guys are the core they will build around.
Bol Bol has been coming on lately as well. The 7’2” fourth year pro is having a breakout season, shooting 55.6% from the field and and amazing 41% on 3’s in 27 minutes per game. He’s been inconsistent, however. In November he had games where he scored 22, 23, 24, and 26 points but other games of 4, 6, 6, 9, and 9 points. Against the Cavs in October he was effective with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. He’s making 66% of his 2-point shots.
Potentially the Magic could have the best front line in the NBA in a year or two if Bol continues to develop. If Allen were healthy this would be an interesting matchup of the front lines; Allen, Mobley, and Wade against Bol, Banchero, and Wagner. Maybe we'll see it in one of the games in Orlando.
Their top two shooting guards, Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs, are out. If Mo Bamba can’t go the Magic will be missing 52 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists with Carter, Bamba, Harris, and Suggs not available. That’s a huge bite out of a floundering offense that ranks 28th in scoring.
The Magic average 108.3 points per game but just 103.9 on the road. They rank 17th in points in the paint and 24th in percent of point on 3’s, so they are more of an inside team, which you’d expect with all that height. The Magic have two 6’10” forwards and a 7’2” center, all with offensive skills. With Allen out the Cavs will be challenged to contain their front line. If Bol gets hot from outside, look out.
PG Markelle Fultz, the 2017 #1 overall pick, gets his second start after missing the first 21 games. In his first four seasons he’s only played in more than 19 games once and he’s already missed a quarter of this year. For his career he’s shooting 45% overall and 26% on 3’s with 11 points and 5 assists in 25 minutes per game.
It appears the Magic are well on their way to another top three pick this year. I think they have a bright future.
The Magic are 9th in 2-point percentage and 22nd in 3-point percentage so they’re more effective at the rim. They get fouled a lot, ranking 9th in free throw attempts per game. The are last in the NBA in assists so it appears they just take turns going one-on-one and attacking the rim. They rank 28th in turnover percentage which explains why they’re only 28th in scoring despite being 9th in 2-point percentage and getting to the foul line a lot.
Defensively, they’re a little below average, ranking 19th in scoring defense. They’re 26th in fast break points allowed which you would expect since they commit so many turnovers. The Cavs should be able to get some easy transition points like they did against Philly.
The Magic defend the perimeter well, ranking 7th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. They have a lot of length to contest those shots. But they rank last in 2-point percentage which tells me you can get to the rim on them, especially when they commit turnovers. They are second to last on steals per play, so you can get shots up.
Assuming Bol plays a lot of minutes with Carter and Bamba out, blocked shots become more of an issue.
The Magic played the Cavs almost evenly for three quarters in October before losing 30-23 in the 4th, but this time the Cavs have Garland while the Magic will be missing Carter, Harris, Suggs, and possibly Bamba. They are 1-9 on the road while we are 9-1 at home, and those are probably the only numbers that matter.
In Game #4 the Cavs beat the Magic in Cleveland 103-92. Paolo Banchero, this year’s #1 overall pick, scored 29 and Franz Wagner added 22. The Magic’s talented young forward duo combined for 51 of the team’s 92 points in a 103-92 loss. Darius Garland was out for the Cavs. The Magic put up a good battle, trailing by just four points after three quarters.
The Magic have lost six in a row and 8 of 9. Starting center Wendell Carter Jr is out. Carter averages 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds so his loss is significant. Backup center Mo Bamba is a game time decision.
Banchero, 6’10”, 250, is averaging nearly 23 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie season on 46% from the floor but only 27% on 3’s. Wagner, the 8th pick in 2021, is also 6’10” and averages 19.6 points on 50% overall and 32% from deep.
The Magic have a lot of youth, length, and offensive talent at the forward positions and these guys are the core they will build around.
Bol Bol has been coming on lately as well. The 7’2” fourth year pro is having a breakout season, shooting 55.6% from the field and and amazing 41% on 3’s in 27 minutes per game. He’s been inconsistent, however. In November he had games where he scored 22, 23, 24, and 26 points but other games of 4, 6, 6, 9, and 9 points. Against the Cavs in October he was effective with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. He’s making 66% of his 2-point shots.
Potentially the Magic could have the best front line in the NBA in a year or two if Bol continues to develop. If Allen were healthy this would be an interesting matchup of the front lines; Allen, Mobley, and Wade against Bol, Banchero, and Wagner. Maybe we'll see it in one of the games in Orlando.
Their top two shooting guards, Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs, are out. If Mo Bamba can’t go the Magic will be missing 52 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists with Carter, Bamba, Harris, and Suggs not available. That’s a huge bite out of a floundering offense that ranks 28th in scoring.
The Magic average 108.3 points per game but just 103.9 on the road. They rank 17th in points in the paint and 24th in percent of point on 3’s, so they are more of an inside team, which you’d expect with all that height. The Magic have two 6’10” forwards and a 7’2” center, all with offensive skills. With Allen out the Cavs will be challenged to contain their front line. If Bol gets hot from outside, look out.
PG Markelle Fultz, the 2017 #1 overall pick, gets his second start after missing the first 21 games. In his first four seasons he’s only played in more than 19 games once and he’s already missed a quarter of this year. For his career he’s shooting 45% overall and 26% on 3’s with 11 points and 5 assists in 25 minutes per game.
It appears the Magic are well on their way to another top three pick this year. I think they have a bright future.
The Magic are 9th in 2-point percentage and 22nd in 3-point percentage so they’re more effective at the rim. They get fouled a lot, ranking 9th in free throw attempts per game. The are last in the NBA in assists so it appears they just take turns going one-on-one and attacking the rim. They rank 28th in turnover percentage which explains why they’re only 28th in scoring despite being 9th in 2-point percentage and getting to the foul line a lot.
Defensively, they’re a little below average, ranking 19th in scoring defense. They’re 26th in fast break points allowed which you would expect since they commit so many turnovers. The Cavs should be able to get some easy transition points like they did against Philly.
The Magic defend the perimeter well, ranking 7th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. They have a lot of length to contest those shots. But they rank last in 2-point percentage which tells me you can get to the rim on them, especially when they commit turnovers. They are second to last on steals per play, so you can get shots up.
Assuming Bol plays a lot of minutes with Carter and Bamba out, blocked shots become more of an issue.
The Magic played the Cavs almost evenly for three quarters in October before losing 30-23 in the 4th, but this time the Cavs have Garland while the Magic will be missing Carter, Harris, Suggs, and possibly Bamba. They are 1-9 on the road while we are 9-1 at home, and those are probably the only numbers that matter.
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