2023-24 Season | Playoff series #1 | Cavaliers vs. Magic |

[2 For The Brew]

So I work remotely since March 12, 2020, allowing me a lot of flexibility. But this weekend my job sent me on business to Dallas and I'll be in a meeting/conference the entire game until just after it ends. I'll be in the middle of the room (long story short) taking notes and highly visible (almost on display, with clients all around), so I can't even check the scores and stats. Going to be brutal.

I think I'll have to let the Cavs app give me the score on my lock screen (and turn off all notifications) so that I can at least see the score update. But of coruse it'll distract me. But if I don't know anything I'll be even more distracted.

All that being said, I bought a ticket to game 2. Sunday road trip from NJ, will stay in Cleveland until Tuesday night.

I was in Germany for the other Magic series Game 1. Woke up next morning to find out they lost by 1. Went to Game 2 and LeBron’s shot to win it.

 

[buzzdog]

Not because of that historical precedent - but I'm less scared of Boston than I probably should be. And more scared of Orlando than I probably should be.

Best case scenario, the Cavs get in a groove against Orlando in a 6 or less game series with a little adversity but not too much. Because the Cavs finished the regular season so poorly, I like that they got the Magic matchup as I think they are the best shot as a team to get into a groove against.

If Wade gets healthy for the Celts then anything is possible, as we all know Dean Wade is the Celtic Slayer.

 

[eChameleon]

Throwing it back old school for game 1.

 

[redruM]

I just can’t see this being an overly competitive series. Cavs are too deep. Cavs in 5

Why not Cavs in 3?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Cavs series victory: 50.46%
Magic series victory 49.83%

This predicts a long series, with the Cavs most likely winning in the end. I don't know if I agree with my own predictions!

That doesn't add up to 100%. I don't agree, either.

 

[Pierre Pan]

CPJ and Wade are officially listed as OUT, along with Ty Jerome, of course. It’s really difficult to believe that not one of our beat reporters even once mentioned CPJ’s injury status. In New York or LA, that would never happen

 

[Futuredome]

The beginning of the end???? Or end of the beginning. 7:30 hours we will begin to find out.

 

[ice cream man]

“One Goal.”
“All for one, one for all.”
“Let em know.”
“Major changes this summer.”

 

[Mr. Orange]

Throwing it back old school for game 1.

2009?!?? Why would you do this

 

[catfish]

CPJ and Wade are officially listed as OUT, along with Ty Jerome, of course. It’s really difficult to believe that not one of our beat reporters even once mentioned CPJ’s injury status. In New York or LA, that would never happen

That is where you are wrong by assuming we have beat reporters.

 

[ClevelandOwnz]

That is where you are wrong by assuming we have beat reporters.

We have mouthpieces for the Cavs and podcast goons. How the mighty have fallen from what we once had.

 

[eChameleon]

2009?!?? Why would you do this

Time to exorcise some demons.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Fedor chimes in with a couple more stats.

The Cavs allowed the lowest percentage of opponent shots in the paint. They were third in 2-point percentage defense. Meanwhile, the Magic were 28th in effective field goal percentage outside the paint.

Like I said in the preview, the Magic do not have a balanced offense. Outside the paint, only two teams shot worse and the Cavs' defense is third best in the paint. One of the Magic's wins was mostly due to an abnormally good 3-point shooting night; 14-for-25.

Orlando was 5-10 against top-six defenses, averaging 104.4 points, compared to 42-25 at 111.9 points against all other opponents. Cleveland’s defense ranked sixth this season.

If the Magic average 104 points this series I like the Cavs' chances a lot.

It’s also fair to wonder if the mucky Magic offense, which failed to hit the century mark 14 different times, will look even worse with an expected playoff whistle. Orlando ranked top five in fouls drawn per game, free-throw attempts per game (24.5) and free-throw rate during the regular season. It shot 27.5 free throws per game against Cleveland this season.

Great observation that I overlooked. The Magic are not good shooters so they depend on getting points at the foul line. If the refs let more contact go in the playoffs that will affect the Magic more than the Cavs.

Is Darius Garland, after a tumultuous regular season, ready to be the offensive running mate Mitchell needs? Will he value possessions against a Magic team that feasts on turnovers and transition opportunities?

I'm hoping that Garland's "tumultuous" regular season was due to having to come back from two injuries; the hammy at the start of the season and then the broken jaw. He seems 100% now. In his last six games he's made just under 44% of his 3's and averaged 3.0 turnovers in 34 minutes. He said, "We want all the smoke", so it appears he is ready. The key will be to limit turnovers and knock down the 3-point opportunities that come to him in the flow of the offense.

What he needs to avoid is excessive dribbling leading to a turnover or blocked layup attempt. The Magic are so long and so adept at getting steals that Garland especially needs to "value possessions" and to avoid risky passes into tight windows, or getting himself in among the trees where he doesn't have a shot or a clean pass.

Even with the many questions, there’s a sense of confidence around this team — and with good reason. Unlike last April, this is a favorable matchup.

It should be a feisty, hard-fought, competitive battle...Orlando’s size will be a challenge. The pressure is on Cleveland. There’s not a huge margin for error. But the Magic aren’t yet ready for this stage. Springtime experience and shooting — two components added during a summer spending spree — will be the difference.

Both teams are very strong defensively but the Cavs are the better 3-point team and they also have the best player and home court advantage so I'm optimistic that will carry them through. The Magic are below .500 on the road and average just 104 ppg against the better defensive teams.

My concern is if the Cavs' big men get in foul trouble. They need to avoid reaching in and slapping at the ball. Also, the Cavs tend to go into shooting slumps where they go 5-6 minutes without a field goal. It's contagious and it usually happens right when the opponent gets hot. Suddenly a 26-point lead evaporates, like in the recent loss to the Clippers.

 

[The Oi]

Settle your nerves with this series preview from @RchfldCavRaised and I.


We also talked Fleetwood Mac and Sublime vinyl recs.

We covered Greg Ostertag and Desagana Diop and the other oafs of NBA history and much more.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Settle your nerves with this series preview from @RchfldCavRaised and I.


We also talked Fleetwood Mac and Sublime vinyl recs.

We covered Greg Ostertag and Desagana Diop and the other oafs of NBA history and much more.

Adding Oafs to the episode thread! Good call