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Three games to go and the Cavs lead the Knicks by three games. With the Knicks owning the tiebreaker and likely to win their last three the Cavs need one more win to clinch the home court advantage. They play in Orlando tonight and Thursday then finish at home against Charlotte. The Cavs are 2-0 against the Magic but the most recent game was Dec. 2 so it’s been four months since these teams met.
The Magic started the season 5-20 but have since gone 29-24. They have really turned it around and are 20-19 at home. The Cavaliers are 18-21 on the road so these games will not be easy. The Magic have been all but eliminated from play-in contention.
The Magic are young and big. Their front line are all 6’10”. C Wendall Carter Jr averages 16 points and 9 rebounds, SF Franz Wagner averages 19 and 4, and this year’s #1 pick Paolo Banchero averages 20 and 7. Banchero is expected to be named Rookie of the Year, but he’s only shooting 43% overall and 30% on 3’s.
The guards are Markelle Fultz at 14 points and 6 assists and Gary Harris, averaging 8 points per game. Guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs come off the bench to contribute 13 and 10 points, while 7’2” Bol Bol averages 9 points.
The Magic average 112 points per game on the season (26th) but at home they average 115.0 and in March 116.5. They just keep getting better. They have won four of their last five with the one loss being on the road against Memphis.
In two games against the Cavs early in the season they averaged 94 points per game, but they’re a much better team now.
The Magic are not good shooters, ranking 23rd in effective field goal percentage and 24th in 3-point percentage. They don’t shoot a lot of 3’s, ranking 24th in 3-rate. They take an above average number of shots at the rim and mid-range. They’re solid at the rim (11th in accuracy) but not so much on the mid-range shots (26th).
They play at a fairly slow pace (23rd in field goal attempts and 21st in fast break points) and don’t pass much (27th in assists). It looks like they try to isolate their bigs on a smaller defender and let them take the shot.
They turn it over a lot (24th) and despite all that height they are average on the offensive glass. The main thing is to keep them from getting to the rim since in terms of accuracy they are well below average both on mid-range and 3-point shots.
They draw a lot of fouls, ranking 6th in free throw attempts per game.
If Allen guards Carter and Mobley takes Banchero that leaves Wade, Stevens, Cedi, or LeVert to guard Wagner. I’m fine with Wade and maybe Stevens.
Defensively the Magic are better, ranking 17th in points allowed per game. The last two weeks they are 3rd in scoring defense according to cleaningtheglass.com. They defend the 3-point shot very well (6th in opponents’ percentage) and opponents shoot a lot of them, probably trying to avoid taking it to the rim against three 6’10” defenders.
But the Magic rank 28th in defending the rim, 14th in the mid-range, and 6th against 3’s, so the numbers say take it to the hole. Banchero and Wagner are tall but they’re not leapers. In fact, their three starting bigs average a combined 1.3 blocks per game in 96 minutes of action.
The Magic are near the top at defending 3’s and third worst at the rim, so the scouting report is clear - attack the rim.
Jarrett Allen is averaging 18 points and 16 rebounds against the Magic this year on 64% shooting and Evan Mobley is at 19.5 and 8 on 72%. I would feed the bigs, especially off dribble penetration.
Isaac Okoro is still out for the Cavs.
The Magic started the season 5-20 but have since gone 29-24. They have really turned it around and are 20-19 at home. The Cavaliers are 18-21 on the road so these games will not be easy. The Magic have been all but eliminated from play-in contention.
The Magic are young and big. Their front line are all 6’10”. C Wendall Carter Jr averages 16 points and 9 rebounds, SF Franz Wagner averages 19 and 4, and this year’s #1 pick Paolo Banchero averages 20 and 7. Banchero is expected to be named Rookie of the Year, but he’s only shooting 43% overall and 30% on 3’s.
The guards are Markelle Fultz at 14 points and 6 assists and Gary Harris, averaging 8 points per game. Guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs come off the bench to contribute 13 and 10 points, while 7’2” Bol Bol averages 9 points.
The Magic average 112 points per game on the season (26th) but at home they average 115.0 and in March 116.5. They just keep getting better. They have won four of their last five with the one loss being on the road against Memphis.
In two games against the Cavs early in the season they averaged 94 points per game, but they’re a much better team now.
The Magic are not good shooters, ranking 23rd in effective field goal percentage and 24th in 3-point percentage. They don’t shoot a lot of 3’s, ranking 24th in 3-rate. They take an above average number of shots at the rim and mid-range. They’re solid at the rim (11th in accuracy) but not so much on the mid-range shots (26th).
They play at a fairly slow pace (23rd in field goal attempts and 21st in fast break points) and don’t pass much (27th in assists). It looks like they try to isolate their bigs on a smaller defender and let them take the shot.
They turn it over a lot (24th) and despite all that height they are average on the offensive glass. The main thing is to keep them from getting to the rim since in terms of accuracy they are well below average both on mid-range and 3-point shots.
They draw a lot of fouls, ranking 6th in free throw attempts per game.
If Allen guards Carter and Mobley takes Banchero that leaves Wade, Stevens, Cedi, or LeVert to guard Wagner. I’m fine with Wade and maybe Stevens.
Defensively the Magic are better, ranking 17th in points allowed per game. The last two weeks they are 3rd in scoring defense according to cleaningtheglass.com. They defend the 3-point shot very well (6th in opponents’ percentage) and opponents shoot a lot of them, probably trying to avoid taking it to the rim against three 6’10” defenders.
But the Magic rank 28th in defending the rim, 14th in the mid-range, and 6th against 3’s, so the numbers say take it to the hole. Banchero and Wagner are tall but they’re not leapers. In fact, their three starting bigs average a combined 1.3 blocks per game in 96 minutes of action.
The Magic are near the top at defending 3’s and third worst at the rim, so the scouting report is clear - attack the rim.
Jarrett Allen is averaging 18 points and 16 rebounds against the Magic this year on 64% shooting and Evan Mobley is at 19.5 and 8 on 72%. I would feed the bigs, especially off dribble penetration.
Isaac Okoro is still out for the Cavs.
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