New development:The pressure is on for the Cleveland Cavaliers to prove themselves in the playoffs
After a long 82-game regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are here: the NBA Playoffs. A season filled with adversity, injury, triumph and joy has led to their first-round date with the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs
For all intents and purposes, this is the ideal matchup for the Cavs. They are going up against an inexperienced Magic squad that is the worst offensive team in the postseason and lack the shooting needed to advance in the playoffs. However, this feisty Orlando squad has Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac,and others who can make life difficult for the Cavs on both ends of the floor. Counting out the Magic now could lead to another early exit for Cleveland.
This is the matchup Cleveland wanted. No one in the organization is going to admit it, but they tanked the last game of the regular season against the Charlotte Hornets for this matchup. With a favorable matchup in front of them, they cannot squander the opportunity.
Cleveland has the length in the frontcourt that can give Banchero and F. Wagner trouble with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen roaming the paint. They have dynamic guards in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell that can make life difficult for Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony. Cleveland also has the shooting Orlando doesn’t in Max Strus, Sam Merrill and Georges Niang.
On paper, the Cavs should win this series. In reality, the Cavs HAVE to win this series.
All the Wine and Gold have talked about all season is learning from the lessons they learned in their five game defeat to the New York Knicks last season and using it as fuel for this year. This squad has been longing for postseason redemption, not only for their own improvement, but for the team’s future
In addition to that, they have one advantage over Orlando in the playoffs: experience. The Cavs have 359 games of playoff experience compared to 91 for the Magic. That is the one thing the Wine and Gold were lacking last year in their playoff series with the Knicks, so that excuse is out the window.
As aforementioned, Cleveland has a distinct shooting advantage over Orlando. The Cavs were seventh in the league in three-pointers made per game at about 14 per contest. The Magic were dead last in that category with 11 made per game. The Cavs were also seventh in the league in attempts per game, while the Magic were 28th. Cleveland needs to maximize their perimeter abilities and force the Magic into contested, poor shots from deep.