Sport Linkers 2
The Magic and Cavaliers met four times during their season series and split the results. In both of Cleveland’s season-series victories, it shot over 50 percent from the field and put up over 120 points. Meanwhile, in Orlando’s two triumphs, it excelled on the defensive end. In one of those wins, the Magic held the Cavs under 100 points. In the other, they forced Cleveland to commit 19 turnovers, which led to 28 Orlando points. In that same game, the Magic’s bench gave them a big boost, outscoring the Cavs 63-24. Orlando would gladly take any of those numbers in their upcoming contests in Cleveland.
“They’re an extremely physical team with a similar makeup to us,” said Magic forward Franz Wagner. “They’re a tall team that plays really physical on defense … We split the season series 2-2, so it should be a really fun (playoff) series.”
Orlando is well aware that for it to earn a Game 1 victory, it all starts at the defensive end of the floor. The Magic dropped three of their final four contests to close out the 2023-24 regular season campaign. The common theme in those three defeats? They gave up at least 117 points in all of them. However, Orlando responded with its back up against the wall in its high-stakes season finale. The Magic held the Bucks to 88 points – a season-low for Milwaukee – as they cruised to a 25-point victory to clinch a playoff berth, lock up the fifth seed, and claim the Southeast Division title. Orlando finished the season with a 21-2 mark when it holds its opponent under 100 points, and that will once again be a key as it preps for a hard-fought series against Cleveland.
The Magic’s defensive attack in this series will be led by Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs. Orlando opted to start the 6-foot-11 Isaac in its season finale – just his second start of his 2023-24 campaign – and he delivered by giving the Bucks’ offense fits. Not only did he do a tremendous job on Bobby Portis Jr., who was his primary defensive assignment, but he also locked down Damian Lillard nearly every time Milwaukee went to the pick-and-roll or looked for a switch for the eight-time All-Star guard. On the season, when Isaac contested a shot, opponents shot just 37.1 percent, which ranked fourth best among the 333 players that contested at least 200 shots. It was the best mark among non-guards.
“I just try to do my job,” Isaac explained. “No matter who they put me on, no matter who they want me to cover, my job is to make it as difficult as possible on (the opponent). I’ve had to guard really great players this season, and sometimes they score, sometimes they don’t. When they do score, I tip my hat, and do it again the next possession. That’s my mindset. I want to be an anchor for this team defensively.”
Suggs’ on-the-ball defense, meanwhile, will be crucial against a Cleveland club that has two perimeter players capable of dominating games in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. So, Orlando will turn to its NBA All-Defensive-Team-caliber guard to slow them down. If he can be disruptive, stay out of foul trouble, and knock down his open shots from distance this series, he can help turn the tide in favor of Orlando.
“We understand that they’re the heads of the snakes,” said Suggs of Cleveland’s backcourt duo. “They’re the two that are going to have the ball in their hands the majority of the game. We understand that they have great pieces around them, they have players with great abilities, but those are the two. The (Cavs) go as far as they go. So, I think it’s a great challenge.”
On the offensive end, all eyes will be on Orlando’s two-headed monster of NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero and third-year standout Franz Wagner. This season, Banchero became the youngest player in NBA history to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists in a single season. Wagner, meanwhile, finished second in all of those categories.
“Getting off to (good) starts will be the main focus heading into Games 1 and 2 on the road,” said Banchero. “Not fall into a hole early (and) start the game off well.”
