2024 NBA Playoffs - East 1st Round: #4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Orlando Magic (CLE WINS 4-3)

JujitsuFlip · Post #281 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:23 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
JujitsuFlip wrote:
Iwasawitness wrote:
Merrill I can see getting minutes, but only if Wade doesn’t return from injury, otherwise he’d be the one getting playing time.

Speaking of injuries, is there any update on Merrill?
Merrill is active for today, barring a setback but i have zero confidence he cracks jb's 8 man rotation.

If he’s not having any rust issues, I think he should play and it would be foolish on JBs part not to.

It's just tough minute wise. Mitchell will get probably 43 minutes today, if his knee allows. Strus getting 30 something minutes if his knee allows. Mobley and Allen getting probably 38 minutes a piece if they can avoid foul trouble. I'm sure Garland ends up with like 36 minutes if his stamina allows.

So after the starters that leaves all of like 50 something minutes and Okoro and LeVert could eat all of that up but I assume Niang gets like 14 minutes today.

There's just no minutes for Merrill in a playoff game. If Mobley or Allen get in foul trouble you either see Niang's minutes go up or TT/Morris get situational minutes.

With the Magic's length there's not a lot of minutes for a guy who only plays the offensive side of the ball. His shooting would be huge in this series but he will get bullied on the other end.

thelead · Post #282 » by **thelead** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:38 pm

I've been called out for a half decade by fellow magic fans for my 'dumb' idea of Isaac starting at center... and here we are... in the 2024 playoffs:

Read on Twitter

azcatz11 · Post #283 » by **azcatz11** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:42 pm

Looking forward to this series. I’d like to propose a peace offering to the magic fans. I’m pulling for Yall

Wolfgang630 · Post #284 » by **Wolfgang630** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:44 pm

Guess this series will start the playoffs……

Ducklett · Post #285 » by **Ducklett** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:45 pm

Minister of defense is starting. If you listened to a subset of posters on the Magic board, this would be an impossibility at the start of this season. Gratz to JI for finding not only a way from returning from multiple grizzly injuries but also starting in a playoff game. Go Magic!

Mak · Post #286 » by **Mak** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:46 pm

I want Magic to win because of what Cavs did in the last game but also it would be a much better storyline if Cavs lost in the first round.

Exp0sed · Post #287 » by **Exp0sed** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:54 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:
hippesthippo wrote:
Exp0sed wrote:i'm not sure Bickerstaff is a real coach with how he's been running things on the court these past two seasons
wouldn't be shocked if this series goes either way in any fashion, but I think this Cavs team is the opposite of synergetic, meaning - it's considerably worse than the sum of it's parts

my pick is Magic in 6

True. Very true.

I just can't shake the image of Donovan Mitchell going supernova in the playoffs.
That happened once so long ago it's almost more like a shooting star, just quickly passing in the night.

His history shows he's much more likely to get about 23 ppg on 44.32 eFG% but if he is able to recreate either of his covid restriction years from a scoring and efficiency standpoint then the Magic don't stand a chance.

yeah, no. Magic are much better defensively than the teams he was lighting up in the bubble
he's not doing that vs. Suggs, Isaac, Fultz, Harris and co.

Post #288 » by **bisme37** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:59 pm

Ooh it's playoff time this is exciting!

Good luck and enjoy the big game, Magic and Cavs fans.

Post #289 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:04 pm

LFG!!

Wolfgang630 · Post #290 » by **Wolfgang630** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:06 pm

This is where the Magic journey to being a future championship contender begins. Time to get playoff experience

namlede · Post #291 » by **namlede** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:09 pm

Who’s ready for playoff Suggs? He is one of the best big game performers I’ve seen in some time for a young guy.

Mrakar · Post #292 » by **Mrakar** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:12 pm

I am still flabbergasted that NBA can't stick to schedule. They are always late 15-20 minutes, and its planned to be late. Why they dont just write that game starts at 1:15ET. I know that it will be late and its still annoying.

XtremeDunkz · Post #293 » by **XtremeDunkz** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:15 pm

They really pulled out the A list announce team for this one.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Post #294 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:15 pm

Great! LP doesn't work, it says ESPN are blacked out even though I'm outside the US.

NotaHypeJob · Post #295 » by **NotaHypeJob** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:16 pm

ESPN losing their audio 30 seconds into the playoffs. What happened to the power of Disney that I loved

damanick10 · Post #296 » by **damanick10** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:16 pm

No announcers I like it!

Wolfgang630 · Post #297 » by **Wolfgang630** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:16 pm

This is better with no announcers tbh

azcatz11 · Post #298 » by **azcatz11** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:17 pm

Mavrelous wrote:Great! LP doesn't work, it says ESPN are blacked out even though I'm outside the US.

VPN?

NYKnickerbocker · Post #299 » by **NYKnickerbocker** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:17 pm

That was a glorious few minutes with no announcers lol

thelead · Post #300 » by **thelead** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:18 pm

damn... they 'fixed' the audio

Who wins?