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

[ORLMagicGirl15]

These two teams have no shot to advance to the conference finals

I wasn't under the impression that either Magic or Cavs fans thought it was a possibility.

[JonFromVA]

The playoffs are all about adjustments and the Cavs need game 1 & 2 wins more than the Magic - losing home court would be a blow to their fragile confidence.

[bmurph128]

still not impressed with the cavs after this performance

The Cavs will win this series but they are not good (in this game). They are literally winning because Orlando is that bad of a shooting team.

*Edited to add "in this game". I don't watch them enough to know how the Cavs team are as a whole.

Would have finished the 2 or 3 seed easily if injuries were normal instead of what they were.

Garland has long been overrated by Cavs fans, but he's typically a borderline all star caliber player - he's struggled to get back to form after dropping weight.

And if we're on, we match up decently with Boston.

But Garland has been playing like a bum so that is unlikely

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[The Real Dalic]

The Magic are by far the worst shooting team in these playoffs, even worse than the 39-43 Bulls. This isn't some major analysis based on the past game, it's a confirmation of what we have seen all year.

Sure, but they're not 32% from the floor bad either. We've known the Magic can't shoot forever and still the won only 1 fewer game then the Cavs because the defense is so elite. The Magic could win this series even if the shot it only around 41% from the floor. Which is still bad.

The playoffs are notorious for 'exposing' teams weaknesses.

Essentially they make your weakness much worse because of all the film dedicated to make you fail.


The Cavs have the more seasoned team with the more dependable first option (in retrospect to where the players are in their careers).

Donovan in this series is most likely getting his and is more seasoned and much less likely to do things like turning the ball over 9 times, shoot 50% because he's been here.

Mobley and Allen want to shake off what happened last year so they are probably more dialed in.

Also if the Magic can shoot better so can Garland.


The truth is you don't have a playoff reliable 2nd option for the first round this year and Suggs is probably a 4th or 5th option (playoff wise) at this point in his career.

All fair, but I'm not calling series after the worst performance of the Magic's season. I have Cavs in 6 for a reason. The Magic are young and offensively inept outside of Paolo. But they play harder than 29 other teams and defend better than at worst 28 other teams.

I'm not counting on the Magic to shoot 32% all series. The hope is they learn and grow with each passing game. Hit your open 3's that will be available. And you can win games by just being the first to 100 in this series.

[Vampirate]

Sure, but they're not 32% from the floor bad either. We've known the Magic can't shoot forever and still the won only 1 fewer game then the Cavs because the defense is so elite. The Magic could win this series even if the shot it only around 41% from the floor. Which is still bad.

The playoffs are notorious for 'exposing' teams weaknesses.

Essentially they make your weakness much worse because of all the film dedicated to make you fail.


The Cavs have the more seasoned team with the more dependable first option (in retrospect to where the players are in their careers).

Donovan in this series is most likely getting his and is more seasoned and much less likely to do things like turning the ball over 9 times, shoot 50% because he's been here.

Mobley and Allen want to shake off what happened last year so they are probably more dialed in.

Also if the Magic can shoot better so can Garland.


The truth is you don't have a playoff reliable 2nd option for the first round this year and Suggs is probably a 4th or 5th option (playoff wise) at this point in his career.

All fair, but I'm not calling series after the worst performance of the Magic's season. I have Cavs in 6 for a reason. The Magic are young and offensively inept outside of Paolo. But they play harder than 29 other teams and defend better than at worst 28 other teams.

I'm not counting on the Magic to shoot 32% all series. The hope is they learn and grow with each passing game. Hit your open 3's that will be available. And you can win games by just being the first to 100 in this series.

I'd said this before but while he had an incredibly flawed game

4/9 from FT line 5 assists, 9 TOs, the fact that Paolo scored efficiently is all that really matters.

How Franz develops as an offensive option next year will determine where your team's ceiling really is.

You only go as far as you best players take you.

[Blacksheep25]

As a Cavs fan I knew JBB caught a huge break with Orlando as opposed to maybe half the other teams. He tanked for it.

As someone who wants JBB fired last year, I hate this, because a series win will feel like progress to ownership when it’s really not. I’d rather them flop, but they’ll win this series in 5 games, lose in 5 games against Boston and not look horrible every game because they match up decently with Boston. They’ll certainly lose decisively, but they’ll hang around enough where it looks closer than it is. Then we get JBB back and I’m miserable.

A Knicks blow their doors off. A Miami without Butler beats them and they have to fire him. Andre Drummond would get 31 rebounds and it would take 6 games to beat a horrible Bulls team had the Bulls advanced.

They’ll win this series easily and everyone expects them to lose against Boston. Kind of worst case scenario as someone who views getting rid of JBB as priority 1.

[Bloodbather]

Sure, but they're not 32% from the floor bad either. We've known the Magic can't shoot forever and still the won only 1 fewer game then the Cavs because the defense is so elite. The Magic could win this series even if the shot it only around 41% from the floor. Which is still bad.

The playoffs are notorious for 'exposing' teams weaknesses.

Essentially they make your weakness much worse because of all the film dedicated to make you fail.


The Cavs have the more seasoned team with the more dependable first option (in retrospect to where the players are in their careers).

Donovan in this series is most likely getting his and is more seasoned and much less likely to do things like turning the ball over 9 times, shoot 50% because he's been here.

Mobley and Allen want to shake off what happened last year so they are probably more dialed in.

Also if the Magic can shoot better so can Garland.


The truth is you don't have a playoff reliable 2nd option for the first round this year and Suggs is probably a 4th or 5th option (playoff wise) at this point in his career.

All fair, but I'm not calling series after the worst performance of the Magic's season. I have Cavs in 6 for a reason. The Magic are young and offensively inept outside of Paolo. But they play harder than 29 other teams and defend better than at worst 28 other teams.

I'm not counting on the Magic to shoot 32% all series. The hope is they learn and grow with each passing game. Hit your open 3's that will be available. And you can win games by just being the first to 100 in this series.

The Cavs are a terrible matchup for the Magic, though, it's not just the Magic's weakness in vacuum that makes the difference here. Against a team with weaker interior defense, they could get away with the weak outside shooting, but they're facing the best interior defense in the entire league.

[jbk1234]

still not impressed with the cavs after this performance

The Cavs will win this series but they are not good (in this game). They are literally winning because Orlando is that bad of a shooting team.

*Edited to add "in this game". I don't watch them enough to know how the Cavs team are as a whole.

Would have finished the 2 or 3 seed easily if injuries were normal instead of what they were.

Garland has long been overrated by Cavs fans, but he's typically a borderline all star caliber player - he's struggled to get back to form after dropping weight.

And if we're on, we match up decently with Boston.

But Garland has been playing like a bum so that is unlikely

Sent from my Pixel 6 using RealGM mobile app

We lose that game without Garland he scored 14 points on only 11 shots and had 8 assists. There's a reason the Magic put Suggs on him instead of Mitchell.

[jbk1234]

These two teams have no shot to advance to the conference finals

I like how the Cavs matchup against the Celtics. We need Wade back though.

[toooskies]

As a Cavs fan I knew JBB caught a huge break with Orlando as opposed to maybe half the other teams. He tanked for it.

As someone who wants JBB fired last year, I hate this, because a series win will feel like progress to ownership when it’s really not. I’d rather them flop, but they’ll win this series in 5 games, lose in 5 games against Boston and not look horrible every game because they match up decently with Boston. They’ll certainly lose decisively, but they’ll hang around enough where it looks closer than it is. Then we get JBB back and I’m miserable.

A Knicks blow their doors off. A Miami without Butler beats them and they have to fire him. Andre Drummond would get 31 rebounds and it would take 6 games to beat a horrible Bulls team had the Bulls advanced.

They’ll win this series easily and everyone expects them to lose against Boston. Kind of worst case scenario as someone who views getting rid of JBB as priority 1.

I mean, it's always possible that JBB improves as a coach. I saw us run at least two decent out-of-bounds plays today. No one was over-played. Rotations were tight and everyone was ready to play.

[The Real Dalic]

As a Cavs fan I knew JBB caught a huge break with Orlando as opposed to maybe half the other teams. He tanked for it.

As someone who wants JBB fired last year, I hate this, because a series win will feel like progress to ownership when it’s really not. I’d rather them flop, but they’ll win this series in 5 games, lose in 5 games against Boston and not look horrible every game because they match up decently with Boston. They’ll certainly lose decisively, but they’ll hang around enough where it looks closer than it is. Then we get JBB back and I’m miserable.

A Knicks blow their doors off. A Miami without Butler beats them and they have to fire him. Andre Drummond would get 31 rebounds and it would take 6 games to beat a horrible Bulls team had the Bulls advanced.

They’ll win this series easily and everyone expects them to lose against Boston. Kind of worst case scenario as someone who views getting rid of JBB as priority 1.

1 game and you're already talking like it's over? These are the things I'm countering. I hope the Cavs have your mindset, the Magic would gentlemen sweep if they do.

[Jadoogar]

62 offensive rating in the halfcourt. I knew the Magic offense was bad but sheesh

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[lambchop]

These two teams have no shot to advance to the conference finals

I like how the Cavs matchup against the Celtics. We need Wade back though.

Yep. D Wade brings a lot to the team

[mg]

As expected the Magic don't get enough offense esp from their guards or enough 3 pt shooting to go far in the playoffs. Maybe they can sneak out a win or two since Bickerstaff is just an awful X's and O's coach but not expecting much more than that.

[ibraheim718]

Now we get to see NBA-level play... switching to Phx vs Min

Yeah how did that work out for you?

[Dubnation]

Now we get to see NBA-level play... switching to Phx vs Min

Yeah how did that work out for you?

Excellent!, as anticipated.

[ibraheim718]

Now we get to see NBA-level play... switching to Phx vs Min

Yeah how did that work out for you?

Excellent!, as anticipated.

A 20 point blow out is excellent basketball? You must just be watching to watch Kevin Durant lose which is pathetic.

[Dubnation]

Yeah how did that work out for you?

Excellent!, as anticipated.

A 20 point blow out is excellent basketball? You must just be watching to watch Kevin Durant lose which is pathetic.

Quality play. I doubt either team would stand a chance against Phx or Min. Trust the eye test man. and for the record, i like KD.

[ibraheim718]

Excellent!, as anticipated.

A 20 point blow out is excellent basketball? You must just be watching to watch Kevin Durant lose which is pathetic.

Quality play. I doubt either team would stand a chance against Phx or Min. Trust the eye test man.

Orlando beat Minnesota in Minnesota.

[Dubnation]

A 20 point blow out is excellent basketball? You must just be watching to watch Kevin Durant lose which is pathetic.

Quality play. I doubt either team would stand a chance against Phx or Min. Trust the eye test man.

Orlando beat Minnesota in Minnesota.

They wouldn't have today.