Despite two dominant wins in the first round of the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain cautiously optimistic about their chances against the Orlando Magic. The Magic have the worst defense in the playoffs in the past 10 years, and the Cavs have rediscovered their defensive identity with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchoring the paint. However, Orlando’s offense is also struggling, making them a poor matchup for the Cavs. The key for the Magic to stay in the series is for players like Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr. to start making shots from outside, or for them to abandon their offensive principles and use more offense-heavy lineups. The Cavs, meanwhile, need to execute their game plan and avoid a letdown in Orlando, where the crowd is expected to be hostile. The health of Jalen Suggs, Orlando’s best perimeter defender, is also a factor, as his absence or limited effectiveness could extend the series. The Cavs’ offense has been led by Donovan Mitchell, who has scored 19 points in the first half of both games but cooled down in the second half. However, Mitchell’s teammates, including Isaac Okoro and Karas Levert, have stepped up in the second half, providing a boost to the Cavs’ scoring. Darius Garland has also shown improvement in the second half, especially in off-the-dribble three-point shooting. Despite the early success, the Cavs are aware that the Magic are capable of making a run, especially if they can get their offense going. The Cavs will need to continue to play their style of basketball and not get caught up in the emotions of the series. If they can do that, they should be able to advance to the second round. However, if the Magic can find a way to generate more offense, the series could be more competitive than the Cavs would like.
Here are some additional takeaways from the first two games of the series:
* The Cavs’ defense has been dominant, holding the Magic to an offensive rating of 88.5, which is the worst in the playoffs this year.
* The Magic’s offense has been abysmal, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range.
* Donovan Mitchell has led the Cavs in scoring, averaging 24.5 points per game.
* Darius Garland has struggled with his shot, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 25% from three-point range.
* The Cavs have a 2-0 lead in the series and will host Game 3 on Thursday night.
Overall, the Cavs are in a good position after the first two games of the series, but they need to continue to play well and not take the Magic lightly. If they can do that, they should be able to advance to the second round.
