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On a seven-game winning streak the Cavs roll into Orlando to take on the Magic for the third time this season. The Cavs won in Cleveland by a 121-111 score with their usual starting lineup intact. They lost in Orlando 104-94 without Mobley and LeVert. Allen fouled out in 15 minutes and the Cavs shot 35.3% from the field. Both games were in early December, when they were playing .500 ball and before they changed up their approach.
Orlando is 23-20 overall and 14-6 at home. They started off gangbusters with a 16-7 record but since have gone 7-13. Part of the drop-off was losing star forward Franz Wagner, who missed eight games, but they’ve also had a very tough schedule - fourth toughest in the NBA this year. Over the last 19 games they lost to Boston twice, Miami twice, Philly twice, Milwaukee, Minnesota, OKC, and Phoenix, Golden State, and Sacramento on a western road trip.
It looks to me like they’ve just had a brutal stretch of schedule combined with Wagner missing eight of those games. They did beat the Knicks twice and Denver on the road during that stretch.
Other players have been out. Starting center Wendall Carter Jr has only played 16 games and starting PG Markelle Fultz has played 11. They are both back now and coming off the bench. Wagner is also back, having returned last night in their win over Miami.
The Magic have a big front line with Gaga Bitadze at center, Paolo Banchero at PF, and Franz Wagner at SF. All three are 6’10”. Carter, also 6’10”, is now the backup center. Backups Jonathan Isaac and Mo Wagner are 6’9” and 6’11”. Joe Ingles at 6’9” also comes off the bench along with 6’8” guard Caleb Houston and 6’7” Chuma Okeke. The Magic may have the tallest team in the NBA.
All that height helps them defensively as they rank 7th in scoring defense, but they’re not great shooters, ranking 24th in scoring and effective field goal percentage. In two games against the Cavs they scored 104 and 111.
Offensively the Magic are severely challenged from outside as they rank 29th in 3-point accuracy at 34.2%. They take fewer 3’s than all but four teams. They’re a little better at 2-point shots, ranking 18th in accuracy. They don’t run many plays (27th in assists) and they turn it over a lot (26th in turnover percentage). But that height helps them on the offensive glass as they rank 5th in second chance points. They miss a lot of shots but crash the glass for putbacks.
The other thing the Magic do well offensively is draw fouls, ranking 2nd in free throw attempts per possession and making 20 free throws per game. The keys for the Cavs are to avoid fouling and prevent offensive rebounds. Jarrett Allen got in early foul trouble in the Cavs’ loss in Orlando and fouled out after just 15 minutes. I’m sure he’ll be well aware of that this time around.
Surprisingly the Cavs got 18 offensive rebounds in that game despite Allen barely playing and Mobley being out. Wade and TT got four each. The Magic only got 12. TT was very effective with 10 points and 13 rebounds and a +8 in 29 minutes. I’m sure JBB will use him again tonight.
Defensively, the Magic excel in blocking shots (9th), steals (3rd), and forcing turnovers (4th). All that length comes in handy in blocking shots and stealing passes. The Cavs need to avoid careless passes or telegraphing passes against a team with a lot of long arms. Trying to force tight passes in a crowd is a recipe for disaster against this team.
The Magic defend the 3-point shot very well, ranking 9th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. The Cavs have been shooting 3’s on more than 50% of their attempts recently, so this could be an issue. Last game against Orlando they were 9-for-40 from deep, so maybe they should try to attack the rim more. The Magic are just average at preventing points in the paint and defending 2-point shots. They do foul a lot (26th in free throw attempts per play), so driving on them may be more successful than forcing 3’s over those long arms.
The Cavs scored 121 on them in Cleveland but just 94 in Orlando, so they need to find a way to score more this time around.
Paolo Banchero averages 22.7 ppg on 45% from the field and 35% on 3’s. However, he ranks in just the 15th percentile among forwards in points per shot attempt and the Magic are 11.1 points worse when he is on the floor; worst on the team. Banchero went off for 42 points in the Magic’s loss in Cleveland, but only had 20 points in the win in Orlando.
Franz Wagner is second in scoring at 20.9 ppg on 47%, but he hits only 29% of his 3’s. SG Jalen Suggs averages 13 points and Bitadze averages 7.0. Backup point guard Cole Anthony averages 13 ppg off the bench. Anthony limped off last night and did not return so he may not go tonight. He’s listed as a game time decision.
The Cavs have had the best scoring defense in the NBA the last few weeks and the Magic rank 24th in scoring. This could be a low scoring game on both sides similar to the 104-94 score the last time these teams met.
The Magic will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back but yesterday’s game was at home so there was no travel. The Cavs had a day off after playing in Atlanta so they might be a little fresher, but none of the Magic starters played a lot of minutes last night so I don’t think the back-to-back will be a factor. Caris LeVert is out for the Cavs.
Orlando is 23-20 overall and 14-6 at home. They started off gangbusters with a 16-7 record but since have gone 7-13. Part of the drop-off was losing star forward Franz Wagner, who missed eight games, but they’ve also had a very tough schedule - fourth toughest in the NBA this year. Over the last 19 games they lost to Boston twice, Miami twice, Philly twice, Milwaukee, Minnesota, OKC, and Phoenix, Golden State, and Sacramento on a western road trip.
It looks to me like they’ve just had a brutal stretch of schedule combined with Wagner missing eight of those games. They did beat the Knicks twice and Denver on the road during that stretch.
Other players have been out. Starting center Wendall Carter Jr has only played 16 games and starting PG Markelle Fultz has played 11. They are both back now and coming off the bench. Wagner is also back, having returned last night in their win over Miami.
The Magic have a big front line with Gaga Bitadze at center, Paolo Banchero at PF, and Franz Wagner at SF. All three are 6’10”. Carter, also 6’10”, is now the backup center. Backups Jonathan Isaac and Mo Wagner are 6’9” and 6’11”. Joe Ingles at 6’9” also comes off the bench along with 6’8” guard Caleb Houston and 6’7” Chuma Okeke. The Magic may have the tallest team in the NBA.
All that height helps them defensively as they rank 7th in scoring defense, but they’re not great shooters, ranking 24th in scoring and effective field goal percentage. In two games against the Cavs they scored 104 and 111.
Offensively the Magic are severely challenged from outside as they rank 29th in 3-point accuracy at 34.2%. They take fewer 3’s than all but four teams. They’re a little better at 2-point shots, ranking 18th in accuracy. They don’t run many plays (27th in assists) and they turn it over a lot (26th in turnover percentage). But that height helps them on the offensive glass as they rank 5th in second chance points. They miss a lot of shots but crash the glass for putbacks.
The other thing the Magic do well offensively is draw fouls, ranking 2nd in free throw attempts per possession and making 20 free throws per game. The keys for the Cavs are to avoid fouling and prevent offensive rebounds. Jarrett Allen got in early foul trouble in the Cavs’ loss in Orlando and fouled out after just 15 minutes. I’m sure he’ll be well aware of that this time around.
Surprisingly the Cavs got 18 offensive rebounds in that game despite Allen barely playing and Mobley being out. Wade and TT got four each. The Magic only got 12. TT was very effective with 10 points and 13 rebounds and a +8 in 29 minutes. I’m sure JBB will use him again tonight.
Defensively, the Magic excel in blocking shots (9th), steals (3rd), and forcing turnovers (4th). All that length comes in handy in blocking shots and stealing passes. The Cavs need to avoid careless passes or telegraphing passes against a team with a lot of long arms. Trying to force tight passes in a crowd is a recipe for disaster against this team.
The Magic defend the 3-point shot very well, ranking 9th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. The Cavs have been shooting 3’s on more than 50% of their attempts recently, so this could be an issue. Last game against Orlando they were 9-for-40 from deep, so maybe they should try to attack the rim more. The Magic are just average at preventing points in the paint and defending 2-point shots. They do foul a lot (26th in free throw attempts per play), so driving on them may be more successful than forcing 3’s over those long arms.
The Cavs scored 121 on them in Cleveland but just 94 in Orlando, so they need to find a way to score more this time around.
Paolo Banchero averages 22.7 ppg on 45% from the field and 35% on 3’s. However, he ranks in just the 15th percentile among forwards in points per shot attempt and the Magic are 11.1 points worse when he is on the floor; worst on the team. Banchero went off for 42 points in the Magic’s loss in Cleveland, but only had 20 points in the win in Orlando.
Franz Wagner is second in scoring at 20.9 ppg on 47%, but he hits only 29% of his 3’s. SG Jalen Suggs averages 13 points and Bitadze averages 7.0. Backup point guard Cole Anthony averages 13 ppg off the bench. Anthony limped off last night and did not return so he may not go tonight. He’s listed as a game time decision.
The Cavs have had the best scoring defense in the NBA the last few weeks and the Magic rank 24th in scoring. This could be a low scoring game on both sides similar to the 104-94 score the last time these teams met.
The Magic will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back but yesterday’s game was at home so there was no travel. The Cavs had a day off after playing in Atlanta so they might be a little fresher, but none of the Magic starters played a lot of minutes last night so I don’t think the back-to-back will be a factor. Caris LeVert is out for the Cavs.
