• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2023-24 Season | Playoff series #1 | Cavaliers vs. Magic |

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Some good quotes from Fedor's column:

In their preparation for Saturday, the Cavs have been discussing the need to keep Orlando off the free-throw line. There’s also been a point of emphasis to value every offensive possession, preventing the young, athletic Magic from forcing turnovers and getting out in transition.

The Magic lead the NBA in free throw attempts per game and are 2nd in forcing turnovers, so the Cavs are focused on the right things.

I know it’s going to be a physical game. There’s not going to be a lot of calls in the playoffs and they’re really scrappy too. They’re really handsy. - Darius Garland

In hopes of simulating that tenacious defense, Cleveland is going harder in scrimmages. Players are purposely holding, bumping and grabbing. They are cracking guys to keep them from getting second-chance opportunities...

Good to hear the Cavs are practicing the style of basketball they expect to be playing in this series against an aggressive, "handsy", and physical defense with the refs "letting them play".

We know this Orlando team. We know what their strengths are, we know what their weaknesses are. - Tristan Thompson
 
Last edited:
We are going to find out within the first 6 min if the Cavs are ready to fight or if it’s going to be a humiliating first round exit again
 
I tend to think if more physicality is allowed that will favor the Cavs because Orlando depends on FTs to win. What do I know though, the Knicks got a favorable whistle the whole series last year. Only game 2 were the Cavs able to draw fouls.
 
So I work remotely since March 12, 2020, allowing me a lot of flexibility. But this weekend my job sent me on business to Dallas and I'll be in a meeting/conference the entire game until just after it ends. I'll be in the middle of the room (long story short) taking notes and highly visible (almost on display, with clients all around), so I can't even check the scores and stats. Going to be brutal.

I think I'll have to let the Cavs app give me the score on my lock screen (and turn off all notifications) so that I can at least see the score update. But of coruse it'll distract me. But if I don't know anything I'll be even more distracted.

All that being said, I bought a ticket to game 2. Sunday road trip from NJ, will stay in Cleveland until Tuesday night.
 
Last edited:
Wham with the Right Hand said:
So the 36-win Cavs lost 3-1 to the 63-win Celtics but the cumulative score was 449 to 449? Wow! What an effort.

That gives me hope that the same thing could happen this year, especially since the Celtics did not win 27 more games than we did and they don't have Larry Bird.

But we need to put Orlando away first.
Click to expand...
Not because of that historical precedent - but I'm less scared of Boston than I probably should be. And more scared of Orlando than I probably should be.

Best case scenario, the Cavs get in a groove against Orlando in a 6 or less game series with a little adversity but not too much. Because the Cavs finished the regular season so poorly, I like that they got the Magic matchup as I think they are the best shot as a team to get into a groove against.
 
Otsego Mar said:
Can we get a @jjvors series win prediction percentage?
Click to expand...
It's on page one. But for you, Otsego, here it is again:

Here are my series predictions from the other playoff thread. After reviewing Wham's awesome summary, I won't change anything. The teams are closely matched and we should win because of homecourt advantage.

If we lose a game at home, we'll likely lose the series.

jjvors said:
Playoff predictions for Orlando series:
Game 1: 52% chance of victory 111-101 Cavs

Game 2: If Game 1 lost, Game 2 chance of victory 50% 112-109 Cavs
If Game 1 won, Game 2 chance of victory 55% 117-110

Game 3: If 1-1, chance of victory 48% Cavs 109-104
If 2-0, chance of victory 51% Cavs 115-110
If 0-2, chance of victory 44% Cavs 108-101

Game 4: If 2-1, chance of victory 50% Cavs 113-106
If 1-2, chance of victory 45%, Cavs 114--111
If 3-0, chance of victory 54% Cavs 119-106
If 0-3, chance of victory 40%, Cavs 111-109

Game 5, If 3-1, chance of victory 56%, Cavs 120-111
If 2-2, chance of victory 52%, Cavs 113-107
If 1-3, chance of victory 48%, Cavs 112-108

Game 6, If 3-2 chance of victory 49%, Cavs 119-116
If 2-3 chance of victory 43%, Cavs 112-109

Game 7, 53% chance of victory 119-114
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I couldn't help but multiply this out for all possible series outcomes:

Cavs 4-0 7.88%
Magic 4-0 8.06%

Cavs 4-1 14.05%
Magic 4-1 12.87%

Cavs 4-2 14.13%
Magic 4-2 16.13%

Cavs 4-3 14.4%
Magic 4-3 12.77%

Cavs series victory: 50.46%
Magic series victory 49.83%

This predicts a long series, with the Cavs most likely winning in the end.

I don't know if I agree with my own predictions!
 
Whoever had the higher 3-point shooting percentage won all four regular season games. That's the only commonality I could find.

Orlando was healthier than the Cavs. Of their starters, C Wendell Carter missed two games, but they still had Mo Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Goga Bitadze (all 6'10" or 6'11") at center so Carter being out isn't a big deal.

Gary Harris missed one game (but the Magic won). They have Suggs, Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Anthony Black so Harris being out isn't that big an issue. Suggs missed most of the first game.

For the Cavs, Mobley missed two games and Garland and Mitchell missed one each. I'd say the Cavs were more affected by injuries in the season series than the Magic. The Cavs lost by 7 points in the game Mitchell missed. Also, LeVert missed 3 of 4.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Whoever had the higher 3-point shooting percentage won all four regular season games. That's the only commonality I could find.

Orlando was healthier than the Cavs. Of their starters, C Wendell Carter missed two games, but they still had Mo Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Goga Bitadze (all 6'10" or 6'11") at center so Carter being out isn't a big deal.

Gary Harris missed one game (but the Magic won). They have Suggs, Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Anthony Black so Harris being out isn't that big an issue. Suggs missed most of the first game.

For the Cavs, Mobley missed two games and Garland and Mitchell missed one each. I'd say the Cavs were more affected by injuries in the season series than the Magic. The Cavs lost by 7 points in the game Mitchell missed. Also, LeVert missed 3 of 4.
Click to expand...
It's worth noting that Ty Jerome also missed all 4 games.


1713564228251.png
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-14: "Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:14: " Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey."
Top