CLEVELAND — Veteran forward Georges Niang believes he can teach the Orlando Magic what the postseason is all about, as the Cavaliers gained NBA playoff experience last year and gained more through offseason trades. He seems to be thinking about it.
The Cavs learned Sunday that they will face the Magic in the first round starting next weekend. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be held Saturday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in downtown Cleveland. Tip-off time will be announced at a later date.
“Playoff experience is real, right?” Niang said. [in the Cavs locker room] Last year we were able to experience the intensity of the playoffs and prepare for the playoffs. And the team we're playing obviously has young, hungry players that are going to play hard every night. They've done that, but we're going to have to show them what playoff basketball is all about. ”
The Cavs finished the regular season with a 48-34 record after letting off the gas late in Sunday's 120-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The Cavs are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and have home court advantage in the first round. The fifth-seeded Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 113-88 on Sunday, 47-35.
The winner of the Cavs-Magic series will face the winning team between the top-seeded Boston Celtics (64-18) and the eventual eighth-seeded Boston Celtics. The 8th place spot is filled with NBA teams including the Philadelphia 76ers (47-35), Miami Heat (46-36), Chicago Bulls (39-43), and Atlanta Hawks (36-46). Determined by play-in tournament. It runs Tuesday through Friday in the East.
Cavs vs. Hornets scores and highlights:Cavaliers' pre-playoff approach draws boos from some fans
Cavs and Magic split regular season series
The Cavs and Magic faced off four times during the 2023-24 regular season. Each team won twice.
“They're a young team,” Cavs center Jarrett Allen said. “They're going to be in it for a long time. I think we've got to go in with the mindset that we've got to throw the first punch.”
Niang said he heard what Allen said about the first strike.
“That's playoff basketball, so any type of battle is what you want to do,” Niang added. “This is a seven-game series and a battle.”
The Cavs have advanced to the NBA playoffs for the second year in a row.Magic to play in postseason for first time in four years
The Cavs will advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Cleveland went 51-31 during the 2022-23 regular season, earning the No. 4 seed in the East and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2018. However, Cleveland squandered home court advantage, losing the first round series 4-1. They lost to the 5th seed New York Knicks.
Last offseason, the Cavs added Niang and starting small forward Max Strus to space the floor with his shooting. They also added center Tristan Thompson and forward Marcus Morris Sr. to add toughness. All four players have extensive resumes in the playoffs. Thompson won the NBA title with the Cavs in 2016. Strus reached the 2023 Finals with the Heat.
”[We’re] “I'm very ready,” Morris said. “But we have a week to prepare, see what we have, be in that mindset and get everyone together.”
When the Magic play the Cavs, it will be Orlando's first playoff appearance since 2020.
“It's a good young team. They play really hard,” Morris said. It's going to be a battle.
“I don't smoke. I want anything — whatever comes to me. We're not silent. We're not ignoring it.”
Strass didn't sound so harsh. He said the Cavs must be ready to match Orlando's physical style because the Magic are a determined team.
“The playoffs are a different beast,” Strass said. “You better be ready to fight. It's going to be tough. Every series in the playoffs is tough.”
Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the Cleveland Cavs will have some time to get healthier ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic
Rest and recovery this week will be crucial for the Cavs, who have endured a number of injuries this season.
Of course, they are led by All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in the regular season. Mitchell (left knee bone bruise) was sidelined Sunday, along with starting point guard Darius Garland (back bruise) and sixth man Caris LeVert (knee strain). All three played key roles in Friday's 129-120 playoff victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Reserve shooting guard Sam Merrill (due to neck strain) missed his third straight game Sunday, but coach JB Bickerstaff said the Cavs are “hopeful” he will be ready for Game 1. he said.
Backup forward Dean Wade (knee sprain) missed 19 consecutive games, but Bickerstaff said it remains to be seen whether Wade will be available for the playoffs.
Who is the best Orlando Magic player the Cleveland Cavaliers will face in the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
The Magic are led by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during the regular season.
At 21 years and 154 days old, Banchero became the youngest player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists in a single season. This season, Banchero scored 42 points, 20 rebounds, 18 rebounds, and 12 rebounds in four games against the Cavs.
Five other Magic players averaged double-digit points in the regular season: forward Franz Wagner (19.7 points), guard Jalen Suggs (12.6 points), guard Cole Anthony (11.6 points), Center/Forward Wendell Carter Jr. (11 points), Forward/Center Moritz Wagner (10.9).
“They're big,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, they had great position size all over the floor. They have individuals who can create their own shots and can put a ton of pressure on you, and they have really solid defensive If you allow them to play in the half court, they use their size defensively to keep everyone in front and make it difficult in the paint.”
The Cavs learned a year ago how difficult life is in the playoffs. We plan to report to everyone soon whether the lessons were successful or not.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @NateUlrich.
