Of the NBA’s eight first-round playoff series this spring, a pair were four-game sweeps, two more wrapped up in five games, and three others took six games to decide a winner. That leaves a single Game 7 in round one: The Cavaliers will host the Magic in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon to determine the last of the eight teams that will advance to the conference semifinals.
Sunday’s Game 7 looms larger for the Cavaliers than it does for Orlando. Cleveland won 51 games and finished as a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference a year ago, then was quickly dispatched from the postseason by the Knicks in just five games. Another first-round exit this spring as the higher seed, especially against a relatively inexperienced Magic squad, would likely result in major offseason changes in Cleveland.
As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) writes, the pressure will be on head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who figures to find himself on the hot seat if the Cavaliers lose Game 7 at home. For his part, Bickerstaff sounds relatively confident that his club will come through.
“We’ll be ready for the moment,” Bickerstaff said. “Our guys have been really good at home, and we don’t expect that to change.”
Even more crucially, Donovan Mitchell‘s future in Cleveland could hinge on how Game 7 plays out, Fedor notes. Mitchell is only under contract for one more guaranteed season after this one — he’ll be offered an extension this summer, but if he’s not enthusiastic about the Cavs’ ability to contend for a championship going forward, he may not be inclined to accept a new long-term deal from the team.
The good news for the Cavaliers is that Game 7 will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where they’re 3-0 this series. But after commanding victories in Games 1 and 2, Cleveland’s home-court advantage didn’t look like quite as significant a factor in Game 5’s win, which the club pulled out by a single point.
The Cavs are also dealing with injury concerns on multiple fronts. Rotation forward Dean Wade (knee) has missed the entire postseason, while Jarrett Allen (rib) has been sidelined for the past two games. Mitchell (knee) and Evan Mobley (ankle) also seemed to be playing through pain in Game 6 — both players finished the game, though Mobley (three points, six rebounds) was far less effective than Mitchell (50 points), especially in the second half.
While the Magic will certainly go all-out to win Game 7, their coaches and players are facing far less pressure entering the deciding game of their first-round series. Few league observers even expected Orlando to still be alive at this point in the season, so a spot in the second round would exceed all expectations. No one’s job is on the line based on Sunday’s outcome.
Still, the Magic have shown in the first six games of this series that they’re a talented enough defensive team to pull off this upset. Yes, Mitchell scored 50 points in Game 6, and Darius Garland contributed 21 more, but the rest of the Cavs combined for just 25 points on 10-of-33 (30.3%) shooting, and head coach Jamahl Mosley has made some savvy adjustments that helped his team win three of the last four games.
Orlando doesn’t have a ton of offensive firepower, but in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, the team has just enough scoring to stick with Cleveland thanks to its play on defense. Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs combined for 75 of Orlando’s 103 points in Game 6, which has been a common theme over the course of the series — no other Magic player is averaging over 7.0 points per contest.
We want to know what you think. Will the Cavaliers (3.5-point favorites, according to BetOnline.ag) hang on at home and avoid disaster? Or will the upstart Magic book a second-round date with the top-ranked Celtics?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to make your predictions!
CLE. It’s a big game for their team (even if Mitchell wants to stay regardless). They have a home court series for the second straight year. ORL, their handpicked opponent, is young with almost no playoff experience, and hasn’t played well on the road all year. ORL has found a few things as the series has gone on, but CLE needs to do what it needs to move on.
Mitchell won’t be signing that extension. If lakers don’t trade their GM for this guy Donovan could very well end up in Florida. Mitchell instantly changes Magic and Heat. Heat would have to make some moves but orlando could probably just sign him when a free agent.
I am interested in the topics.
What if Lakers were in the East?
What if LeBron were in the East?
How far can the Lakers go?
How far can Darvin Ham go?
Maybe 2nd round but irrelevant.
Your question is hypothetical, it doesn’t make any sense.
Third could easily be tenth …
They were
1-2 against Celtics
3-1 against Knicks
2-1 against Pacers
2-2 against Bucks
1-3 against Heat
0-3 against Sixers
2-2 against Vavs
1-1 against Lakers
0-2 against Kings
2-0 against Nuggets
1-1 against TWolves
0-2 against Thunder
1-1 against Suns
2-0 against Pelicans
0-2 against Mavs
They were 11-16against East playoff teams.
7-9 against West playoff teams. Can’t beat good teams cause you can’t make stops. This series would be over. If they could make a stop.
And they are not better than Nuggets or Knicks. Soooo
3rd is third not 10th but even if there 10th that’s still a defense rated in the top third.
Ho do we know that they aren’t better than the Knicks? Like your post says Orlando did take 3 out 4. I realize Brunson didn’t play in two of those losses but Wagner missed one those games Brunson did as well.
It’s their first yr even top 10. You think this stat defines them. They can’t beat good teams. This is yr they grow up. Not beating Cavs. So prepare to root for them next Year …….
Your question is hypothetical, it doesn’t make any sense.
Can’t believe Cavs are short on offense. Magic are not a great D team. Seems Cavs are also still finding themselves. Young stars have to step up.
The Magic had the 3rd rated defense in the NBA.
Magic are indeed very good on D. That’s their whole thing.
Yep, magic full of long athletic guys.
It’s the Cavs versus Paolo Banchero really. You can’t count on the magic guards though they’ve had a good game here and there. Franz Wagner is good but he can be slowed down pretty easily. So it’s the Cavs game to lose. Shouldn’t be a problem if they do it right.
Mitchell has a negative +/- for series – why?
His shooting is terrible! Tons of forced shots.
Yes he got 50 last game, but he was 3/17 from three in the three games before that and shot sub .400 in all 3!
This isn’t new. Look at all of Mitchell’s career playoff performances and you’ll see a low percentage shooting volume shooter whose teams lose because he forces it way too much.
When he’s on, he’s great!
And if you look at his stats you know he’s off more than he’s on.
Whos the best player Mitchell has played with? Ever not been on a team where forcing shots are a better option than others shooting it? Give Mitchell Davis, Embiid etc and good luck stopping him. Best players he’s played with are flash in the pan all stars. Rudy, Garland, Hayward.
A few things on both of these posts.
Mitchell never played the with Hayward. He was drafted the season after Hayward left for Boston.
Someone has to take the shot and Mitchell has never had a teammate other than Garland that’s even a decent playoff offensive option.
That being said Gobert is a three time All Star, 4 time All-NBA and about to be 4 time DPOY, 7 time all defense and will one day be in the Hall of Fame. That’s hardly a flash in the pan. That doesn’t help on offense though.
Well there you go,only helps my argument.
Rudy is hardly irreplaceable now is he? Money could be better spent elsewhere. Mitchell on this team he’s currently up against in a game 7, he’d be mint.