2024 NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 2: (5) Orlando Magic at (4) Cleveland Cavaliers - Cavs up 1-0

[3ddman23]

We make shoots we can make it a game. It's really as simple as that.

If this game is a repeat from game 1 offensively ( on our end) then I expect a blow out.

In all I just want a competitive fun game kinda like the okc vs nop game yesterday. You give me that and I'm good.

Go magic

[CalOrl11]

It's ridiculously obvious, but we simply have to make shots, especially our guards, to have a chance in this series. If Suggs and Harris can at least make 2 or 3 threes each I'll be happy.

[doct3r dr3]

I think Isaac can guard Allen, but he can't guard Allen and Mobley. When Isaac switches off Allen onto Mobley, Paolo can't guard Allen. That's why playing Wendell and Isaac neutralizes Allen and Mobley.

The Cavs are really good at getting switches, and I think think they target Paolo with Mobley and Allen. Paolo can't defend either one of them down low.

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I disagree -- see my post in the General Series Discussion thread:

I know everyone's campaigning to shorten the rotation for the playoffs, but I'm gonna zag here a little bit:

Why don't we start (or at least play) Goga?

The Jonathan Isaac at starting Center experiment didn't go great in Gm 1. Cleveland won points in the paint 48-36. They won rebounds 54-40, with Jarrett Allen snagging 18. Isaac left Allen a few times to hunt weak-side blocks instead of staying home, and gave up some open Allen dunks in the process. During Isaac's minutes, the Cavaliers exploited the Magic's lack of a traditional Center.

Meanwhile, Goga is probably the Magic's best traditional Center. His rim protection numbers are comparable to Isaac's, on more attempts. He leads the team in rebound percentage (when you throw out Kevon Harris's 6 minutes). When the Magic faced Cleveland on 12/11/23, Goga started and held Jarrett Allen to 4 points and -15 (in 15 minutes), while putting up 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and +8 in a 10-point win.

No, he doesn't provide 3-point shooting, but then again, neither did anyone else in Gm 1. If Gary Harris isn't hitting his 3s, then maybe you roll with a modified death lineup of: Goga, JI, Paolo, Franz, and Suggs, with Suggs guarding Garland and JI guarding Mitchell. Then you could bring in Wendell and Moe together off the bench, and get more size and spacing.

It looked like to me that Isaac had to guard both Allen and Mobley. Paolo's interior defense was non-existent.

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I won't disagree that Paolo's interior D left something to be desired, but it wasn't the biggest theme of Mobley's baskets.

Looking at all of Mobley's attempts:

Spoiler:

1. Paolo hedges too hard on the 1-4 P&R with Garland, leaving Mobley open for the dunk. (Made 2PT FG)

2. Paolo collapses in to help on the driving Mitchell, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Made 3PT FG)

3. Paolo rotates onto a rolling Allen and gets tied up with Suggs after the switch on the 1-5 P&R, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Made 3PT FG)

4. Mobley tries to post-up Suggs in transition, but Paolo recovers to double-team, forcing a miss/turnover. (Missed 2PT FG)

5. Wendell collapses on the driving LeVert, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Missed 3PT FG)

6. Mobley posts up Wendell and tosses in a right-handed hook. (Made 2PT FG)

7. After a switch on a 1-5 P&R, Mobley posts up Cole Anthony for an easy two-handed dunk. (Made 2PT FG)

8. After a switch on a 1-5 P&R, Mobley muscles past Cole Anthony for an easy layup. (Made 2PT FG)

9. Moe sticks with Mobley on the 1-5 P&R, and contests Mobley's pull-up 15-footer. (Missed 2PT FG)

10. Mobley posts up JI, and misses a fadeaway from the baseline. (Missed 2PT FG)

11. Paolo sticks with Mobley on the 1-4 P&R, and contests Mobley's fadeaway. (Missed 2PT FG)

12. Paolo rotates to late-contest a spotting-up Mobley following a drive-and-kick. (Missed 3PT FG)

My takeaway, more than anything, would be that they can't afford to switch off of Mobley on their 1-4 and 1-5 P&Rs.

[OnlyFranz22]

Need to see adjustments from Mos

Can’t just roll out the same rotation. Take advantage when Mitchell is on the bench.

[eyriq]

I disagree -- see my post in the General Series Discussion thread:

It looked like to me that Isaac had to guard both Allen and Mobley. Paolo's interior defense was non-existent.

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I won't disagree that Paolo's interior D left something to be desired, but it wasn't the biggest theme of Mobley's baskets.

Looking at all of Mobley's attempts:

Spoiler:

1. Paolo hedges too hard on the 1-4 P&R with Garland, leaving Mobley open for the dunk. (Made 2PT FG)

2. Paolo collapses in to help on the driving Mitchell, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Made 3PT FG)

3. Paolo rotates onto a rolling Allen and gets tied up with Suggs after the switch on the 1-5 P&R, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Made 3PT FG)

4. Mobley tries to post-up Suggs in transition, but Paolo recovers to double-team, forcing a miss/turnover. (Missed 2PT FG)

5. Wendell collapses on the driving LeVert, leaving a spotting-up Mobley open for three. (Missed 3PT FG)

6. Mobley posts up Wendell and tosses in a right-handed hook. (Made 2PT FG)

7. After a switch on a 1-5 P&R, Mobley posts up Cole Anthony for an easy two-handed dunk. (Made 2PT FG)

8. After a switch on a 1-5 P&R, Mobley muscles past Cole Anthony for an easy layup. (Made 2PT FG)

9. Moe sticks with Mobley on the 1-5 P&R, and contests Mobley's pull-up 15-footer. (Missed 2PT FG)

10. Mobley posts up JI, and misses a fadeaway from the baseline. (Missed 2PT FG)

11. Paolo sticks with Mobley on the 1-4 P&R, and contests Mobley's fadeaway. (Missed 2PT FG)

12. Paolo rotates to late-contest a spotting-up Mobley following a drive-and-kick. (Missed 3PT FG)

My takeaway, more than anything, would be that they can't afford to switch off of Mobley on their 1-4 and 1-5 P&Rs.

Great breakdown. I like your recommendation of playing Goga (doesn't hurt that he's really good in addition to being a power center to counter Allen) and not switching.

[RookieStar]

Alright leeegggggooooo!!!

Im gonna watch this win or lose. Hopefully win.lol

[Last Guardian]

I think we need another bad loss for Mosely to start making big changes. I like the idea of Goga in this series, but we may need do go down 2 or 3 games before he gets desperate enough to actually do it.

[OnlyFranz22]

Glad we got the “NBA TV” stage

Gross

[thelead]

I had the Cavs in 6 but if the Magic want any shot of winning the series, they have to win tonight.

[Howard Mass]

Bally Sports on Spectrum is stuck on an alternate feed loop.

Might have to watch on APP.

[thelead]

Interesting to hear Haslem rooting for us... saying it's because he's from Florida.

[SOUL]

Interesting to hear Haslem rooting for us... saying it's because he's from Florida.

A lot of Heat fans lowkey like the Magic because they feel like we're their lil bro.. annoying or not, which is funny cause Magic fans hate the Heat lol

[eyriq]

Bally Sports on Spectrum is stuck on an alternate feed loop.

Might have to watch on APP.

NBA TV blackout, Bally app suckout. Magic market lolz

[Howard Mass]

I pay enough for Spectrum. They better switch on the TV feed.

[tooler]

They have Dante and Brian Hill doing takes for Hard Rock Bet? I’m getting tired of sports broadcasting…

[basketballRob]

Bally is working for me through Fubotv.

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[eyriq]

They have Dante and Brian Hill doing takes for Hard Rock Bet? I’m getting tired of sports broadcasting…

Betting money everywhere

[basketballRob]

I just want to get 3 games in Orlando.

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[thelead]

I pay enough for Spectrum. They better switch on the TV feed.

I have a legit service and an 'alternate' service... it is sad that my 'alternate' service has been more reliable for years than the legit service.

[basketballRob]

Fubotv is too expensive, and I'm dropping them after this month, but you can try them free for 1 week to watch the game. The bad is that they don't have TNT.

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