Predicting how the Cavaliers will do against the Southeast Division

How the Cavs stack up against the Magic

The Magic were a postseason team last season, and would appear to be on the rise.

Orlando is a pretty well-balanced squad, led by the likes of center Nikola Vucevic, who was an All-Star last season and had 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game (per NBA.com and reportedly re-signed this offseason), along with ridiculously athletic forward Aaron Gordon and wing Evan Fournier.

Steady veteran point guard D.J. Augustin (11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game) is a player that does a solid job of getting Orlando’s primary scoring threats, which also includes microwave bench scoring threat Terrence Ross (who also reportedly re-signed with Orlando this offseason) the ball in their sweet spots, and I’d imagine Augustin should be able to run offense in a pretty undeterred manner against the Cavaliers.

It’s not as if Sexton and/or Garland will be at a huge physical disadvantage against Augustin, but the veteran has been around a while, and he has good chemistry with Gordon, Vucevic, Ross and others, and it’s unclear if Love, Ante Zizic and others can matchup with the well-rounded Vucevic and it’s unclear to me as to who will matchup with Gordon, who could log considerable minutes at either the 3 or 4 against Cleveland and is an improving shooter and is always a threat for weak side lobs and is difficult to account for inside the arc.

Throw in some progression from forward Jonathan Isaac, and I’d think the Magic could have their way in dictating matchups against the Cavaliers. Ross, who is really explosive and can get separation with his handle, won’t be a great matchup for the likes of Osman, I’d think Windler and might be a tough catch-and-shoot/off-screen cover for them and/or Porter.

Orlando may not have the most high-powered offense (they were 22nd in offensive rating last year), but they are very unselfish, have players that know their roles, and move the ball well (Orlando was fifth in assist rate last year), which could be tough for the Cavs, who could be changing lineups all the time and lack overall defensive cohesion for long stretches next season.

On the offensive end, Cleveland should be able to get some production from their young backcourt pairing of Sexton and Garland against marginal defenders in Augustin and Fournier, and I’d think the pull-up game should be there for both a good amount.

Osman against the length and fluidity of Gordon and Isaac though I’d imagine will struggle on-ball, and with that being the case, it could be difficult for him to be freed up for drives and/or handoffs with a quality defender in Vucevic and Mohamed Bamba (if healthy) defending with their length and feel if screens do come, and that could force Osman’s primary defender back onto him, forcing a ball-swing.

I’m not sure how much Windler, Porter and/or Love would get catch-and-shoot looks off against the length of Orlando, either, and realistically, this is a matchup where late-clock bailouts from Clarkson and/or Sexton could be Cleveland’s primary offense for stretches.

That doesn’t really bode well.

Predicting the Cavs’ record against Orlando in 2019-20: 1-3

I don’t love this matchup for Cleveland, either.

The Magic are a team with a nice mix of veterans and younger pieces I believe that could make a considerable leap next season, and with that being the case, I’ll say Cleveland gets hot and takes one out of four.

The Orlando defense (eighth in defensive rating last year, per NBA.com) will miss rookie Chuma Okeke this year especially as a perimeter defender due to his reported ACL tear when he was in the NCAA tournament with Auburn now having the team “redshirt” him (per Shams Charania of the The Athletic and Stadium), but they’ll still be tough for the young Cavs.