3 things the Cavaliers took advantage of in their Game One win vs. Orlando Magic

Talk about making a statement. The Cleveland Cavaliers preached about throwing the first punch, learning from their loss to the New York Knicks last season, and being better prepared for this postseason run. Thankfully, they proved it in their wire-to-wire Game 1 victory against the Orlando Magic.

The Cavs hounded the Magic on both ends of the floor, specifically defensively, holding Orlando to 83 points on 33-percent shooting from the field. Cleveland did a great job leaning into the defense-first mentality that they have been building for the last few seasons.

There were a lot of reasons for a successful first game of the postseason, but a few key things stood out. Here are three things the Cavs took advantage of in their game one victory.

1. Cleveland's frontcourt took control

Plenty of questions have been raised about the fit between Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, especially after their flaws were exposed against the Knicks last season, causing Cleveland’s offense to struggle. Even this season when they were on the court together, the offense often felt clunky. Still, the Cavs would not have won Game One against Orlando without them.

Mobley and Allen combined for 32 points and 29 rebounds in the victory. They stifled the Magic at the rim, playing a pivotal part in Orlando shooting 33 percent from the field. Mobley individually defended Paolo Banchero, holding him to 0-for-4 shooting and two turnovers when he was the primary defender.

Mobley offensively was huge, as well. He completely wrecked Orlando’s game plan early: to sag off him and get him to shoot jump shots. He hit his first two three-pointers, causing them to switch their initial game plan. If Mobley continues to stretch the floor throughout this series, it could change everything for the Cavs’ offense.

As for Allen, the lights no longer looked bright for him. He was assertive and aggressive on the glass and he played with so much force on offense. He didn’t go up for soft layups with touch, he was dunking the ball every time he got the chance. It was the kind of performance the Cavs will need from Allen going forward.

2. The inexperience of the Magic

One thing you cannot teach in the playoffs is experience, a harsh lesson Cleveland learned last year. They amended that last offseason, bringing in Max Strus, Georges Niang and Tristan Thompson as well as signing Marcus Morris midseason to bring playoff experience and leadership to the locker room and court. Coming into game one, Cleveland had 359 games worth of playoff experience on the roster compared to 91 for Orlando. It showed in the Cavs’ victory.

Every time Orlando made a run, it seemed that Cleveland had an answer. The Cavaliers took a 12-point halftime lead, but the Magic cut it to four early in the third quarter. Still, Orlando could never break through and tie the game up, as the Cavs seemed to respond with a quick 5-0 or 6-0 run to extend the lead again.

In addition to that, Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs in their playoff debuts looked overwhelmed by the defensive pressure of the Cavs. Banchero did finish with 24 points on nine-of-17 shooting, but he also had nine of the Magic’s 12 turnovers. Wagner was a little better, but he missed a lot of open three-pointers and had a floater that clanked off the backboard. 

As for Suggs, he could not shoot the ball into Lake Erie, finishing four-of-16 from the field. Their playoff debut was not a good start for Orlando’s youngsters, and their inexperience was something the Cavs feasted on.

3. The Cavaliers' star guards shined

One advantage that the Cavs had coming into the series was their guard play with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Both averaged about 27 points per game in the games they played against the Magic in the regular season, and that dominance continued in Game One.

Mitchell was sensational and efficient, finishing with 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting. He looked healthier and had much more burst and explosiveness, which could be seen in his thunderous first-quarter slam. 

As for Garland, he battled through a back injury that flared up late in the game, but he looked better prepared to be the playoff floor general the Cavs are going to need. He finished with 14 points and eight assists, constantly slicing his way through the Magic’s defense to set up good looks for his teammates, Mobley and Allen specifically. He looked far more comfortable than he did last season.

The Magic’s guards simply could not keep up with Mitchell and Garland, especially on the offensive side. Suggs, Gary Harris and Cole Anthony combined for four-for-29 from the field. They obviously won’t do that for the rest of the series, but given the huge advantage the Cavs already have with their backcourt, Orlando cannot afford to play like this.

The Cleveland Cavaliers wanted to make a statement that they were ready to Let ‘Em Know this postseason, showing that in the first game. They now have to do it three more times, but they set the tone for this series with their wire-to-wire win.