The NBA regular season has concluded and the postseason is officially underway! This Eastern Conference playoff series features a matchup between the #5 Orlando Magic and the #4 Cleveland Cavaliers. The winner of this series will have their sights set on a potential matchup with the Celtics, 76ers, or Heat.
Before Betting on Magic vs Cavs
The Magic rode their talented and youthful roster to a postseason appearance for the first time since 2019-20. Orlando is still seeking its first playoff series win since the 2009-10 season. They’re set up well this year, landing as the Eastern Conference’s 5-seed after closing out the regular season with a triumphant win over the Bucks.
Orlando is led by 21-year-old phenom Paolo Banchero, who has already proven his worth as the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Banchero took a big step forward in his sophormore season, most notably raising his field goal percentage from 42.7% to 45.5%. He’ll aim to continue raising his efficiency in this series against the Cavs.
Cleveland returns to the postseason as the 4-seed for the second consecutive season. They’ll be facing a young, upstart team once again, very similar to last year. While the Cavaliers fell to the Knicks in five games last season, they should be better positioned to compete with the Magic. That being said, Orlando’s similarities to last season’s Knicks in age and defensive identity are definitely noticeable.
In order to avoid another disappointment, Cleveland will rely on Donovan Mitchell, who had an up-and-down season marred by injuries. Mitchell’s future in Cleveland could be determined by its success over the next two months, so he’ll be looking for notable impacts from Darius Garland and Evan Mobley as well.
Magic vs Cavs Offshore Odds
This should be a competitive clash between two hard-nosed teams with a lot of talent. The Cavaliers have a major advantage in terms of experience, but are also in a vulnerable position to be potentially upset once again. Orlando is absolutely good enough to win this series, but I see their lack of playoff experience causing them to come up just short in a seven-game series.
