WFNY Staff Chat: Cavs are in the playoffs!
Which player is under the most pressure to perform and have a strong series?
Dave: It's a tough question. Donovan Mitchell has yet to get over his "bad in the playoffs" reputation. Darius Garland has shied away from scoring lately, and Evan Mobley, while consistent still seems poised to make a leap. But I'll get you on a technicality and say that it has to be JB Bickerstaff. He can't be out-coached this series.
Seth: The best player in the series, Donovan Mitchell. He is the engine of the team and has far exceeded my expectations since the trade, but, the fact of the matter is he has underperformed in two straight playoff series losses. The timing isn't ideal as he's continuing to progress from his knee injury, but, with great power comes great responsibility and there's no doubt Donovan feels pressure to show the NBA world he can lead a team beyond the first round again.
Matt: The Cavs collectively have a ton of pressure to win the first round, but from a reputation standpoint, it’s Donovan Mitchell. We all know he’s a star player in the NBA and has been a borderline MVP candidate since he first donned Wine and Gold, but the playoffs are where the conversation starts and ends. The last two years have been ugly, falling well below the expectations he established as one of the better postseason performers in his early days in Utah. A third postseason in a row of disappearing would further cement the doubt that he can’t get it done as the best player on a playoff team.
Andrew: I want to say Darius Garland in some ways because I think he's more of a wild card than Donovan, but as the face of the franchise, the answer just has to be Mitchell. It's not a fair comparison, but when the Cavs had LeBron, we never gave the first round a second thought. We certainly never questioned whether LeBron would make an impact or not. I love Donovan Mitchell and want the Cavs to build around him, but the pressure is definitely on him to make a playoff statement.
Corey: I think it’s Donovan Mitchell by a country mile. Mitchell’s reputation as a playoff underperformer is close to being cemented and another dud in the first round could be the clincher. Last year Spida averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists during the regular season and actually managed 23.2/5.0/7.2 against the Knicks but it just wasn’t enough. He doesn’t need to go off for 50 points per game (though that couldn’t hurt), but he needs to be aggressive, trust that his knee is healed, and not settle for lesser shots.
Chris: Everyone? Does JB count? Donovan has the most to lose, Garland has the most to gain, but I'm gonna put the pressure on Evan Mobley. Rumblings have started that he has been a disappointment after his rookie campaign, as far as offensively. He has to keep performing through this series like he ended the year to quiet the silly talk of Scottie Barnes passing him up (or silly comparisons like Derrick Favors). If Mobley has a star series, the Cavs move on to round 2.
Gerbs: Echoing everyone here: it's JB if it's a "member of the organization", but Mitchell if it's a player. I don't know that JB keeps the job after this season short of a Finals appearance, but losing in the first round, especially after the way Game 82 went down...he gone. And Mitchell for basically the same reasons: his star is waning around the league with injuries plaguing him this year and if he wants to keep his status, he needs to put the team on his back like Greg Jennings.
Which individual match-up are you most looking forward to?
Dave: I don't know anyone on the Magic and I refuse to google them. So Jarrett Allen out-rebounding whoever their tallest guy is.
Seth: This is tricky. Orlando has two otherworldly defenders in Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac, the latter of whom led the league in defensive rating by nearly three full points. I could see both players guarding Donovan Mitchell for stretches throughout the series, but I'm most looking forward to watching Evan Mobley on Orlando's top offensive option, Paolo Banchero. There is so much focus on Evan's offensive evolution, and deservedly so, but the Cavs need him to match Banchero's physicality in this series and I look forward to watching him rise to the moment.
Matt: Evan Mobley on Paulo Banchero is the most intriguing to me. With the tightened rotations and Dean Wade being MIA for the first round as the team's biggest and best wing defender, Mobley must be tasked to shut off Banchero’s water. He’s more than capable of doing so, especially with a proclivity to draw fouls; Mobley matches up well as he only commits 4.3 fouls per 100 possessions. I feel very confident that Mobley being a fundamentally sound defender, along with the refs allowing more physicality in the playoffs, that he can match up well with Orlando’s best player.
Andrew: Evan Mobley on Paolo Banchero. No question for me. This is Evan's moment to make a statement of his own. Last year he was 3rd in DPOY voting. Injuries have been a big part of it, but Evan hasn't been quite the same consistent defensive force. It's come in spurts. The Cavs will need him to do as much as possible to contain Paolo in this series. It's a huge task.
Corey: How about J.B. Bickerstaff vs. Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley? Bickerstaff’s seat is so hot I don’t expect him to sit down the whole playoff run. Rumors of behind-the-scenes discord paired with strange rotation choices and questionable late game play calling have put J.B. under an unbearable microscope. Any mistakes, small or large, could put him out of a job before May. Mosley, on the other hand, will be coaching his first playoff game on Saturday. A former Cavs assistant (2010-14), Mosley is in his third season with the Magic and has leveled them up from 22 to 34 to 47 wins. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles the bright lights of the postseason.
Chris: Jarrett Allen vs Wendell Carter Jr/Jonathan Isaac/Mo Wagner. Allen has a chance to outplay his "lights too bright" comment from last year. He was All-Star-caliber this year before slowing down towards the end of the regular season with apparent fatigue. He needs to keep his midrange shot sharp and defense strong to keep the Magic from bullying in the paint like they want to do. Also, Mo Wagner made himself a Cleveland villain last time these teams played, so a few Fro throwdowns on him would be so tasty.
Gerbs: Mobley/Paolo. If you thought Mitchell's status is low, the people who talk are lumping Mobley in with guys like Derrick Favors and others. And with all respect to Favors, Mobley is a perennial DPOY candidate and needs to start acting like it. He can absolutely be the best No. 2 on a title team and he needs to show out.
Who is the biggest bench x-factor for the series?
Dave: Caris LeVert has been the Cavs' best player over the last few weeks. If Donovan's knee is really holding him back, LeVert will need to carry some of the scoring load.
Seth: A healthy Dean Wade would be a significant win for the Cavs. Orlando has rare size and will likely start three guys over 6'9 (Banchero, Wagner, and Isaac), so having the ability to turn to Dean Wade at small forward would go a long way to compete with Orlando's length.
Matt: Issac Okoro will be it for me. I think he’s improved tremendously on offense and even somehow leveled up on defense, but will it translate to the playoffs? This question is even more pressing with Dean Wade’s absence, as Okoro is the most capable wing defender on the roster, especially with him looking to be assigned to Franz Wagner and Paulo Banchero coming off the bench. On a team with a lot to prove, we all know he’s an 82-game player; it is time for him to show that he can be a 16-game player.
Andrew: We know Caris will get a ton of minutes and he's been awesome this year for the Cavs, so I'm tempted here to say Caris. But honestly? This is probably going to be such a tight defensive series that I'm going to say Sam Merrill. I don't know how healthy he is after missing the end of the regular season, but if he can go, I think JB needs to find minutes for him in this series to open up the halfcourt offense. I can see Merrill winning a game in this series for the Cavs with a crazy hot shooting night.
Corey: Word is, Sam Merrill is health and ready to sling it. Cavs fans better hope so. During the second LeBron era Cleveland enjoyed shooters who could pop off the bench ice cold and casually splash three to five triples from deep. Kyle Korver comes to mind. Merrill is certainly not in that class right now, but the 27-year-old could make a big difference in this series. Against the Magic in three regular season games he poured in 4 points (1-of-2 from deep), 6 points (2-of-4), and 26 points (8-of-13).
Chris: Georges Niang, for his shot potential. I'm imagining him on a 3pt hot streak akin to Channing Frye against the Atlanta Hawks in 2016. Now I'm imagining the Cavs playing in Round 2. Defense is for nerds, even though The Minivan has been passable there in the regular season. Still, the important part is letting the shots fly.
Gerbs: If it's bench guys, it's LeVert. There's no big scorer on Orlando for Okoro to lock down, Niang shouldn't need to bang with bigs for boards, and Wade likely isn't healthy. LeVert will need to be the scorer off the bench in second-team units and play off the passive Garland when Mitchell gets a blow.
What is your series prediction and why?
Dave: Cavs in 5. Win the first 2 at home, split in Orlando and win it on the home floor.
Seth: If Mitchell was fully healthy and Wade was available, I'd pick a shorter series. With the uncertainty, Cavs in 7
Matt: I’ll tentatively say Cavs in six, but they can make this a quick series if they bring their A-game.
Andrew: I'm not a big prediction guy, but I am a guy who think playoff experience matters. The Cavs have it, the Magic don't. I think the Cavs should win the series. I don't know how many games, but 6 or 7 feels like a pretty real possibility.
Corey: Predictions in the playoffs are tough. The Cavs finished with only one more win than the Magic so there is no major gulf on the table. The many-times-burned fan in me says Magic in six, but assuming the Wine and Gold learned something from last year I’m willing to squint and say Cavs in 7.
Chris: Cavs in 6. Playoff experience matters, and most of the Cavs players and coaches have their backs against the wall right now. The Magic had a nice season, but the Cavs should be desperate to win. I fear I'm dreaming up this outcome more than predicting it, but either the Cavs "Let Em Know" or we see big changes this offseason.
Gerbs: If they didn't have home court, I'd go against Cleveland, that's how low the vibes are right now. But! playing (hopefully not) four games at home is helpful. If they can take Game 3 in Orlando, it can be done in 5. Otherwise, it's gonna be a long one.