Like the Thunder, the Magic looks like a “freshman” in these playoffs. The franchise has not been to the final stages since 2020, and has the 5th youngest squad in the league. However, like the Thunder, Jamahl Mosley's players show character, and they do not hesitate to flex their muscles and elbows against the much more experienced Cavaliers.
“The process is very good and we don’t waver,” underlines Jalen Suggs. “No one flinches, no matter the series, the injuries, the tough calls, all that affects us is just a little bit of adversity on top of that. I'm very proud of everyone for this. We can accept any outcome when we behave like this. We must act as we should, and be meticulous in our work. Sometimes the results don’t always go your way, but that’s life.”
Make the Cavaliers crack
Concretely, the Magic do not give up when the shots do not go in and this is almost the case at the start of every match. To make up for this awkwardness, they defend hard, and when the shots finally start to come in, it gives this one-sided 3rd quarter in Game 4.
“We remain focused on that” confirms Jonathan Isaac. “It gives us two minutes or three minutes where we can practice the defense that we are known for, and then we can take control in any game. This is what makes us dangerous and we demonstrated it this evening. »
Opposite, the Cavaliers are getting annoyed, and this leads to skirmishes… ” It's natural “, responds Wendell Carter whose two 3-point baskets broke the deadlock in the 3rd quarter. “When you play the same team so many times, especially after the first two games where they were grabbing everything they wanted on the rebound, it starts to chatter.”
Like when Jalen Suggs and Darius Garland got confused, to the point of collecting a technical each. “We all know them… and we have already played them in our progression. There is agitation, and that’s what we want. This is where we see the competitors when we compete against someone and the tone never changes. Attitude never changes” Suggs repeats.
