In a tough and defensive series between the Magic and the Cavaliers, the latter clearly got off to the best start, with a two-win advantage before heading to Florida.
While neither team has really found its attacking rhythm, and that's an understatement, especially not the Magic who have a pitiful 23% 3-point success, including 1/10 for Jalen Suggs or 3/11 for Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac, the Cavaliers can count on their two recruits from last summer to limit the damage.
It's not just shooting…
However, Max Strus and Georges Niang combine an ugly 2/18 at 3-points for the moment in the series, the two veteran wingers having not yet adjusted the sights. In the meantime, JB Bickerstaff is not worried about them. Because they contribute to other sectors.
“You saw their state of mind. You were also able to see their basketball IQ and their know-how to win a playoff game,” appreciates the coach in The Athletic. “The impact of a player is more evident on the pitch, but there is also the state of mind that influences the team. Being with a player who knows how to win helps everyone. »
With their experience in the playoffs, Strus and Niang actually provide a form of emotional stability for the Cavs who do not have much experience, like the young Garland, Mobley or even Allen.
“Max is very present on rebounds. He also finds a lot of passes. He plays the game the right way,” adds JB Bickerstaff. “I'm not worried about his shooting, because I know he's going to influence the game no matter what. »
On defensive mission
If Max Strus makes life difficult for Franz Wagner, Georges Niang has to deal with his brother Moe under the panels. And despite a size deficit, he fights, even if his defense has often been criticized.
“In the NBA, we are quickly labeled, in my case, it’s that of the shooter”explains Georges Niang. “But, even more than me, Max influences the game more than through his shooting. There's more to basketball than just shooting. We can influence the game in defense with our energy and our intelligence. »
By thus sacrificing himself on specific and fundamental defensive missions, Georges Niang's defensive efforts did not go unnoticed either…
“ [Coach] said that? »he smiles. “It makes me very happy because, throughout my career, I had to tear myself away. I have played basketball my whole life and as a competitor, I see myself as a winner. In the NBA, I had to get rid of labels and clichés. It is not easy. So for him to say that, it means a lot to me because I take pride in my defense. It annoys me when my opponents try to score against me because I have my pride. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Donovan Mitchell | 55 | 35.3 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 26.6 |
| Darius Garland | 57 | 33.3 | 44.6 | 37.1 | 83.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 6.5 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 18.0 |
| Jarrett Allen | 77 | 31.7 | 63.4 | 0.0 | 74.2 | 3.2 | 7.4 | 10.5 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 16.5 |
| Evan Mobley | 50 | 30.6 | 58.0 | 37.3 | 71.9 | 2.2 | 7.1 | 9.4 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 15.7 |
| Caris Levert | 68 | 28.8 | 42.1 | 32.5 | 76.6 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 14.0 |
| Max Strus | 70 | 32.0 | 41.8 | 35.1 | 79.4 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 12.2 |
| Isaac Okoro | 69 | 27.3 | 49.0 | 39.1 | 67.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 9.4 |
| Georges Niang | 82 | 22.3 | 44.9 | 37.6 | 85.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 9.4 |
| Sam Merrill | 61 | 17.5 | 40.2 | 40.4 | 92.9 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 8.0 |
| Marcus Morris | 12 | 15.0 | 44.1 | 41.4 | 62.5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 5.8 |
| Craig Porter, Jr. | 51 | 12.7 | 50.9 | 35.3 | 73.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 5.6 |
| Dean Wade | 54 | 20.5 | 41.4 | 39.1 | 76.9 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 5.4 |
| Tristan Thompson | 49 | 11.2 | 60.8 | 0.0 | 28.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| Damian Jones | 39 | 6.9 | 59.7 | 21.4 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
| Emoni Bates | 15 | 8.9 | 30.6 | 30.3 | 25.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
| Isaiah Mobley | 10 | 7.2 | 41.7 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Ty Jerome | 2 | 7.4 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Pete Nance | 8 | 3.4 | 16.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
