The NBA playoffs are finally here, and the No. 2 Boston Celtics have their first-round opponent: the Orlando Magic. Game 1 tips off Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The Magic, who reached the postseason via the play-in tournament, are a tough, scrappy team that won’t be shy beneath the bright lights. Led by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, the Magic are a feisty defensive team that can hang with the best. Banchero averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, and more than four assists this season.
This Orlando team is more experienced than it was last year, too. Heck, the Magic took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games and were very close to eliminating them in the first round.
But, hey, although the Magic will be a tough team to put away, the Celtics should have enough depth to overwhelm Orlando.
Payton Pritchard is essentially a lock for Sixth Man of the Year, while Sam Hauser is finding his shooting form after a bit of a dip from the first quarter of the season. And when Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford are out, Luke Kornet has been a key player down low.
I believe the Magic will hang around for most games in this series. I’m just not sure they have enough offense to go bucket-for-bucket with Boston.
In their defense, not many teams do.
Jayson Tatum has once again led Boston in points, steals, assists, and rebounds. With Jaylen Brown not being 100 percent healthy for this playoff run, Boston needs Tatum to reach legendary status.
The only thing stopping this team from bringing home banner 19: injury.
Last season, Boston was fortunate Porzingis didn’t miss as many games as he could have. If he can stay healthy and Brown’s knee doesn’t become more of an issue, the Celtics still have the best roster in the NBA – top to bottom.
However, I’m pretty superstitious and I don’t like to look too far down the road. Orlando will be tougher than people think…
As a matter of fact, they remind me of the Pacers from last year. Yes, the Celtics swept them, but every game was a battle until the final second and that series could have easily gone to Game 7 if Indiana closed out two games.
It’s one game at a time. Boston can’t look down on anyone, even if its roster is superior on paper.
Also, when you’re the reigning league champion, you always have a target on your back. Or, as Coach Joe Mazzulla once said:
“People are going to say the target’s on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead between our eyes,” he said. “I hope I can see the red dot.”
See you Sunday.
