The Boston Celtics will go up against the Orlando Magic after the Magic dismantled the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday to determine the 7th seed of the Eastern Conference. Which team will advance in the NBA Playoffs?
Boston Celtics-Orlando Magic Preview
The reigning champs are second in the Eastern Conference this year with the third-best record in the league and the best record on the road. Led by star tandem Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics may have the matchup they were hoping the least to get.
The Boston Celtics faced the Magic three times this season and lost two of those contests. In the last game they played, the Celtics rested all of their starters in a monstrous 20-point Magic victory. The Orlando Magic are coming off one of their best games this season with a 25-point, 120-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the first play-in tournament game this year. With a third of those points accumulated from bench players Cole Anthony (26 points) and Anthony Black (16 points), the Magic are going to need better performances from their star players if they hope to take down the 2023-24 champs.
Former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero is having his best year yet with averages of 25. 9 ppg and 7.5 rebounds. Banchero missed 34 games this year with a torn oblique. The Celtics are cruising into the playoffs, winning 8 of their last 10 with a well-rested lineup. Their only loss in the past 6 games came to the Orlando Magic.
The Boston Celtics have three players who are all close to averaging 20 points per game. Tatum is leading the team with 26.8 points, Brown falls slightly behind with 22.2, and Kristaps Porzingis with an average of 19.5. It’s clear the C’s outpower this young Magic team, and while I can’t picture Boston getting bounced in the first round, I can see this Celtics team dropping one or even two games. One of those losses could come in either Game 1 or Game 2.
Final Thoughts
The Magic looks good. Led by a strong defense, the Magic can find themselves in any game. If not for devastating injuries to star players Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Mo Wagner, the Magic could have obtained a higher seeding. This isn’t the matchup the Boston Celtics or anybody would want in the first round. This Magic team is feisty and can jump out to quick leads if you don’t come prepared. Expect decisive victories coming from both sides in every one of these games, and don’t be shocked to see the Magic shaking things up for the defending champs.
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