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Cavs experts on Magic have thoughts on Cavaliers' hot start with Kenny Atkinson | Ulrich
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- Cavs experts on Magic have thoughts on Cavaliers' hot start with Kenny Atkinson | Ulrich
CLEVELAND — The Orlando Magic should know the Cavaliers better than any other NBA opponent.
Well, except for maybe the Detroit Pistons because they're led by former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff .
Last season, the Magic clashed with the Cavs 11 times, four in the regular season and seven in the first round of the playoffs . It would be a dozen encounters if you count preseason, but let's not go there with a meaningless exhibition game.
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The point is the Magic ought to be experts on what the Cavs did well and didn't do well last season, what they're doing well and not doing well this season and the differences between the 2023-24 Cavs under Bickerstaff and the 2024-25 Cavs under coach Kenny Atkinson . No other team played the Cavs last season as much as the Magic did.
Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the first quarter Friday in Cleveland.
From a roster perspective, the Cavs are virtually the same now as they were last season. The franchise has wagered its coaching change will elevate a nearly identical group of players to greater playoff success coming off a 4-1 elimination from the Eastern Conference semifinals against the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics .
The sample size right now is way too small to render a judgment, and the 2025 postseason will ultimately determine whether the Cavs made the right call by swapping Bickerstaff for Atkinson. With those disclaimers in mind, early signs about what the Cavs can be this season are promising.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) defends Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) in the first quarter Friday in Cleveland.
By defeating the Magic 120-109 on Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse , the Cavs improved to 6-0, tying the second-best start to a season in team history. They also went 6-0 in 2016-17 and started 8-0 in 1976-77.
"They're a really good team," Magic center Moritz Wagner told the Beacon Journal. "They're very well balanced, and they're really deep. They can shoot in all four positions all the time, so it's really difficult to guard."
The Cavs set a franchise record for their highest point differential through six games, outscoring those opponents by a combined 102 points. Entering Saturday night's matchup at Milwaukee , the Cavs had scored 120 points or more in four games.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) looks to pass while being defended by Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) and guard Anthony Black (0) in the first quarter Friday in Cleveland.
Cavs brass hired Atkinson to enhance the offense first and foremost. He has stressed the importance of increased pace, space, movement and 3-point shooting. Entering Saturday, the team ranked second in the NBA in offensive rating (122.4 points per 100 possessions) and points per game (124.7), trailing the Celtics in both categories (123.4 offensive rating and 125.5 points per game).
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"Playing a lot faster, shooting more 3s, I think that's very apparent ... so their ability to get out and play fast [is being featured]," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "[Atkinson's] rotations are a little bit different in the way in which he gets those guys off the court, then back on the court together to go against a second line."
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley reacts in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in Cleveland.
Bickerstaff created the Cavs' defensive identity, and Atkinson is determined to maintain it amid stylistic changes on offense. To reiterate, the Atkinson era is merely in its infancy, but the Cavs ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating (106.1) and fifth in fewest points allowed per game (107.7) heading into the weekend.
In other words, they outscored their first six opponents by an average of 124.7-107.7. The numbers reflect an impressive level of overall dominance. Through Friday, the Cavs and Oklahoma City Thunder (5-0) were the NBA's only undefeated teams.
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"The [defensive] foundation was laid [by Bickerstaff]," Mosley said. "I think that's a big portion of it. You have the same exact group that comes back. Their fundamentals were incredible. The way they improved every single year under J.B. I think was fantastic, and I think they have that identity already. That's the identity he laid in, and so I think with Kenny coming in, you just lean into a little bit more of that — what was already laid by J.B."
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 2, 2024, in Cleveland.
With forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen protecting the rim, Atkinson doesn't need to be a genius on the defensive end of the floor. However, he does need buy-in, and he's received it so far. He became the eighth coach in NBA history to win his first six games with a new team.
"I think if you've got Mobley and Allen, you're going to be a good defensive team, regardless of who the coach is," Magic forward Jonathan Isaac said.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) brings the ball up court in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in Cleveland.
The Magic (3-3) have respect for the Cavs and excellent insight about them after the two teams fought tooth and nail last season. They split the regular-season series 2-2 before the Cavs took the playoff series during a wild Game 7 in which they rallied from an 18-point, second-quarter hole.
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A good amount of sizzle was removed from Friday's showdown because the Magic's best player, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero , is out with a torn right oblique. Banchero is to Orlando what All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is to Cleveland.
Still, Cavs versus Magic feels like a rivalry in the making.
"I think it's inevitable," Isaac said.
Moe Wagner isn't quite ready to use the label.
"I don't think either of the teams have won enough, anything for that matter, to be called a rivalry," he said. "So, no. But it's competitive games. It's a hostile environment. It's fun. That's what you train for."
Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) drives to the basket past Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) in the first quarter Friday in Cleveland.
Perhaps there is a rivalry brewing between a certain player and a fan base, though. Wagner irritated Cavs fans enough last season for them to continue booing him Friday night. He explained he doesn't receive as much grief from any other crowd in the league.
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"No, they piss me off," Wagner said. "I'm not going to lie. It takes me a lot of energy to stay focused, but I'm willing to invest that. I do think it's fun to a certain degree. At a certain point, it becomes a little personal, but I'm getting better at locking in on the game and not getting distracted."
Give Wagner points for honesty, and his view is understandable.
Again, the Cavs and Magic were repeatedly at each other's throats last season, plenty of familiarity exists and they'll reunite Feb. 25 in Orlando and March 16 in Cleveland, so ... stay tuned.
In the meantime, the Cavs are the Eastern Conference's hottest team out of the gate this season.
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Magic know Cleveland Cavs well, are impressed by Cavaliers' hot start
