The 2024 NBA Playoffs are upon us. The first round of the postseason figures to feature several marquee matchups.
There’s the third installment of the Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Clippers series out West. The 4-5 face-off gives Luka Doncic a chance to avenge his first two playoff exits both at the hands of LAC.
The Boston Celtics could also potentially match up against either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Miami Heat. Both are bitter rivals who offer different kinds of intrigue as the prospective first challenge to the top-seeded Celtics.
But not all first-round series are created equal. Some fans seem to believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic series out East is the worst of the bunch.
Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic Mocked As Worst Of The NBA Playoffs’ First-Round
After seedings were determined following Sunday’s slate of games, some fans dubbed Cavaliers-Magic as the potential snoozefest series in round one.
Cavs magic first round pic.twitter.com/XEtvnE1fFK
— 🅖🅛🅐🅒🅘🅔🅡 ™️❄️ (@biggglacier) April 15, 2024
Cavaliers and Magic got some of the most boring offenses in history that series bout to be hot ass yo
— ⋆ (@FeelLikeAnt) April 14, 2024
Others mockingly referred to the Cavs-Magic series as the “NBA TV” series, meaning that the national TV networks would likely select other series if given the choice.
With all due respect, Cavs/Magic is the most NBA TV The Ocho series I think I’ve ever seen.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 14, 2024
Cavs vs Magic is the most NBA TV bound series of all time
— Jake (@SuperiorNBA) April 14, 2024
That's the most "1 pm ET on ESPN to start the playoffs" game I've ever seen.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) April 14, 2024
But some defended the series — fittingly citing the potential defensive showcase the matchup could put on. Both the Magic and the Cavaliers have awesome defenders in their respective lineups.
Yall hate on good defensive matchups like Cavs Magic but complain about high scoring games and the league being too offensive sided… pic.twitter.com/HzQz9HtkM6
— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) April 15, 2024
Hilarious how everyone complains about the lack of defense today but nobody is going to prioritize watching the Cavs/Magic series
— Grant Shirley (@Grant_Shirley4) April 15, 2024
The Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic NBA Playoff Series Doesn’t Deserve The Shade
The Magic have guys like Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs alongside their big wing stars in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. It will be interesting to see how Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley strategizes to stop the Cavs’ star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the interior. Isaac Okoro would also likely draw the assignment of guarding either one of Wagner or Banchero at times.
There’s also the narrative that the Cavaliers seemed to have intentionally lost in their final game of the season in order to draw the Magic in the first round. Cleveland blew a late lead against the Charlotte Hornets by deploying their benchwarmers. Orlando may potentially take things personally.
The Cavaliers-Magic series may indeed be the worst in terms of a combination of media market size and star power. But that’s no slight to how intriguing the series could be. The NBA playoffs are just stacked with talented teams and All-Star talent that make the first round a treat for most fans.