The postseason history between the Celtics and Magic

With the Orlando Magic’s win over the Atlanta Hawks within the Play-In Event, the Celtics will probably be dealing with off in opposition to the Magic within the first spherical of the playoffs. Let’s have a look again on the matchups Boston has had in opposition to Orlando within the common season and in playoffs previous.

Common Season Head-to-Head Matchups

The Celtics performed the Magic 3 times this season and completed with a shedding document of 1-2. OnDecember twenty third, Jayson Tatum was dominated out proper earlier than tipoff with a abdomen bug. Even with out Tatum, the Magic had been lacking stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for this matchup so it seemed like a straightforward win for Boston. That was not the case. Behind rookie Tristian da Silva and a myriad of bench gamers, Orlando shockingly beat Boston 108-104 even with Jaylen Brown scoring 35 factors. The Celtics shot an abysmal 8-33 (24.2%) from three because the Magic’s bodily protection gave them bother.

Recreation 2 was again in Boston on January seventeenth and with a wholesome Jayson Tatum, the Celtics blew out the Magic 121-94. This was one of many few video games the place the Celtics had their beginning lineup utterly wholesome and everybody produced. Tatum led the way in which with 30 factors and Kristaps Porzingis was a matchup nightmare with 23 factors on 7-10 taking pictures. Banchero was again for the Magic presently however struggled with solely 21 factors on 8-20 taking pictures.

Recreation 3 was a throwaway recreation in a way as a result of the Celtics had already locked up the second seed within the East by April ninth whereas the Magic had been nonetheless preventing. Boston ran out their bench for your complete recreation and received smoked 96-76 in opposition to Orlando’s starters. Franz Wagner performed his first recreation in opposition to the Celtics this season and led the Magic with 23 factors.

Playoff Historical past

The Celtics and Magic have confronted off within the playoffs three totally different instances in NBA historical past and it’s Orlando who has the slight higher hand with a document of 8-9 all time. The primary time they matched up was in 1995 within the first spherical of the playoffs the place the Magic gained the collection 3-1. Boston was overmatched in each method on this collection as 35-year-old Dominique Wilkins was the Celtics main scorer for the collection at 19 factors and 10.8 rebounds. Recreation 4 of the collection was additionally the ultimate recreation the Celtics performed within the previous Boston Backyard and it was a 95-92 loss because the Magic gained the collection. The Magic led by Shaquille O’Neal did find yourself making the Finals that 12 months, shedding to the Houston Rockets.

The second matchup between these two groups didn’t occur once more till 2009 the place as soon as once more the Magic gained the collection 4-3, this time within the Jap Convention semifinals. Boston was attempting to repeat after successful the championship in 2008 and a rematch with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers seemed to be within the playing cards.

Nevertheless, Kevin Garnett was injured for the playoffs and that was an enormous blow for Boston because the Magic led by Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis took benefit. The Celtics had some unbelievable all-time moments on this collection together with Eddie Home scoring 31 factors off of the bench in Recreation 2 and Glen Davis hitting a recreation winner in Recreation 4. Nevertheless, though Boston took a 3-2 lead within the collection after Recreation 5, the Celtics couldn’t shut it out as they misplaced Recreation 6 in Orlando and received blown out in Recreation 7 again in Boston for a crushing option to finish the season. Similar to in 1995, the Magic would make the Finals once more, this time shedding to the Lakers.

These two groups didn’t have to attend lengthy to matchup with one another once more as the following 12 months in 2010 was the ultimate matchup and this time it got here within the Jap Convention Finals. This time, the Celtics would lastly get their revenge as they took down the Magic 4-2 within the collection. Garnett was wholesome and enjoying on this collection but it surely was Paul Pierce that took over, averaging an insane 24.3 factors on 51% taking pictures and scoring 31 factors within the deciding Recreation 6 to complete the collection.

This was one other hard-fought collection with tons of shut video games and though the Magic gained Video games 4 and 5 after the Celtics took a 3-0 collection lead, Boston was decided to make it to the Finals and completed the job at house in Recreation 6. Sadly, similar to the Magic the 12 months earlier than, the Celtics would lose the Finals to the Lakers.

Collection Prediction

Though historical past will not be on the Celtics facet, I nonetheless assume Boston will be capable to beat Orlando in 5 video games.

The Magic do have a terrific protection. Nevertheless, additionally they have lengthy lulls of their offense the place they will’t rating and it could possibly damage them at instances. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have had inconsistencies within the playoffs prior to now and with out Jalen Suggs, the Magic will probably be shorthanded. It additionally doesn’t assist that Magic followers dedicated the cardinal sin of chanting “We Need Boston” of their win in opposition to the Hawks and that didn’t appear to work so effectively final 12 months for all the groups that confronted the Celtics.

Boston ought to be capable to care for enterprise on this collection, however with all my years of being a Celtics fan, I’ve discovered to by no means depend out an opponent within the playoffs. Jaylen Brown remains to be coping with a knee damage and though everyone seems to be saying he’s superb, you by no means know. I’ll stay cautiously optimistic and simply hope for a terrific collection.