NBA Matchups: March 11

CLE @ ORL | TOR @ NOP | NYK @ UTA | HOU @ DEN | CHA @ SAC | MIN @ LAC

Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic (front end)

Team Totals: Cavs 115, Magic 111.5

Injury Report: Jarrett Allen (O, knee), Anthony Black (O, abdomen), Jonathan Isaac (Q, knee), Jase Richardson (Q, back)

Cavs projected starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley (Note: Could see Jaylon Tyson over Sam Merrill)

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Atkinson quotes: Said they had some slippage on defense (mid-fourth), said they told the bench guys that some guys are going to be squeezed in the rotation, said they like Bryant as the C2 because of more spacing, said they’ll continue to start Wade at the 3 but sometimes they might start Tyson at the 2, said he wants Harden to work with Mobley and Allen more to work on the PNR game.

Mosley quotes: Said they had a defensive clinic against the Bucks, said they were aggressive on both sides of the ball, said Suggs changes the game for them defensively when he’s guarding the ball.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Cavs are going to miss Jarrett Allen to hurt their rebounding and paint protection, which is a big deal against the Magic. Even without Allen, their defense was still somewhat solid in the last two games, and they have enough wing defense as well. They were also very good in transition in the last two games. Orlando’s offense is actually running hot, and they’ve been at least a 50th-percentile offense in four straight wins. They have been awesome on the boards on both sides of the ball, and they are going to really test the Cavs at the basket with extremely high rim frequency over the last eight games. Orlando’s defense has been awesome lately, and they were really taking away 3-pointers before the last two games against the Bucks and Wolves. They’re not going to single coverage quite as much, but it should still be a good spot for the on-ball Cavs.

*In the last two games with Donovan Mitchell back, James Harden had the bigger role with a wide lead in touch time, potential assists, and drives. The matchup for Harden is going to be much tougher, as I’d expect Jalen Suggs to handle him there, and Donovan likely gets the softer matchup in either Desmond Bane or Tristan da Silva. Mitchell’s role shrinking and his usage coming down a bit in March is concerning, though (26.4% in just two games). I’d still lean Mitchell for the matchup.

*Evan Mobley should be in an OK spot. Kenny Atkinson has talked about trying to get him more involved, and he is getting 8.5 paint touches per game in the last two (6.5 on the year). His matchup isn’t ideal with the Magic rebounding the ball really well.

*Paolo Banchero gets a really tough matchup in this spot. He’ll see Dean Wade for a ton of minutes. He did drop 37 against the Wade/Mobley duo, and he’s finally found his stroke on jumpers after a brutal slump. He’s fine.

*Desmond Bane should get the better matchup with a good bit of Jaylon Tyson off the bench, and the Cavs may start Tyson for defense. Bane is playing a ton, and he’s one of the hottest players since the break at a 70.1 TS% in his 10 post-break games. I love Bane here.

Great matchups: Donovan Mitchell, Desmond Bane

Good matchups: Evan Mobley

Bad matchups: Wendell Carter Jr., Sam Merrill

Toronto Raptors (back end) at New Orleans Pelicans