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The 2010 Orlando Magic prove Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers have work to do

By Philip Rossman-Reich

May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket during the second quarter in the second round of game 4 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket during the second quarter in the second round of game 4 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic’s 2010 run to the conference finals shows the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors still have work to do to win a title.

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have run roughshod through the NBA Playoffs through eight games.

For the first time since the league expanded to a seven-game series in each round of the Playoffs, two teams have reached the Conference Finals at 8-0, sweeping their way through the first two rounds. Only five teams entering this season had accomplished that feat. Only one — last year’s Cavaliers — won the championship.

Even though the Warriors and Cavaliers have dominated the Playoffs — the Warriors have won their eight games by an average margin of 16.6 points per game with just one game decided by fewer than 10 points and the Cavaliers have won by an average margin of 9.6 points per game — none of it matters as they enter the conference finals.

No franchise knows that more than the Orlando Magic.

In 2010, the Magic dominated through the first two rounds of the Playoffs, sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic’s 24.5-point per game margin of victory in that second round series against the Hawks is still the largest margin of victory in a four-game series in league history.

Orlando finished that season 33-8. The team seemed well on its way to another clash with the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. In any case, Orlando looked like a strong contender to return to the Finals and, maybe, get that rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers.

That was not in the cards ultimately.

The Magic lost the first two games against the Boston Celtics at home and fell behind 3-0 in the series. The team fought to get it to six games, but could not delay the inevitable. The Celtics went to the NBA Finals.

Orlando learned as much as any team there is no rhyme or reason to success in the Playoffs, as I wrote for The Step Back earlier this week. Teams who are successful and playing really strong can fall apart quickly. Each series is its own individual series and challenge.

"It was the Magic’s turn in 2010. Orlando was not an inexperienced team, having gone to the Finals the year before. They seemed to have control over the top-seeded Cavaliers and every opportunity to make the Finals again. Orlando finished 33-8 to end the season and won the next eight games. The Magic defeated the Hawks in the second round by an average margin of 25.3 points per game. The closest game was 14 points.The Boston Celtics went up 3-0, stealing the first two games at the Amway Arena in Orlando, and won the series in six. The Magic crumpled — thanks to a pair of missed Vince Carter free throws, among other big issues like the Celtics being an experienced championship team. That began the Magic’s fall and the Dwight Howard saga that followed."

The lesson of the 2010 Magic, and, in fact, every team that went 8-0 before last year’s Cavaliers, is exactly that. There is no telling when things may turn for the worse.

The wrong matchup could doom any team. Rust may or may not be real with long layoffs between series. Iron may sharpen iron. Even the hottest teams in the league can get beat.

Judging by how these Playoffs have gone, it is not likely the Warriors or the Cavaliers are going to slow down anytime soon. The San Antonio Spurs will provide a stern challenge to the Warriors. Just as the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards will provide a challenge to the Cavaliers.

Nobody seems ready to expect either team to sweep their way into the Finals. Then again. . . the dominance in this Playoffs suggests it might indeed happen.

Teams have to learn to adjust and go through the battles in the Playoffs. But then again the Warriors and Cavaliers have been through these battles the last several years.

Next: Frank Vogel has a better grasp of his team now

The 2010 Magic, and the several other teams that went 8-0 before them, will stand as lessons for the Warriors and Cavaliers as they try to make their way back to the Finals.