Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics (Oct. 22, 2022): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic search for their first win of the season as they welcome the high-powered Boston Celtics to the Amway Center for their home opener.
Orlando Magic (0-2) vs. Boston Celtics (2-0)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-CELTICS ON FUBO TV
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Line: Celtics by 9
Tickets: $91-$4,008 on StubHub
Season Series: Tonight in Orlando; Dec. 16 in Boston; Dec. 18 in Boston; Jan. 23 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 96.3 | 123.4 | 114.5 | 62.1 | 29.9 | 16.1 | 26.7 |
| Orlando | 101.5 | 102.0 | 108.9 | 50.9 | 25.0 | 18.2 | 29.5 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic were once again pointing to their mistakes in the fourth quarter as the reason why they let another lead slip. That should be some sign the team is not so far away from a win but also a sign of just how much growth and precision this team needs. Some point guard depth would not hurt either with Jalen Suggs listed as OUT for Saturday’s home opener with a right ankle sprain.
The team just needs an organizer to calm them down some in the heat of the chaos of winning time. That is something really only experience is going to teach teams. And this young team has a lot of learning to do.
Making a few shots would not hurt either.
The Boston Celtics have not had those problems early in the season. They have been a juggernaut in running through both the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat to open their season. They have had some defensive issues but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been scoring at another level and the Celtics added some major depth this offseason.
Not even a home opener may be able to stop that kind of momentum.
110. 38. Prediction. 112. 18
3 Keys To Watch
Shoot your shot
The Orlando Magic’s problems still seem to stem from the offensive end. Before even getting into the turnover issues and how the Magic have struggled to protect the ball or maintain their poise in the fourth quarter, the team just needs to hit shots.
The Orlando Magic shot 11 for 30 from deep against the Detroit Pistons and then an icy 8 for 34 against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. It is not that the team is shooting too many threes. If anything, the Magic probably need to find more 3-point opportunities, they are just missing them.
According to data from NBA.com, the Magic have taken 57 of their 64 3-pointers with the closest defender four or more feet away. Orlando has made just 18 of those attempts (31.6 percent).
This all says the Magic are getting the kind of quality 3-pointers they are looking for. It suggests there is a lot of this offense that is working (and thanks to increased free throws <cough> Paolo Banchero <cough> the Magic offense has stayed afloat). But at the end of the day, the team needs to hit its shots to survive.
Celtics with a vengeance
It is very difficult to go to the NBA Finals and repeat as champions. It is probably just as difficult to return to the NBA Finals as the defending runners-up.
It is something that has not happened since the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors had their quartet of Finals from 2015-18 and the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat had their duo of series from 2013-14. It had not happened before that since the Los Angeles Lakers topped the Orlando Magic in 2009.
It can be done and the Celtics do not want to be reduced to the scrap heap of history after finally having their breakthrough to get to the Finals. That is certainly how they are playing early on.
Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are capable scorers and they have played pretty effectively to start their season. But Boston has gotten a ton of contributions from their newfound depth.
But this team goes as Tatum and Brown go right now. Both are averaging more than 30 points per game to start the season. And both can go off simultaneously to power their team to a win with their ability to break down defenses one on one.
Winning time
The Orlando Magic’s biggest struggle through two games has come in winning time in the fourth quarter.
The Magic have an overall offensive/defensive rating of 102.0/108.9 so far this season (the offensive number is still pretty bad but that defensive number is encouraging). The team’s overall turnover rate is at a pretty terrible 18.2 percent.
But in the fourth quarter, the floor completely drops off offensively. The Magic have an offensive rating of 87.8 points per 100 possessions (although they give up only 104.2 points per 100 possessions). The team’s turnover rate sits at 14.3 percent.
There is a lot to clean up in the early season for the Magic. These are still insanely small sample sizes and there is plenty of time to shift and change.
But right now the Magic’s biggest problem is their inability to score. That amplifies their mistakes and makes their turnovers more harmful. The misses allow for fast-break opportunities (they give up 22.0 fast-break points per game with 4.0 per game coming in the fourth quarter).
dark. Next. Orlando Magic experiment with Franz Wagner at the point
The Magic are doing a lot of good things. But there are these missing details that hurt the team in critical moments in the fourth. And that is where the team needs to greatly improve to stay in and eventually win these games.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.