Celtics-Magic preview: Orlando's length could pose problem for Boston

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BOSTON – Playing with an edge has been an issue for the Boston Celtics at times this season. But not when playing the Orlando Magic, a team that the Celtics have absolutely crushed in their first two meetings this season. 

Boston (48-27) won each game by a decisive 30-point margin which has been the Celtics’ largest margin of victory this season. 

Another blowout tonight would be nice for the Celtics, but they would be just as content with adding another victory to the stack as they try to build on their lead in the East following Cleveland’s 99-93 loss at Chicago on Thursday night which put the Celtics (48-27) 0.5 games ahead of the Cavs (47-27) for the best record in the East. 

And let’s face it. 

You have to feel good about Boston’s chances of building upon that lead tonight in a game in which winning means more at this point to Boston than it does the Magic (27-48) who have already been eliminated from the playoffs for what will be the fifth straight season.

For the Magic, more losses can only improve their chances at landing the number one overall pick in June’s NBA draft. Orlando currently has the fourth-worst record in the NBA, just ahead of Brooklyn (16-58), the Los Angeles Lakers (21-53) and Phoenix Suns (22-53).

Despite their struggles, Orlando should not be overlooked. 

One of the factors in Boston’s loss to Milwaukee was the Bucks’ length at several positions. The Bucks have a starting five that has length, athleticism and size (6-foot-4 point guard Elfrid Payton is the smallest starter for Orlando) but also lots of youth (all Magic starters are 26 years old or younger) which has been a major factor in their struggles this season.

Magic big man Nikola Vucevic is a rebounding center with a nice touch around the basket as well as a decent face-up game. He's the kind of player Boston has had trouble dealing with all season. Vucevic, who has 33 double-doubles this season, is averaging 14.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

One way Boston may look to neutralize him and an Orlando team with lots of youth and athleticism, is to play more small-ball lineups. While it didn’t lead to a win against the Bucks on Wednesday, the Celtics going with a smaller lineup seemed to be their most effective unit.

The Celtics lineup of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder and Al Horford was on the floor for 10 minutes against Milwaukee. As a group, they shot 52.9 percent from the field – the best of any unit that played five or more minutes together – in addition to being +11 together which not surprisingly, was tops among the 19 different lineups head coach Brad Stevens played against the Bucks. 

“I felt like our small group was probably our most productive group (against the Bucks),” Stevens said. “But at the same time, it’s pretty significant in what you’re giving away in length.”

That’s not as big an issue against Orlando, although the Celtics know they can’t afford to take any team for granted – not even the Magic who truthfully have more to gain with a loss than the Celtics. 

But as the Oklahoma City Thunder recently discovered, the Magic aren’t just going to roll over for teams when the two met on Wednesday in what ended with a 114-106 overtime win for Oklahoma City. 

“We didn’t make enough plays to win the game,” Magic coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the loss. “You’ve got to play 48 minutes, and you’ve got to hit big shots. You’ve got to hit timely shots. You’ve got to make your free throws. You’ve got to take care of the basketball. And you’ve got to get whatever threat’s coming at you on their offensive end under control.”

Often when Boston loses, many of those factors come into play. While there are lots of contributing factors to Boston’s success, success ultimately comes down to one thing.

“Being consistent. That’s what we have to be,” said Boston’s Isaiah Thomas. “If we’re consistent and play like we know how to play, we’ll take care of business with these last … games. If we’re not, we’ll be up and down. Everybody is realizing what’s at stake and guys are locking in.”

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