CLEVELAND — Wait a second... That certainly didn't look like that Cavaliers team I’ve been hearing about, that soft-willed, weak-kneed, regular-season-darlings-but-playoff-dandelions squad that I've been hearing so much about leading up to that gritty, thorough shellacking they just administered in Game 1.
I thought they were supposed to fold like a house of cards when confronted by this young, aggressive Orlando team. What happened to the Mighty Wagner Brothers? Why were they not able to exert their German will on my gentle giants and push them around?
(That wasn't great, but neither are the Wagners)
I believe what we might have here is a case of lowered expectations. And it's not the Cavs' fault; it's ours.
Remember last year when Jarrett Allen caught a bunch of flack for admitting that the playoff lights might have been "too bright" for them at that point? It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Many considered it "soft" or somehow defeatist.
In truth, people weren't shocked that he felt that way. They were just surprised that he said it. They perceived his willingness to say aloud what we all knew to be observably true to be a weakness when, in fact, Allen's candor and his willingness to recognize and acknowledge his team's issues is just an example of one his many unique strengths.
But this isn't last year. It seems the lights may have dimmed for them, and fortunately, it would appear that those lights are now glaring square in the eyes of this young Orlando Magic team, and I wouldn't trade places with them right now for all the whiskey in Ireland. Here's why.
Though the Cavs never trailed and were pretty much in control throughout, much of that basketball game was simply hideous to watch. Neither team exactly cloaked themselves in glory offensively, particularly from behind the arc, with both squads looking like drunk salespeople playing Pop-A-Shot at a Dave & Buster's company Christmas party.
Even Mike Fratello was hoping for a higher scoring game than this! (I've lost literally everyone by now, right?)
But here's my point: If that's how decisively the Cavs can beat Orlando when they kind of stink, just imagine what they can do to them when they inevitably don't stink at all. That can't be a good feeling for the Magic, who received what was probably the worst news possible on Saturday when they learned firsthand that the reports of the death of Donovan Mitchell's ability to dominate them were greatly exaggerated.
In fairness, we all learned it at the same time along with them, as we couldn't know for sure how he'd look after returning from injury until we saw him in action. But bad news, Orlando: I fear the Spider is back, and you've landed in his web (I hate me, too, right now...).
I'm not saying he had the perfect game. Both teams just kind of forgot how to basketball for the entire second half, which isn't ideal. And I'm not saying the knee isn't still a factor, and I'll bet it’s not feeling great today. But what I can say is that, at least as of Game 1, that man did not appear limited to me.
And when it comes down to it, that's the only thing that matters. It's the reason we don't have a first-round draft pick until 2042. It's why we had to trade away Finnish sensation Lauri Markkenen, aka "The Finnisher," my Nordic muse (I know, we had to do it. I'm still allowed to miss him!).
Because if we end up anywhere magical in this postseason, it will be because Mitchell takes us there. Now, I'm certainly not guaranteeing that will happen, but because of what we saw in Game 1, at least we now all know that it's possible.
Sorry, Wagners, and go Cavs.