The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic's first-round series starts Sunday at TD Garden. One of the most crucial battles in determining this best-of-seven will test the NBA's reigning champions mentally even more than it will physically.
The Magic drew the most fouls in the Association this season. Their downhill attack produced 20.3 favorable foul calls per contest, according to NBA.com. It's an irritant that can throw an opponent off its game. Even a team as experienced as the Celtics have shown on multiple occasions they're far from impervious to this.
When asked about maintaining focus when frustrated by the officiating, Derrick White told Hardwood Houdini, "Just being disciplined. They've got a lot of guys that are attacking, and this has been the case for every series. Just try to be disciplined. Try to make them make field goals and not free throws. They've got really good players that are good at what they do, and so, just a concerted effort just to be disciplined."
The Magic's offense relies heavily on drawing fouls
Orlando's offense ranked 28th in points per game, mustering only 105.4 per contest, per NBA.com. Getting opponents into foul trouble and earning their way to the free-throw line is paramount to propping up an offense that struggles to score in the half-court.
However, what's even more significant to Boston's hopes of advancing to the second round of the playoffs as quickly as possible is managing their emotions and avoiding deviating from their game plan at either end of the floor.
That's easier said than done when dealing with an opponent as physical as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Co. operate. Navigating that and the whistles it produces in the Magic's favor is a two-pronged challenge that should sharpen the Celtics for future rounds as their playoff journey gets increasingly challenging.
If there's a stunning upset and Boston is sent home after the first round, a poor job of maintaining focus as the whistles pile up will be a primary factor in why the Celtics' season ended abruptly.