With 19 games remaining, the Orlando Magic sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and are in control of their chances of gaining home-court advantage in the first round. With one of the easiest strengths of the remaining schedules and a home-heavy end to the season (we’re two weeks away from the start of an eight-game homestand), it’s officially time to start looking ahead to first-round playoff matchups.
Now, schedule strength isn’t always a true indicator of future wins, especially in a league where almost every team has the talent to win on any given night.
But in this case, Magic fans can feel confident. The team has won 12 of its last 15 games and is currently playing with a lot of confidence. They have the longest winning streak in the NBA (5 games) and took care of their business in the face of inferior competition.
Even if the victory against the Washington Wizards took a 21-point comebackthe Magic continues to prove its defensive play and intensity will take them this season (and beyond).
Looking at the standings as a whole, the Magic enter Thursday’s game a half-game ahead of the New York Knicks in fifth place. But only two games separate the Orlando Magic from the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
The standings are extremely tight and there is a lot of work to be done to secure the team’s playoff spot. But it’s hard to imagine the Magic coming out of the top eight, even if the team has to go through the Play-In Game 7/8.
If you want to dream the other way, the Orlando Magic are 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 3rd seed and a full four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for 2nd place. The Cavs have slipped slightly to 5-5 in their last 10 games.
It would be a tall order, but I don’t think you can really say the Magic are out of the running for the 3rd seed.
With the next two games against the Knicks and Pacers, the ranking will perhaps be a little clearer after this weekend. But as things currently stand, the East will go straight to seeding.
All playoff opponents are still in play for the Magic. Some are more favorable than others.
Regardless, it feels good that the Magic can play with just about anyone in the conference and will be a real threat to win a series or two.
