3 reasons Orlando Magic will make the 2019 NBA Playoffs

By Chris Murch | Oct 12, 2018

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 8: The Orlando Magic stands for the National Anthem during a pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 8, 2018 at American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. A weak Eastern Conference

Let’s call a spade a spade here. This conference, with the exit of the best player in the world LeBron James, has become less competitive. It already was pretty much a wash every year, as the King went to eight straight finals on the right side of the map, but now it’s a different story. While the Cleveland Cavaliers are still a potential playoff team, the bottom half of this conference is wide open and the Magic can take advantage of this.

The Magic haven’t won more than 35 games since 2012. Last year 25 wins was all they could muster and simply improving upon this number, hopefully at or above 35, is a win for this franchise. However, with a couple more, they could threaten the seventh or eighth seed.

For pretty much all of the 2000’s and 2010’s, the NBA’s power structure has leaned heavily towards the Western Conference as far as depth of talent on teams and team success. While this leaves east bottom-feeders to be neglected by the national media, even more than it’s Western Conference counterparts it feels like, it also leaves room for teams to sneak in with records that would not cut it on the left side of the map.

This is where the Magic come in. With 40 wins they could contend for the eighth spot in the east and shock the basketball world by making the playoffs for the first time in six years. A longshot indeed yet, crazier things have happened.

Hell, look at the Indiana Pacers last season who ESPN projected to be the 26th best team in the league (the same number as Orlando this season). The east is a crapshoot. Maybe the Magic can take advantage of this.

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