3. Take advantage of their schedule
According to Tankathon.com, the Magic have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule in the league. This is good news, but if they throw away games like the recent defeat to the Bulls and Knicks then this won’t mean anything. In fact, prior to the Knicks game, their schedule was the third-easiest, with that loss perhaps altering their outlook going forward.
However, if they can beat the teams they’re supposed to, as well as sneak in a win or two against better teams, then they’ll be in a great position to make the playoffs.
Ironically, the Magic have played better against teams that are perceived as being better than them, having swept their season series with the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as beating the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Raptors (twice).
These wins have kept their playoffs dreams alive, and now that the schedule is softening it is about solidifying their position at the expense of others.
The schedule of other teams could also work in their favor, with the Brooklyn Nets in particular having a tough run of games to finish out their regular season. Tankathon reckons they have the fourth-hardest schedule left to play, and this includes a brutal five-game West coast swing.
Also nestled in there are away games against the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and an Indiana Pacers squad that won’t seem to go away. The Bucks, Raptors and Celtics will be going to the Barclays Center before the regular season is finished too.
The Nets have been a feel-good story this season, so the Magic will need more than a potential free-fall from a team playing under no pressure to make sure it gets in. Luckily, the Charlotte Hornets are also vying for a spot and have the third-toughest remaining schedule.
This bodes well for the Magic, but they need to take care of their own business as well. The schedule has broken kindly for them, and with the way they’ve been playing recently, they should be favored in a lot of matchups they go into.