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2019 NBA Playoffs: Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic preview

By Daniel Lubofsky

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic on November 20, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic on November 20, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic will face off in a 2019 NBA Playoffs matchup that doesn’t appear to have much appeal around the league.

The Toronto Raptors head into the 2019 NBA Playoffs a game short of last season’s win total, and yet expectations for this organization couldn’t be higher following an upgraded roster that includes Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol and Jeremy Lin.

With two-way versatility at every position, they ranked fifth in both offensive and defensive efficiency over the course of the regular season, as well as third in net rating. Leonard averaged a career-high in both points and rebounds per game, and forward Pascal Siakam seems like the leading man to be named the Most Improved Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are a postseason participant nobody saw coming. They won just 25 games all of last season and were at one point 11 games under .500 this year. They went on to win 21 of their next 30 games to end the season, leading to a whopping 17-game improvement with a  42-40 record and the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nikola Vucevic was a first-time All-Star, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, while new head coach Steve Clifford has helped elevate Orlando’s prowess at the defensive end to fifth in opponent points per game.

Orlando managed to split the season series with the Raptors at two games apiece, but playoff basketball is a completely different game. Not many are predicting an upset given the gap in experience and talent between these two teams, but the Magic don’t appear to be a squad that’s just happy to be here. As they’ve done all season long, they want to defy expectations.