Last Week: Beat Sacramento 132-116, Lost to Indiana 120-109, Lost to Toronto 109-99, Lost to Philadelphia 108-101
This Week: Sunday vs. Boston, Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, Thursday vs. New Orleans
The injury bug continues to bite the Orlando Magic and it has made it tough for them to build any sort of continuity. Losing Aaron Gordon after the devastating Jonathan Isaac injury is too much for this team to take. Since moving into more realistic competition, they have not been able to get a win.
Due to how bad the Wizards are, the Magic are secure in their playoff spot but don’t look capable of passing the Nets at this point and will likely have the unfortunate fate of meeting the Bucks in the first round.
Nikola Vucevic has been predictably solid but there has not been enough consistent help. DJ Augustin has been fine in his complementary role. Some games Terence Ross will be a double-digit scorer, others he will go 0-of-10 from the floor.
Missing two forwards is the likely death knell for any upset potential this team could have entertained. Watching the development of Markelle Fultz is the only thing that will still draw the diehards to the Magic games. The progress is slow but it is noticeable. He is improving as a shooter and is gaining confidence. If he is able to use these games with stakes to build something, it will all be worth it.
Last Week: Beat Washington 118-110, Beat Milwaukee 119-116, Lost to Boston 149-115, Beat Sacramento 119-106
This Week: Sunday vs. Clippers, Tuesday vs. Orlando, Thursday vs. Portland
The Brooklyn Nets deserve a ton of credit for how competitive they have been so far in the bubble. Many were not sure if they would be able to win more than the game against the Wizards. Going 3-1 this week has to come as a major surprise.
They won the game against the Bucks without Joe Harris, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. No matter how few minutes the Milwaukee stars played, that is still an impressive feat. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot carried them in that game and has been a bright spot for the young, depleted squad.
The game against the Celtics is not one they would like to remember, but for a team hoping to win one game, clinching their playoff spot with a week to go has to feel good. Continuing to hold onto the seven seed is even more impressive.
Caris LeVert has asserted himself in the games he did play as the clear best player for the team, even if it is unclear if he is auditioning to stay with the team or as an attractive trade piece. The former Michigan Wolverine is averaging 21.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game so far and looks like he is back to the form he was before his injury last season. That and no other injuries during the bubble are all the Nets can ask for.