Unpredictable Turn: Orlando Magic’s Rollercoaster End to the Season

The Magic have already exceeded all expectations, and their season is already successful. But this place in the Playoffs which seemed promised to them now seems much more uncertain after a very bad end to the season and a tire mark at the bottom of the slibard.

Very smart who announced at the start of the season that the Orlando Magic would reach 45 victories even before the last NBA day. And yet, that’s where Orlando is right now!

If the objective of the play-in seemed complicated but not impossible in October 2023, the situation has largely changed today, and Jamahl Mosley’s men have revised their ambitions upwards, since it is now a direct qualification for the Playoffs which is targeted! Thanks to an iron defense, a neo All-Star Paolo Banchero who took command of an attack that still has room for improvement but is making clear progress, and adjustments on the part of the coach, Orlando has become much more than just a little bit different. scratch in his lecture. Orlando is really a team to take seriously and against whom you have to give 100%.

Crazy week for Orlando.

Bucks (2nd): 47 victories – 31 defeats

Magic (3rd): 46 victories – 32 defeats

Wednesday evening ? Bucks vs. Magic

Sunday night ? Magic vs. Bucks

Yes, Orlando can potentially finish 2nd in the East. pic.twitter.com/H6e5xu3pDb

— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) April 8, 2024

But, because there is a “but”, the Floridians unfortunately suffered three consecutive defeats against the Rockets, the Bucks (although diminished) then the Sixers, not to mention the setback conceded against the Hornets a few days earlier. Or how to potentially go from dream to nightmare in a few days for the Magic, who still dreamed of beating Milwaukee to the post for second place in the East and who today finds himself fighting for “his” place in the Playoffs.

So certainly, even if home field advantage is now impossible to gain, Jamahl Mosley’s men still have their destiny in their hands thanks to Cleveland’s victory against Indiana. A home victory against the Bucks without Giannis would allow them to directly validate their ticket, but the task still promises to be difficult for an inexperienced team, which perhaps shows that it was not necessarily scheduled for these spring games. Especially since the Bucks need to win to secure the runner-up spot in the East.

I know that there is no moral victory in defeat, but you are Orlando in the furnace of Philly with the veterans there, the experience of calls and you fight in year 1 of your real project by standing up to them in a high-stakes match…

Yes yeah there are things to take…

— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) April 13, 2024

And in the multitude of existing scenarios for the Magic, there is even a very pessimistic one in which Orlando is completely eliminated from the Playoffs.

Just imagine, a defeat at home against the Bucks, although much diminished. We would then have to face Miami/Indiana/Philadelphia in the play-in and possibly on the outside, victory is also far from guaranteed. And if on paper, Orlando is better than Chicago or Atlanta, it is not impossible to then see DeMar DeRozan deliver a masterclass or Dejounte Murray send a dagger, as he has already done twice against the Magic of his great “friend” Paolo Banchero.

When you put it all together, you get a team which is completely collapsing and which, even if it has already fulfilled its initial objective, could only be frustrated by such a finish, especially after spending many weeks on end. “safe” places in the East.

Regardless, we’ll have to follow the Magic at the end of the season, and see how far they can go. We are still far from the disaster scenario, but less far than a few days ago. P5 and his friends must more than ever deserve this qualification which was quite unexpected at the start of the season for the Magic. Go to work !

2024-04-13 14:13:00
#Orlando #Magic #to.. #Playoffs