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Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears picks Orlando Magic to make Playoffs

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 19, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Luke Ridnour (13) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Amway Center. The Jazz won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Luke Ridnour (13) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Amway Center. The Jazz won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic are quickly becoming a dark horse team to sneak into the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Yahoo!’s Marc Spears is the latest to back the Magic

The season is quickly approaching with about three weeks before media day and the beginning of training camp (yes, it is THAT close). What does that mean? PREDICTION SEASON!

Already there are some prognostications coming out as media folks try to put their thoughts about the upcoming season onto paper. Everyone is trying to determine who the Playoff teams are going to be or at least who could jump up into the Playoff picture, as there are always surprises.

The Magic certainly would be a mild surprise to make the Playoffs as they have stated their goal is to make the Playoffs this year. Bumping up from 25 wins to probably around 40 wins in an improved Eastern Conference is a big jump up.

As the preseason prognostications come in though, the Magic continue to be a team to intrigue. There will inevitably some who are ready to pull the trigger and say the Magic will take that next step.

The latest though is a very respected voice among NBA reporters — Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

On the Basketball Insiders Podcast, Spears said flat out he believes the Magic will make the Playoffs:

"I think in the East, let’s go with the Orlando Magic [for surprise Playoff teams].I think the days of a team without a .500 record making the Playoffs in the East are probably over. Maybe just the last spot. I like Orlando better than Boston right now. I think Indiana will definitely get in with Paul George the whole season. Milwaukee is just going to be good, I don’t really see them as a surprise.Orlando has the best collection, I think, of young talent. Milwaukee included. Tobias Harris I really really like. I like their European center [Nikola Vucevic]. He’s a 20/20 machine. I see Aaron Gordon despite his odd injury, he had a great summer league. Payton. I really like them a lot. Hezonja. I really like their team a lot. They are going to be the new fun team to watch in the NBA."

That is some high praise indeed.

The bottom of the East is really stacked this year. Many expect Miami, if healthy, and Indiana to compete for a Playoff spot. Detroit is building an identity with a stellar coach in Stan Van Gundy at the helm. Charlotte added veterans on expiring deals to get back into the Playoffs after a year absence. Boston is still a good team and the incumbent as the seven seed. Brooklyn has veterans and could still be in the mix. New York still has Carmelo Anthony and added plenty of veterans with the expectation of competing now.

It is really foreseeable to see a logjam of decent teams competing for a Playoff spot into March and April from seven or eight through 14 in the standings.

Picking the Magic seems pretty bold at the moment with the Magic coming off such a disappointing season. But it is certainly in the realm of possibility.

And having a prominent media member go out on that limb is certainly a positive sign for the team.

The rest of the podcast is really a great listen. In addition to Spears adding his thoughts on the upcoming season and this past offseason he and Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders go into Spears’ path to become one of the preeminent writers covering the NBA. It is a really great and inspiring story.

The Magic will open training camp September 26. Just a scant three weeks away now.

Next: Victor Oladipo snubbed from Sports Illustrated's top 100