Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

What’s left for Orlando Magic in the final week of the season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 31, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) reacts after a dunk by forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) reacts after a dunk by forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Jayson Tatum, Duke Blue Devils
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a three point basket during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The First Round Pick

The obvious thing to watch is the Orlando Magic’s first round pick. The team owns its first round pick and the Magic will likely have one of the top-five Lottery odds. Orlando is one loss or one New York Knicks win away from being officially locked into one of the top five lottery odds.

As things stand entering Monday’s games, the Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers are tied for fourth and fifth best Lottery odds. This is a race that will clearly go to the final games.

The Magic take on the Playoff-battling Chicago Bulls on the road and then close the season with the disappointing Detroit Pistons. The 76ers close with the similarly-playoff-battling Indiana Pacers at home before closing out in New York against the clearly tanking New York Knicks.

The Magic may play the more difficult schedule down the stretch. It will be interesting to see how this turns up. The difference between fourth and fifth lottery odds is the difference between 119 lottery combinations and 88 lottery combinations. If the two teams are tied, they split the 207 lottery combinations with a coin flip determining who gets the odd number.

This is the true race to the bottom. The change to get a better shot at the top pick in the Draft is something valuable for both teams.

Orlando will not change its tune. The Magic will try to win these games because that is what teams do. Just keep an eye on the scoreboard the next few nights.