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Locked On Magic: Orlando Magic, NBA predictions

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 16: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 16, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 16: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 16, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA season arrives Tuesday. So it is time for me to go on record with predictions for the season. I took to Facebook Live to predict the Orlando Magic.

The NBA season officially tips off Tuesday with a stellar opening night featuring the Boston Celtics playing the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets facing the Golden State Warriors. It should be a fantastic evening in front of the TV for some basketball.

There is still that always familiar complaint — the NBA is too predictable. Yes, it seems like Tuesday is the beginning of a nine-month waltz to the Warriors’ eventual championship.

Who cares about who wins the title, right? It is about the journey, after all. It is about the storylines that get created along the way and the players who emerge. There will be some very good basketball on the way in the next half year. And we still do not know how we might get to that final destination.

That is the fun.

One of those storylines is both how low will the Eastern Conference sink and who will get those last spots in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic, despite their desire to depress expectations throughout the preseason, are going to be in that conversation. Or, at least, they hope to be.

The team is trying to put a disastrous 29-win season behind it. The Magic banked on some internal improvement, rolling back much of the team that gave them some hope to end last season. And they looked to bolster their bench, adding players like Jonathon Simmons and veterans like Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights.

Really Orlando’s whole season banks on the growth and development of young players Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. The Magic saw Aaron Gordon look far more comfortable at power forward to end last season and that confidence seems to have carried over into the preseason.

The same could be said for Elfrid Payton. The Magic unleashed Payton in transition and into space throughout the end of last season. Now their offense seems built around him — and Gordon’s athleticism.

Where does that have the Magic ending up?

Prediction and projections from around the national media have the team making modest gains and hanging on the periphery of the Playoff picture. No one is quite ready to pull the trigger and say the Magic make the leap — not even 538’s optimistic view.

As the NBA season gets closer, I went to Facebook Live and Locked On Magic to unveil my official predictions for the NBA season, including my specific win total for the Magic and where they will finish in the Eastern Conference.

You can watch the Facebook Live below or listen to the podcast on AudioBoom (also below):

On This Episode:

  • Some basic takeaways from preseason including projections for Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton
  • Who finishes at the top of the Eastern Conference?
  • How does the Eastern Conference sort themselves out at the top?
  • Where is the fun in the Eastern Conference? Who are the locks for the Playoffs?
  • Why the Detroit Pistons are my Eastern Conference sleeper
  • The Orlando Magic may not make the Playoffs, but it feels like they are going in the right direction
  • How will the Western Conference shake out?
  • Who gets the last spots in the Western Conference?
  • My NBA Finals prediction

Agree with my picks? Hate my picks? Let me know in the comment section below or on Twitter @philiprr_omd or @omagicdaily. I am sure many of these picks are wrong. So be sure to let me know once they go wrong!

Next: Khem Birch makes Orlando Magic roster, takes on next challenge

Also subscribe to Orlando Magic Daily’s daily podcast, Locked On Magic, on iTunes, AudioBoom, Stitcher and TuneIn.