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Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Expectations and Excitement

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 3: The Orlando Magic mascot waves the team flag before the game against the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 3: The Orlando Magic mascot waves the team flag before the game against the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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What is your prediction for the Orlando Magic this year? Is this a successful season?

Scricca: A couple months ago, my prediction was 35 wins and narrowly missing the eighth seed. I think they are significantly better than last year and a six-win improvement is within reach. But their point differential last year was that of a 24-win team, so that kind of substantial improvement might only lead to 30 or 31 wins (probably around 10th or 11th in the East). But more important than the win total is how the team actually looks: Are the young guys taking steps forward? Is the team playing with heart? The answers to those questions will determine whether this season is successful.

Palmer: It is clear to me that this year’s team is significantly better than last years. Heck, it is even significantly better than the second half of last year. Two years ago the Magic ended up with 35 wins and I think that is the area of where Orlando will finish this year. If I had to pick a single number I would go 37 which potentially lands Orlando in the playoffs in the weak East. But I think the range the Magic end up at is between 33-41. Anywhere in that range is a pretty nice step forward for Orlando.

Rossman-Reich: I have the Magic in the 32-36 win range and settled in at 35 wins. That puts them 10th in the Eastern Conference and playing meaningful games to the final week in the season. But it is hard for me to say this is a playoff team. Not with so much uncertainty about how all the pieces fit together and the struggles this team will surely have on the offensive end. This is a flawed team. A better team than last year. But the flaws are too big to ignore.

Miller: The optimist in me wants to say 37-40 wins and a possible playoff berth. But, the realist in my projects the team to finish with 28 wins. It is hard to project such a lowly number, but the Magic actually outperformed their statistics last year when they won 29 games. The Orlando Magic had the second worst net rating last year. At -6.8, the team had a worse net rating than the Brooklyn Nets, meaning the 29 wins might have been better than the quality of the team (which is scary). While the team added some nice players, I do not trust Frank Vogel to manage the new players correctly (his rotations are largely ineffective) and I do not trust him to develop our young talent. With these factors in mind, I predict the Magic will disappoint this season.

Next: Orlando Magic pass their first test of adversity

What are your thoughts and expectations for the season? Let us know your answers to our questions in the comments below or by tweeting at us @omagicdaily.