Orlando Magic Daily
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Five questions for the 2017-18 Orlando Magic’s second quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (2) goes for a basket against the Golden State Warriors at Amway Center Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. The Warriors beat the Magic 133-112.(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (2) goes for a basket against the Golden State Warriors at Amway Center Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. The Warriors beat the Magic 133-112.(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 24: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 24, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Can the Orlando Magic stay in touch with the Playoff race?

The Orlando Magic sit at three games out of the final Playoff spot. That is not out of the race at all. That is within plenty of striking distance. A quick win streak or more teams beginning to fall to their means and the whole script changes for the team.

But their play in the next 20 games will undoubtedly determine whether this is a team that is fighting for a Playoff spot or fighting for scraps at the bottom of the conference.

There is simply very little variability in the standings once you get to the midpoint of the season. The races are largely set and the path seasons go down are well on their way.

So what direction will Orlando go?

The Magic are trotting out of their difficult phase of their schedule with what looks like a much more manageable part of their schedule. The team will play the struggling Atlanta Hawks twice this week. They play the Nikola Jokic– and Paul Millsap-less Denver Nuggets. They play the LA Clippers without Blake Griffin and Patrick Beverley.

Starting with Wednesday’s game against the Hawks, they have nine of 15 games at home (where the Magic are 5-5). After taking two long road trips already, the Magic do not go on the road for more than two games in a road until the beginning of January (when the team hits the midpoint of the season).

There is a ton of opportunity for the team to succeed before the schedule stiffens again at the beginning of January. That is an opportunity to pick up some games.

President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and the Magic have trotted out a statistics claiming the Magic have played the second toughest schedule in the league. The team has been waiting for this stretch to get a better look at their roster and their team.

They know this next stretch will be what determines the direciton of their season — and therefore what they decide to do at the deadline and even what they can do at the deadline.

If Orlando wants to consider itself a Playoff contender, the time to make its move is now. The Magic have to build some confidence and pick up wins. They will write their season during this month.