Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic: What to watch for after the All-Star Break

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the 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 - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the 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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The Race to the Bottom

There is no getting around it. One eye the rest of this season will be on the games and the other will be on the standings. And the bottom of the standings.

What is developing in the race for the top overall pick is pretty astounding when you take a look at it: there are six teams tied at 18 wins for the fewest in the league, including the Orlando Magic. There are seven games within 1.5 games of the worst record in the league.

It is going to be an incredible — or incredibly depressing — end to the season. Everyone in several fan bases are going to be on pins and needles fretting over every win.

Of course with so many teams in the race, every team may win itself into keeping the race tight . . . or that might make every win the difference between having the second-best odds and the sixth.

Yes, things are going to be that tight and that crazy. And for those of us — like me — who are opposed to straight tanking, the end of the season is going to be infuriating for a lot of reasons.

Our Zach Palmer laid out the case why the team is not likely to tank — for better or for worse. The team will get some key players back from injury.

Orlando also has the 20th easiest schedule left in the league. Only the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks have easier schedules the rest of the way among the teams angling for those top lottery odds.

The Magic have a ton of home games too. After a big West Coast road trip in the first week of March, Orlando will have its longest homestand of the season. The Magic will have plenty of opportunities to win. Whether that is a good or a bad thing, in the end.