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Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live: The Day-Late NBA Playoff Preview

By Philip Rossman-Reich

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 15: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 15: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA Playoffs have started, without the Orlando Magic of course. We are still watching the Playoffs unfurl. I provide my predictions on who wins it all.

The Orlando Magic’s season came to an unceremonious end last week. Fans were left a bitter taste in their mouth following a 25-win season, a four-win drop from the previous year. That was made even worse by the fact the team won its last game, and physically worsened its Lottery odds on the last day of the season.

In this draft, that might matter. Then again, it might not. There is still a Lottery to go, after all.

The Magic season is officially closed now though. The team will search for a new coach and wait for the offseason to begin to start reshaping the roster. Change is coming and everyone seems to welcome that possibility.

But the NBA marches on. The league still has to determine a champion. And the Playoffs go on without the Magic.

The NBA Playoffs tipped off this weekend as every series got their Game 1s out of the way. And no one could really complain about the games.

From the Indiana Pacers’ surprising rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 — behind Victor Oladipo‘s 32 points — to the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics going toe to toe in an overtime game to Jrue Holiday‘s game-saving block against the Portland Trail Blazers for the New Orleans Pelicans, the first weekend of the Playoffs was not short on drama.

And that was just one game for each series. The Playoffs really are an amazing thing. The Magic are longing to be back in there. But this year, we will all have to enjoy it from the outside.

We are admittedly catching up with everything. I offered my Playoff predictions over on LockedOnMagic.com. They are already wrong (Cavs in four, whoops!).

On the season finale of the Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live, I offered my full predictions too.

On This Episode:

Next: Orlando Magic Fourth Quarter MVP: D.J. Augustin

Thank you for joining the Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live all season long. Hopefully, you enjoyed the experiment and were able to interact with me live. I will maybe try the experiment later on in the summer. Until then, be sure to mark down May 15 for the NBA Draft Lottery Google Hangout. Also, subscribe to Orlando Magic Daily’s daily podcast, Locked On Magic, on Panoply, iTunes, Stitcher and TuneIn.