Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

5 Questions for the Orlando Magic’s Fourth Quarter

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 23: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Magic bench celebrate during the game against the Miami Heat on December 23, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 23: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Magic bench celebrate during the game against the Miami Heat on December 23, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 5: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic smiles after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 5, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 5: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic smiles after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 5, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic enter the fourth quarter of the season with something to play for as the Playoff race heats up. That only raises the questions.

The sprint is on.

Every night is spent watching the scoreboard and analyzing the standings. Fans at this point have the Orlando Magic’s own schedule memorized but also undoubtedly memorized the fact the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets have difficult roads home. They have the four-game road trip in late March circled where the team will play contending teams like the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.

There are a lot of big games still ahead and big tests for the Magic to face. But the focus is clear: to make the Playoffs.

Orlando is not quite in the driver’s seat. Entering Monday’s games, the Magic are tied with the Hornets for the final Playoff spot. And the Hornets have two games in hand.

The Magic will have to continue to win and everything seems to lead up to a nationally televised date with the Hornets on the regular season’s final day to decide who gets in or not.

That would be the easy narrative to create, at least. There is still a long way to go before the Magic get there.

Orlando is on a tear right now to get to this position. The team went 8-3 in February and has won 10 of the team’s past 14 games.

Of course, included in that were three crushing defeats to the lowly Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Magic had won those two games, they would be on a nine-game win streak and probably comfortably above the Playoff red line.

While the Magic still statistically have an easy schedule, there are no gimmes in the NBA. There never are. And the team is learning that first and foremost. The pressure of each game and each moment is only going to grow.

But the Magic continually prove and show they can beat anyone. They are not a team to take lightly or ignore anymore. Their Playoff chances are real and that is the single-minded focus for the sprint to the end of the season.

Nothing else matters — no development questions for the future or free agency questions or anything else. These final 20 games are about wins and losses — plain and simple.

Orlando has an opportunity to make the Playoffs and that is the only focus. But they still have questions to answer.