The 8 games we are looking forward to most on Orlando Magic’s schedule

Recaps and Pre-Conclusions

Without a doubt, the Orlando Magic got a raw deal here. They were supposed to play the easiest part of their schedule when the season went on hiatus. They obviously lose the benefit of that.

Still, they got a comparatively favorable draw. They will face all the non-playoff teams still in the bubble remaining on their normal schedule. The only thing they might lose is that second game against the Indiana Pacers instead of playing the Toronto Raptors or Boston Celtics.

The schedule is what it is.

That way it is constructed though will require the Magic to be on their game early.

Undoubtedly, the opening game against the Brooklyn Nets will be critical. This game will determine who is in the driver’s seat for the 7-seed in the Eastern Conference and will be important for gaining momentum.

The Magic open up with two “easy” games — or rather, easier games as nothing will be easy with the best teams all gathered in one place. And it is vital the Magic pick up wins at this early stage to gain confidence.

Orlando Magic

The reality is there are so many unequivocal toss-up games. The Magic should feel like they can defeat the Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and even the Indiana Pacers. That is five potential wins right there. But those games could easily go the other way.

So the difference between going 5-3, which would be an incredible success, and going 3-5 or even 2-6 is razor-thin.

In my predictions for now — and they are very subject to change once the team gets on the ground — I have Orlando going 3-5 with wins over the Kings, 76ers and Nets. That would mean to avoid the play-in series, the Wizards would have to go 5-3.

That feels like it would be enough then for the Magic to avoid the play-in series. That should not be enough though. The goal for Orlando should be to go 4-4 or better.

That would mean the Magic likely beat one of those Playoff-caliber teams. And they especially need to be competitive and see how they measure up against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors.

If the Magic have any goals for these eight seeding games it should be to finish in seventh and measure up against the Celtics and Raptors in anticipation for that Playoff series.

Orlando wants to prove it has a say in being in the middle of the Eastern Conference’s pack today and for the future. These seeding games will give the team a chance to reclaim some of the potential they lost out on this year.

That is already a ton to play for.

But with so much uncertainty about what the games and these teams will look like, it is hard to say for sure what anything will look like.