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Eastern Conference Standings Check: Orlando Magic trying to stay in striking distance

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero had a star-making run in the third quarter to bring the Orlando Magic back in a win over the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero had a star-making run in the third quarter to bring the Orlando Magic back in a win over the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Paolo Banchero continues to put up historic numbers for the Orlando Magic. They need to trust him to finish now. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Thanksgiving Eastern Conference standings check

Tier 2: Up and Comers

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-6)

Season Series vs. Magic: Cavaliers 103, Magic 92 in Cleveland on Oct. 26; Dec. 2 in Cleveland; April 4 in Orlando; April 6 in Orlando

The next tier of teams is the young teams that sensed their opportunity to get better immediately and made major offseason moves to do so. So far it is hard to argue that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks have not found something that works. Their new additions have fit in well and have helped them get to a comfortable spot already.

Donovan Mithcell’s addition to Cleveland has been about as good as anybody hoped. His strong start — 30.1 points per game and a career-high 5.7 assists per game — helped them survive an early injury to budding young star Darius Garland.

The defense that helped the Cavaliers become the surprise team in the league last year has carried over. Cleveland is third in the league in defensive rating. And there is no slowdown between Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

For the Magic, the Cavaliers are one of the growth models the team should try to follow. Cleveland caught lightning in a bottle with a young team and then pushed their chips in to begin the ascent to contender status.

Orlando, of course, has to carve an identity in something first. The Magic are still bottom 10 in both offense and defense to start the season (although injuries have had some part in that).

4. Atlanta Hawks (11-7)

Season Series vs. Magic: Hawks 108, Magic 98 in Atlanta on Oct. 21; Nov. 30 in Orlando; Dec. 14 in Orlando; Dec. 19 in Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks’ transition to bringing Dejounte Murray in has not been as smooth as the integration of Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland. Murray started off quickly, giving the Hawks some needed defensive juice. Trae Young was the one who was struggling to adjust.

Young is averaging a still gaudy 27.6 points and 9.4 assists per game. But he is shooting just 32.0 percent from beyond the arc. That gives teams some relief. Although not much. Because this team is still just as dangerous offensively and now they are defending a bit better.

That spells a bit of trouble for the Hawks overall as they continue to develop. But if Atlanta’s goal was to leave the Play-In Tournament behind and make themselves into the Eastern Conference Finalist they were two years ago permanently, the Hawks have made some vital steps.