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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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Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls
Jalen Suggs has made his share of mistakes and missteps throughout the season. But he made the big play when it counted, putting those miscues behind him. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Thanksgiving Eastern Conference standings check

Tier 4: Biding their time

8. Toronto Raptors (9-9)

Season Series vs. Magic: Dec. 3 in Toronto; Dec. 9 in Orlando; Dec. 11 in Orlando; Feb. 14 in Toronto

The Eastern Conference has been run it seems for many of the last few years by the four teams in this group. And it feels safe to say that all four of them will figure things out and make their run to climb the standings. These are not the teams to expect to fall in the standings, these are the risers.

The Toronto Raptors have seemingly defied all odds for years now. They are just consistently solid.

The Toronto Raptors are also the team closest to the vision the Orlando Magic have for their team. They are long and versatile with OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes able to interchange and switch at will. This is the positionless basketball the Magic are dreaming of.

That makes sense considering Jeff Weltman worked with Masai Ujiri for so long. They should be studying the Raptors — 10th in net rating — as much as they are studying their own team to figure out a formula for success.

9. Philadelphia 76ers (9-9)

Season Series vs. Magic: Nov. 25 in Orlando; Nov. 27 in Orlando; Jan. 30 in Philadelphia; Feb. 1 in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers should be fine. Even with the injuries they have faced, as long as they have one of Joel Embiid or James Harden on the floor, they should be able to persist. And the emergence of Tyrese Maxey (22.9 points per game) has helped boost the Sixers.

Like the Orlando Magic, the Philadelphia 76ers are probably just frustrated with the injuries they have faced. Harden is out with a strained foot that should leave him out for at least another week. Maxey is out with a foot injury for at least another few weeks. And Embiid is dealing with a mid-foot strain that had him miss the last two games.

The Sixers are talented and can cover for these injuries a lot better than the Magic. But seeing them at .500 shows just how difficult it is for any team to sustain so many major injuries at once. But also that it is not impossible.

10. Brooklyn Nets (9-10)

Season Series: Nov. 28 in Brooklyn; March 26 in Orlando; April 7 in Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets should be much better. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are all-world players and Ben Simmons is still very good. But they have rarely been on the floor together. Simmons has been working his way back from injury after missing all of last year. Irving had his suspension (and that is all that needs to be said about that).

Durant is still Durant — 28.8 points per game and a 57.3-percent effective field goal percentage. Good luck stopping him.

But Brooklyn is struggling because of an inconsistent defense that ranks 19th in the league and a general lack of size. The Nets have the worst defensive rebound rate in the league at 66.6 percent. Brooklyn has the top-end talent but the team is not doing the little things it needs to win.

Talent can be enough though.

11. Chicago Bulls (8-10)

Season Series vs. Magic: Magic 108, Bulls 107 in Chicago on Nov. 18; Jan. 28 in Orlando; Feb. 13 in Chicago

The Chicago Bulls are struggling to recapture what worked so well for them early last season. It would be something more than just missing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso clearly. There just seems to be a mismatch offensively.

DeMar DeRozan continues to put up bonkers numbers. And Billy Donovan has them playing great defensively overall.

But Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have struggled to find consistency this year. The Bulls seemed like a likely team to lose their playoff spot if they could not get healthy. And it is looking increasingly more like Chicago will be in the Play-In race. And that means the Magic are likely going to get a second Lottery pick this year.

12. Miami Heat (8-11)

Season Series vs. Magic: Jan. 27 in Miami; Feb. 11 in Orlando; March 11 in Orlando; April 9 in Miami

The Miami Heat have their Heat Culture. That may mean they eventually right the ship and find themselves again. The Heat do not seem overly worried about their slow start to the season.

But Miami has been awful to start the season, especially on the road. The Heat are 1-7 away from the arena formerly known as American Airlines Arena.

Miami has had these slow starts before and the team has figured itself out eventually. Nobody seems to think the Heat will stay down for long. This just may not be a season where Miami is a top seed.