For many outside of the league, Christmas is when the season really begins. It is the league’s showcase day with a day full of games to put the NBA front and center — no matter how mcuh the NFL tries to steal at least some of the spotlight.
This is not the start of the season of course. But it is getting closer and closer to the midpoint of the season. Incredibly the Orlando Magic are almost there having played 34 games already this season.
So Christmas, like we did at Thanksgiving, is a good time to take a step back and examine where the teams are at in terms of the standings. It is a good time to reflect on what the team hhas done and where it still has to go.
There are only so many good times do it.
As the NBA calendar moves past its marquee day on Christmas, the Orlando Magic find themselves squarely in the postseason chase in an Eastern Conference that has begun to sort itself more.
A lot has changed though in the last month since we last looked at the Eastern Conference standings.
The Magic back on Thanksgiving were drifting toward the bottom of the standings. At 5-13, the team was in the beginning stages of their nine-game losing streak and injuries remained the big storyline. Our headline that day was that Orlando had work to do to keep pace in the race.
None of this was a surprise. The Magic were a young team and needed time to gel and learn. The injuries did not help matters as Orlando had to scramble to fill its rotation.
Something has changed though in the last few weeks. A six-game win streak has turned into the Magic winning eight of their last nine games heading into the holiday.
They are doing it in a seemingly sustainable way too — relying heavily on their defense and being opportunistic with their offense. They are playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, unfazed by being down, offensive droughts or anything else. Coach Jamahl Mosley is pulling all the right levers.
It has left the Magic looking up at the standings at this point of the season rather than looking down at them. Orlando is squarely in the play-in/postseason race. And if the Magic keep up this level of play, there is no reason to think this team cannot maintain the confidence with the talent they have to stay in it for the duration of the season.
What are the Magic’s prospects? That will be completely determined by what the Magic do. As they get healthier, they will be able to show off the depth that they thought they had from the beginning of the season. They should also continue to improve as young players get better.
But with the NBA’s Christmas extravaganza behind us, it is time once again to take a look at where the Magic stand and where the Eastern Conference stands as the season inches closer to its midpoint and the playoff races really begin to heat up.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 1: The Contenders
1. Boston Celtics (24-10)
Season Series vs. Magic: Celtics 126, Magic 120 in Orlando on Oct. 22; Magic 117, Celtics 109 in Boston on Dec. 16; Magic 95, Celtics 92 in Boston on Dec. 18; Jan. 23 in Orlando
Do not let the Orlando Magic’s recent trip to Boston fool you, the Boston Celtics are still very much the favorites to win the Eastern Conference as they are playing with a renewed focus to get back to the NBA Finals after falling short last year.
Jayson Tatum made a major statement in the Christmas Day win over the Milwaukee Bucks with 41 points and seven rebounds. Tatum took over the third quarter to put the game petty much out of reach. that will be a feather in his cap for his MVP candidacy.
That should put some of the concerns about the Celtics to rest that this team will be fine in the end.
Boston has lost five of its last seven games entering Sunday’s win over Milwaukee. Pretty soon thihs team will get Robert Williams III back up to speed and will surely be back on the winning path. The Celtics just have to tighten up their defense because they have plenty of firepower to score.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (22-11)
Season Series vs. Magic: Bucks 109, Magic 102 in Orlando on Dec. 5; March 1 in Milwaukee; March 7 in Orlando
Like the Boston Celtics, the Milwaukee Bucks are easing off the throttle some from their torrid start, having lost four of their last seven games. That is a lot for them.
The Bucks are just a very good team and eager to win back their title that they did not feel like they got to properly defend last year.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to play at an MVP level even as he continues to integrate more jump shooting into hisgame. If anything, the biggest issue for the Bucks has been getting Antetokounmpo to settle for the perimeter jumpers.
Everyone knows that Milwaukee has an ace in the hole with Khris Middleton dealing with an injury and still missing time. Middleton is the real X-factor for this team, giving Milwaukee another shooting threat and someone they can set plays up for to get Antetokounmpo the ball on the move more effectively.
The Bucks and Celtics have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference. Right now, it is not particularly close. Although there are plenty of teams eager to challenge.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 2: Challengers Rising
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-12)
Season Series vs. Magic: Cavaliers 103, Magic 92 in Cleveland on Oct. 26; Cavaliers 107, Magic 96 in Cleveland on Dec. 2; April 4 in Orlando; April 6 in Orlando
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the teams in this group are not about to let the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks off the hook so easily. The Eastern Conference is proving to be pretty deep. And the teams in this group are plenty capable of winning.
Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the quietest team of the bunch. They have just been consistently winning while sporting one of the best defenses in the league — first in the league in defensive rating by 1.5 points per 100 possessions over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Their mix of youth — Darius Garland and Evan Mobley — along with the injection of Donovan Mitchell’s star power (he should be the Eastern Conference starter at guard) has elevated this team into a real contender.
The only difference is the unknown for this Cavs team. We have not seen them in the playoffs. But it is impossible not to recognize that they are a threat now and moving forward.
Cleveland does not appear to be going anywhere and is the new contender in the bunch in the Eastern Conference.
4. Brooklyn Nets (21-12)
Season Series: Nets 109, Magic 102 in Brooklyn on Nov. 28; March 26 in Orlando; April 7 in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Nets’ first quarter of the season was about what they did not have. It just felt like the Nets put their foot in their own mouth — beyond just Kyrie Irving laying himself on the train tracks to get run over and fairly criticized for his off-court antics.
Nobody doubted the team’s talent though. Nobody has eve doubted this Nets team is a playoff team if everything is clicking. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are starting to hit that regular groove and the Nets are proving to be a difficult out.
Brooklyn is on an eight-game win streak as proof. That is how any team makes a major move up the standings. The Nets are making their move now and proving to be a difficult team to corral. Better, they are exactly the team we all thought they would be.
Who knows what the next calamity to befall the franchise mighht be. Knowing the Nets’ recent history, it is surely coming. And Brooklyn is not a team thaht could deal with a ton of adversity or upsetting the apple cart at the top of their roster.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (20-12)
Season Series vs. Magic: 76ers 107, Magic 99 in Orlando on Nov. 25; 76ers 133, Magic 103 in Orlando on Nov. 27; Jan. 30 in Philadelphia; Feb. 1 in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers have come a long way in the last month. Even with the injury to Tyrese Maxey.
Some of it is certainly health. While the 76ers are waiting for Maxey’s return, they got James Harden back. And he has played well and fit in with the roster as a whole. He has not taken over too much while still looking like the dominating player he was.
But the big difference has been Joel Embiid. He has taken over and played as the MVP he was for much of last season. In December, he is averaging 36.0 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. He has powered Philadelphia to an eight-game win streak.
And the Sixers look like a group that has figured a lot of things out with some major reinforcements on the way.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 3: Interesting Stories
6. New York Knicks (18-16)
Season Series vs. Magic: Knicks 115, Magic 102 in New York City on Oct. 24; Feb. 7 in Orlando; March 23 in Orlando
There is obviously a big drop off from the top five in the Eastern Conference to the next group of teams. Everyone from six on down seems to be hovering around .500 and this is likely where the bulk of the playoff race — at least what the Orlando Magic are paying attention to — will take place.
At this point, it is safe to say that .500 will probably earn a team a 6-seed or a Play-In sport. Teams will not be able to be much far below .500 to reach the postseason.
This is where the Knicks are sitting comfortably.
New York has found its groove defensively as all Tom Thibodeau teams do. The Knicks rank ninth in the league in defensive rating. Thhat is not the surprising part.
The surprising part instead is that Thibodeau is embracing the Knicks’ youth.
He has leaned more on young players like Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley over veterans Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose. That move has proven to be the right one as they have delivered defensively, helping boost the team led by Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett.
The Knicks figure to be a .500 team overall. But that is enough to get them back into the postseason and maybe planning more for their future again.
7. Atlanta Hawks (17-16)
Season Series vs. Magic: Hawks 108, Magic 98 in Atlanta on Oct. 21; Hawks 125, Magic 108 in Orlando on Nov. 30; Magic 135, Hawks 124 in Orlando on Dec. 14; Hawks 126, Magic 125 in Atlanta on Dec. 19
The Atlanta Hawks are seemingly always on the precipice of disarray. There are already reports that Trae Young could be the next disgruntled star to ask his way out if things do not change. The sharks are already circling.
And that does not even get into thhe continued rumors that Atlanta could be the big player at this year’s trade deadline with John Collins as the big prize on the move.
The Hawks are still a potent team. Young still puts up cazy scoring numbers — even with his poor 3-point shooting at a career-worst 31.1 percent. Dejounte Murray is a mid-range dynamo who is also passing the ball (along with Young) at insane rates. And they can pick and roll teams to death with Clint Capela creating space for all of them with his screening.
Atlanta has solid role players too. This should be a playoff team and there is likely a run coming for Atlanta. Their biggest problems seem to be those off-court and chhemistry issues. And that does not seem like an easy thhing Atlanta will resolve any time soon.
8. Indiana Pacers (17-16)
Season Series vs. Magic: Pacers 114, Magic 113 in Indianapolis on Nov. 19; Pacers 123, Magic 102 in Indianapolis on Nov. 21; Jan. 25 in Orlando; Feb. 25 in Orlando
The Indiana Pacers have started to cool off after their hot start. The Pacers had lost eight of 11 before winning their last two entering the holiday. The Pacers needed that to stop the bleeding some and get back on track.
Only time will tell whehter Indiana will be able to maintain this pace. But any thought that this team would be playing for ping pong balls has been put to rest. The team is reportedly engaging in extension negotiations with Myles Turner seemingly takng him off the board for potential trades as was anticipated offseason.
The big change for the Pacers has been Tyrese Haliburton. He is still playing at an All-Star level and should get his first nod when the game arrives in Salt Lake City in February.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 4: At the Cliff
9. Miami Heat (16-17)
Season Series vs. Magic: Jan. 27 in Miami; Feb. 11 in Orlando; March 11 in Orlando; April 9 in Miami
The Miami Heat have always been the team that seemingly cannot die. The team that always unearths the right player off the scrap heap or in the undiscovered source. Everything just seemed to click and work. That is HEAT culture, so to speak.
So it is confounding to figure out what is wrong with this Heat team and why things do not seem to be working out.
Jimmy Butler is still a star player, but he seemingly can only turn it on for select games. He is not able to do it every single night. Bam Adebayo is a dominant defensive force, but he has struggled to bring the scoring the Heat would have liked to see him grow into. Kyle Lowry is finally starting to look his age.
And the Heat’s magic in finding players in the second round and outside of the draft appears to have run out. Things are not clicking for the Heat.
There is still plenty of time for the Heat to right the ship. And this is not a franchise that will panic. But they are teetering on the edge as their core players and key scorers get older.
10. Toronto Raptors (15-18)
Season Series vs. Magic: Raptors 121, Magic 108 in Toronto on Dec. 3; Magic 113, Raptors 109 in Orlando on Dec. 9; Magic 111, Raptors 99 in Orlando on Dec. 11; Feb. 14 in Toronto
Like the Miami Heat, the Toronto Raptors are a stalwart of culture in the Eastern Conference. They seem incapable of dying. But all things must die. All things come to an end.
The Raptors seem to be teetering on the edge. Their core players are still potent. But struggling to mesh. Scottie Barnes has not taken a step forward from his Rookie of the Year campaign. Fred VanVleet has started to slow down.
They are all capable of having big games. And the Raptors are well set up with OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam for their next phase. But everyone is starting to circle this team, expecting them to be the next team to blow it up and start over.
Right now, that is all anyone is waiting for from the Raptors as they continue to struggle through a mediocre, disappointing season.
11. Chicago Bulls (14-18)
Season Series vs. Magic: Magic 108, Bulls 107 in Chicago on Nov. 18; Jan. 28 in Orlando; Feb. 13 in Chicago
Like the Toronto Raptors, the Chicago Bulls appear to be staring directly into the abyss. Unlike the Raptors, the Bulls do not have an easy way out. They do not have an escape hatch. They need this to work.
This is the corner the Bulls backed themselves into by pushing all in with the Nikola Vucevic trade — not only sending Wendell Carter out but the pick that became Franz Wagner and a top-4 protected pick in the 2023 draft. Bottoming out or restarting is not an option other than to rip off the bandage and just take their medicine to start over.
The Bulls are still plenty talented. DeMar DeRozan could very well be taking another trip to the All-Star Game. Vucevic has struggled to get himself acclimated. And Zach LaVine still does not seem completely right after his knee injury.
The Bulls though have no options but to keep trying this thing. The problem is they do not seem capable of doing much more than this. And that may leave them outside the postseason picture.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 5: In the hunt
12. Washington Wizards (13-21)
Season Series vs. Magic: Dec. 30 in Orlando; Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C.; March 21 in Orlando; March 31 in Washington, D.C.
Good luck trying to figure out the Washington Wizards. They are a team that is squarely in the play-in chase, but also a team that should probably be aiming for a bit more.
Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma each average more than 20 points per game. But only one other players is better than 10 points per game (the oft-injured Rui Hachimura at 11.8 points per game).
The Wizards are just a lesson in imbalance. They have not put many of their pieces together but remain potent enough that no one should overlook them.
They are right there in the hunt and should not be counted out. As the Magic showed in the 2019 season, it only takes a blistering quarter of the season to change a team’s fortunes. The Wizards just need everything to click into place.
13. Orlando Magic (13-21)
And here are the Orlando Magic then. Too good right now to be part of the “tanking tier” on the next slide, but still just outside the Play-In picture.
The Magic are a mere 2.5 games out of that final spot with plenty of teams to climb over. No one would blame you for having more confidence in the teams currently in the Play-In spots over a team like the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls. The Magic may need one of those teams to throw their hands up and give in.
Or the Magic could do what they have done to this point in the season and keep getting better and improving.
The Magic are not likely to maintain their torrid pace at the moment — winners of eight of the past nine and entering a soft spot in the schedule — but they are certainly capable of establishing a winning culture. The team has gotten healthier and so the Magic’s overall talent is starting to come forward.
Orlando just has to make up for that poor injury-filled start. And then deal with the adversity that will come up on the horizon — Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards will be a good test as will the West Coast trip in January. That is where we will find out if the Magic are serious about a Play-In push.
But the team’s goal was to play meaningful games later into the season. The Magic are getting their wish.
Christmas Day Eastern Conference Standings Check
Tier 6: The very bottom
14. Charlotte Hornets (9-24)
Season Series vs. Magic: Magic 113, Hornets 93 in Orlando on Oct. 28; Hornets 112, Magic 105 in Orlando on Nov. 14; Feb. 5 in Orlando; March 3 in Charlotte
The Charlotte Hornets probably did not imagine they would be sitting at the very bottom of the standings this year. LaMelo Ball on his own has seemingly pushed the team into Play-In contention, showing how even just one star can completely change a franchise’s outlook.
And so the story of the season for the Hornets has been who has been absent. Ball has played in only nine games so far this season. Charlotte has not been able to make that up.
Even with Ball, things have gotten bad. Steve Clifford did one of his patented rant-and-leave press conferences challenging his team to play defense instead of trying to outscore opponents. That was always the necessary evolution for Charlotte that the team has not hit.
The news that came down Friday before Christmas that they have begun engaging contract negotiations with Miles Bridges after he was charged with assault in the offseason shows the desperation the Hornets have to save their season.
This boat is already sinking to the top of the Lottery.
15. Detroit Pistons (8-27)
Season Series vs. Magic: Pistons 113, Magic 109 in Detroit on Oct. 19; Dec. 28 in Detroit; Feb. 23 in Orlando; April 2 in Orlando
The Detroit Pistons probably thought they could be doing what the Orlando Magic are doing or what the Cleveland Cavaliers did last year. Ride their second-year player’s improvement into serrious contention, sprinkle in the right veterans and see what happens.
They wanted to have the same feelings the Magic are having right now.
Instead, the Pistons seem ready to go back to the Lottery and try again.
Cade Cunningham is dealing with a shin injury and will miss the season to undergo surgery. That is the surest sign the Pistons are already focusing on next year.
Even though they signed Bojan Bogdanovic to a contract extension, the Pistons are considering moving him to further their rebuild. They will need other pieces to emerge though. Saddiq Bey has not taken the step forward as a supporting player that this Pistons team imagined.
Right now, they have Cunningham and not a whhole lot else to build with. At least on his own. So Detroit is still identifying its identity and style at this point.