5 questions for the fourth quarter of the Orlando Magic’s 2023 season

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic enter the final quarter of the season with a lot to play for and a lot of growth still to make. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic enter the final quarter of the season with a lot to play for and a lot of growth still to make. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
Cole Anthony has helped the Orlando Magic get on the attack and powered their bench lineups to save games. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s fourth quarter

Will the Orlando Magic gain ground in the postseason chase?

The Orlando Magic want to be in the postseason chase.

The goal is close enough — for those who prefer tanking still (first, yuck), the Orlando Magic are closer to the postseason at 4.5 games behind the Washington Wizards than the tank chase at 6.5 games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets for fourth in the Lottery standings — that it feels within reach.

But it will take a heck of a run for the Magic to make the postseason. And Orlando has already lost some important games in the run to the postseason.

That loss last Saturday to the Indiana Pacers was big because the Orlando Magic not only have to make up the ground in terms of games behind the final spot, they have to pass over three teams — the Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards — to get to that spot.

That is going to be tough on its own beyond the games the Magic have to make up.

The 10th-seeded Wizards are currently on pace to win 39 games. If that is the number to make the Playoffs (and the Magic still have two more games against the Wizards to split the season series), then the Magic need to go 13-6 in their final 19 games to make the playoffs.

That is a 56-win pace.

To say the least, if the Magic make the Play-In Tournament, we probably should be getting very excited about the 2024 season and what that could mean. It would take an incredible run for the Magic to play extra basketball.

There is still a lot of value in the attempt though. Even if the Magic fall short of the Play-In Tournament, they will feel the pressure of games that matter. They will feel the weight of every loss and how much they matter.

Orlando needs to fail now when there is nothing to lose so they can know what to do and how to win in these situations when the pressure gets applied next year.

This team is going to regret its 5-20 start even with all the injuries as something that cost the team a tangible goal. And if that is the reason the Magic miss the postseason this year, it sets them up for a big run next year in what should be a playoff year filled with playoff expectations.