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3 Up, 3 Down for the Orlando Magic’s future playoff spot

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bol Bol of the Orlando Magic drives to the net as JT Thor of the Charlotte Hornets defends (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

3 Up, 3 Down in the Eastern Conference playoff picture

3 Up: Charlotte Hornets

It is easy to forget about the Charlotte Hornets. They had the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and really struggled for a number of reasons last year.

The first is LaMelo Ball played only 36 games last year. That was a big loss for the Hornets. He has been the catalyst for this Hornets’ team’s limited success the last few years and an All-Star talent. There was simply no replacing his offensive push and force.

The second was the decision not to retain Miles Bridges after his sexual assault charge during the offseason. The Hornets made the right decision to keep Bridges at arm’s length and not bring him back in after such a serious criminal charge. But they missed that versatile forward and they could not replace his scoring output.

Teams in the play-in range are always on a knife’s edge. Injuries to the wrong key players lead to disaster.

But it is easy to forget then that the Hornets made the Play-In Tournament the previous two seasons. They did not win in either tournament, but that showed enough spark to think they could be competitive. And Steve Clifford is a wizard and milking every ounce of defensive energy out of his teams and teaching young teams how to win at a basic level.

Putting together a healthy LaMelo Ball along with the second overall pick — Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller — and the Hornets should be right back at least where they were before Ball’s injuries last year. And that is Play-In contention.

There are a lot of holes to plug. How much should the team rely on Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier and can they retain Kelly Oubre Jr. (watch for him on the Orlando Magic free agent front if they miss on some guys)? And this still was not a good defensive team through it all — 20th in the league at 114.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.

Next. 4 things Orlando Magic fans want to see in the 35th anniversary season. dark

This Hornets will be better just because of health next season. And that will be a threat to the Magic’s inevitable rise.