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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 42: Preparing for a fun season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Markelle Fultz and the Orlando Magic find themselves squarely in a postseason push and have every reason to keep going for it. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Markelle Fultz and the Orlando Magic find themselves squarely in a postseason push and have every reason to keep going for it. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Dec 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 42

Over/Under

"DraftKings says the Magic will win more games than last year and miss the playoffs. What are your thoughts? – Davie Erickson on YouTube"

This is actually a really interesting question.

As of Friday evening, DraftKings has the Orlando Magic sitting at an over/under of 36.5 wins. That has them tied for 10th with the Indiana Pacers (the Atlanta Hawks at over/under 42.5 wins is a choice and the Brooklyn Nets at over/under 37.5 wins is flirting with trouble).

At least as a betting proposition, I think the Magic are likely to hit their over — remember the team just won 34 games despite a 5-20 start, so 36 seems like a floor. And as a standings predictor, this at least suggests the Magic are going to be in the postseason conversation.

I personally think the Magic and Pacers will be better than the Hawks and Nets. While I still do not know what to make of the Toronto Raptors and have enough faith in the top end of the Chicago Bulls’ roster to put them in the postseason conversation, there is at least plenty of room for the Orlando Magic to be a postseason team.

I will say this unequivocally: The Magic should be a postseason team this year. I expect them to be in the postseason. I do not know whether they will be in the first Play-In Tournament game or the second, but I think they will accomplish that goal.

However, I do not want to foreclose the idea that the Magic can have a “successful” season without making the postseason. The goal should be to get better and even in falling short, I think the Magic can learn what they need to get over that hump.

Still, results matter. And the Magic need results to matter more. So I think the Magic are going to hit that over and I think they will make the postseason this year.