Paolo Banchero could not lie, he is excited for the team's eight-game homestand that began with Sunday's win over the Toronto Raptors. Just 14 games remain this season. And the team will spend two and a half weeks and half of those games during this homestand.
Considering Orlando is 23-8 at the Kia Center, the team certainly enjoys playing on the home parquet. The eight-game homestand is an opportunity to climb the standings and establish themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Orlando has firmly put itself in that picture and it is unlikely the team will fade or fall out of the postseason picture, provided the team takes care of its business. The Magic are one win away from clinching not only a winning record for the second time since 2012, but one win away from clinching a spot in at least the Play-In Tournament.
The ambitions for this team are certainly a lot higher than anyone could have imagined back at the beginning of the season.
The standings are tight. The Magic are in the thick of a neck-and-neck race for homecourt advantage. They have a little cushion over the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat for sixth, seventh and eighth. Even a two-game losing streak could turn the standings on their head.
The Orlando Magic are even chasing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 3-seed! The Orlando Magic are as close to the 3-seed Cleveland Cavaliers as it is to the 7-seed Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
Off days like Monday night are exciting now because everyone can sit back and fret over results elsewhere in the league. Especially when the Cavaliers face the Pacers and the 76ers take on the Heat in matchups that have a direct impact on the Magic.
Orlando's schedule still feels favorable with the homestand getting going. The Orlando Magic will face one of its most difficult stretches remaining when they take on four straight Western Conference playoff opponents beginning Thursday with the New Orleans Pelicans -- and continuing with the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
And that does not get to the difficult closing stretch that will see the Magic go on the road for five of the final seven games.
Orlando knows it has to get its wins now. Other teams are feeling the same way.
Just like we know the Magic's schedule will play a role in where they end up so too will the schedule for their direct competition. With most teams having 15 or 14 games remaining, it is time to put into perspective what everyone else has in store in addition to the Magic on the road to the playoffs.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
2. Milwaukee Bucks (44-24)
Home/Road: 8/6
Opponent Win%: .541 (4th hardest)
Biggest Game Left: March 20 at Boston/April 9 vs. Boston
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): April 10 in Milwaukee; April 14 in Orlando (Series Tied 1-1)
There is still at least an outside chance for the Orlando Magic to catch the 2-seed Milwaukee Bucks. That sentence alone is amazing to think about at this late stage of the season. And with two direct matchups remaining, Orlando feasibly can catch Milwaukee.
Especially considering the Bucks have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. They still have two games with the Boston Celtics (Wednesday and April 9) and both of their games against the Oklahoma City Thunder (March 24 and April 12) remaining.
Milwaukee has had a roller coaster season integrating Damian Lillard into the lineup and then changing coaches midseason with Doc Rivers. They have steadied the ship, but still have not looked completely right in the process.
Still, they are sitting in second in the Eastern Conference. They are still dangerous and still have two of the best players in the league.
They are not playing to fend off the Magic. They are playing to compete for championships. And everyone understands they have another gear they will reach and get to quickly. That is why they care more about their games against the Celtics and Thunder than the games against the Magic, which would have a lot more meaning.
Milwaukee should be plenty tested when it gets to the Playoffs with how difficult the schedule is down the stretch. The Bucks are the kind of team that does not worry about the best teams. Those are games they expect to win.
Still, their road to the Playoffs is a tough one. A lot of it though will come at Fiserv Forum with just one extended road trip -- a three-game trip to New Orleans (March 28), Atlanta (March 30) and Washington (April 2) -- on the horizon. The Bucks have all of their biggest games at home.
Their hope has to be that they can put some distance and make the season finale in Orlando (part of a closing two-game road trip that starts in Oklahoma City) irrelevant for the standings.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-25)
Home/Road: 6/8
Opponent Win%: .487 (13th easiest)
Biggest Game Left: March 20 vs. Miami/March 24 at Miami
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): None (Series Tied 2-2)
The Cleveland Cavaliers breathed a small sigh of relief after erasing an early deficit and withstanding a late rally to defeat the Indiana Pacers on Monday. It was a big win for a Cavs team that has come down off their high from January and is trying to get Donovan Mitchell back from injury.
While the opponent win percentage strength for the Cavaliers is not particularly difficult, the Cavaliers will still have a challenging road through the rest of their schedule.
It is a road-heavy path for the Cavs to get to the Playoffs. That includes a five-game West Coast road trip late in the season that includes the trip to face the Denver Nuggets (March 31) and the Los Angeles double (April 6-7).
If the Cavaliers will slip and let the Magic climb back into the race for third -- they lead the Magic by three games and the two teams split the season series -- it will likely be on this West Coast road trip. That is also where the Magic will play the most difficult part of their remaining schedule with a road-heavy finish.
Cleveland is hoping to get Mitchell back from his injury during that time. Otherwise, the Cleveland Cavaliers have some interesting matchups with the Miami Heat (Wednesday and Sunday) and Minnesota Timberwolves (Friday) remaining on the schedule. They get one final matchup with the Indiana Pacers too (April 12).
The Magic have a chance to make up part of that ground with so many marquee matchups for the Cavaliers occurring this week. Orlando knows it will have to use this homestand as an opportunity to bank wins.
The good money, of course, is on the Magic staying in the 4/5 matchup. There may not be enough time to make up all the ground to reach Cleveland in third.
But it is not impossible. And it is something everyone has to have an eye on. At least for the next week.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
4. New York Knicks (41-27)
Home/Road: 6/8
Opponent Win%: .495 (14th hardest)
Biggest Game Left: April 2 and Miami
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): None (ORL Leads 3-1)
The New York Knicks likely looked at a four-game West Coast road trip as a major proving ground for their injured and struggling team. It could be a moment to galvanize the team or a moment that could break them apart.
Was there any doubt -- even with OG Anunoby re-aggravating his elbow injury -- the Knicks would come together with Jalen Brunson and Tom Thibodeau? And Julius Randle is due back soon. The Knicks are poised for a push.
New York has won the first three games of the road trip after defeating the Golden State Warriors 119-112 -- pay no attention to Josh Hart playing all 48 minutes and Deuce McBride not getting a rest until the fourth quarter, maybe that will come back to bite them, maybe not. The Knicks close that road trip out with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
The tests for New York do not end there though. The Knicks have a stretch of seven road games in nine games before closing the season at home for two straight games.
In addition to the game against the Nuggets, they also have road games against the Milwaukee Bucks (April 7) and Boston Celtics (April 11) still on the horizon in that road-heavy stretch. But the Knicks can count a lot of manageable games too, especially on the road -- hello trip to San Antonio (March 29).
The Knicks' schedule sets up for them to maintain their spot at the least. They do not have a super tough schedule even though it is very road-heavy. And New York keeps proving how mentally tough the group is as the Playoffs approach.
Perhaps the Knicks will feel the wear of the heavy minutes they have had to play since all the injuries hit. But closing at home against the Brooklyn Nets (April 12) and Chicago Bulls (April 14) is probably going to be enough to secure the 4-seed for them.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
5. Orlando Magic (40-28)
Home/Road: 9/5
Opponent Win%: .492 (15th hardest)
Biggest Game Left: April 12 at Philadelphia
When the schedule came out in August, everyone who looked at the Orlando Magic's path to the postseason knew all they had to do was get to the All-Star Break and their post-All-Star schedule would set up for their success.
Orlando has taken advantage of that soft part in the schedule. The team has gone 10-3 since the All-Star Break. That includes a 10-1 record against teams outside of the playoff picture. The Magic have feasted all year in games like this.
For a young team then, the late-season losses to the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers feel big. They were opportunities to prove the magic could also beat playoff-level teams.
The soft part of the schedule ends though after Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Magic are going to start seeing a real challenge.
And whether they hold onto the 5-seed, compete for the 3- or 4-seed likely gets determined in the next four games -- vs. the New Orleans Pelicans (Thursday), Sacramento Kings (Saturday), Golden State Warriors (March 27) and LA Clippers (March 29).
All of those games might be at the Kia Center and the comforts of home, but they are all against playoff-level teams. The Magic still have to prove themselves.
The challenges only grow from there. The cost of their eight-game homestand is finishing with five of their final seven on the road.
Their final three-game road trip includes an insane Houston-to-Milwaukee back-to-back (April 9 and 10). That game against the Milwaukee Bucks may have seeding implications with the Orlando Magic chasing the Bucks.
That road trip concludes in the penultimate game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on April 12. The Magic lead the 76ers by two games for fifth at the moment. And Philadelphia is hoping to have Joel Embiid back by the first week of April.
That game suddenly seems like it will have everything on the line for the Magic. It is not an easy road home.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
6. Philadelphia 76ers (38-30)
Home/Road: 5/9
Opponent Win%: .489 (14th easiest)
Biggest Game Left: April 4 at Miami
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): April 12 in Philadelphia (PHI leads 2-0)
The Philadelphia 76ers have been waiting for Joel Embiid's return. And they got some good news on that front as his doctors said they were pleased with his progress and he has begun a tentative return to practice. There is a chance Embiid will be back on the floor in April.
That does not feel like it could not come soon enough. The Sixers have gone 9-13 since Embiid tore his meniscus. That has opened the door for a team like the Magic to climb into the 4/5 discussion and made the race for sixth wide open.
Even if Embiid returns and comes back close to the MVP level he was playing at, the Sixers arguably have the toughest path forward, even if the opponents are not difficult. Having just five home games remaining is a tough task. Although, Philadelphia is 17-15 away from Wells Fargo Center.
The Sixers start a four-game, seven-day West Coast road trip Wednesday in Phoenix against the Phoenix Suns. That includes the Los Angeles double (March 22 and 24). The Philadelphia 76ers also still have two games remaining against the LA Clippers (at home on March 27 when they get back from their West Coast trip).
There is no benefit of multiple games home after that road trip either. They go right back on the road on March 29 to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It is not an easy road for the Sixers, even with the hope of getting Embiid back. But the opponent level is not the strongest. They do not have any of the elite teams in the league remaining on their schedule.
And a closing three-game homestand -- vs. the Detroit Pistons (April 9), Orlando Magic (April 12) and Brooklyn Nets (April 14) -- is the reward for such a road-heavy finish. If Philadelphia is in striking distance to climb a spot, this is still a team that is dangerous to do so.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
7. Indiana Pacers (38-31)
Home/Road: 5/8
Opponent Win%: .485 (12th easiest)
Biggest Game Left: April 7 vs. Miami
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): None (ORL Leads 2-1)
The Indiana Pacers have a weird split that they will be working to solve the rest of their season.
The Pacers are pretty solid against good teams in the league -- 20-19 against teams with record better than .500. Only the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are better than the Indiana Pacers against teams with records better than .500.
The Pacers though are only 18-12 against teams with record worse than .500. Only the 10-seed Atlanta Hawks have a worse record against teams below .500 in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
So if Monday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers felt a little bit weightier and more important. That might be why. Not that the game was easy. But the Pacers losing an early double-digit lead doe snot inspire confidence that their offense-first style is going to work in the Playoffs.
The Pacers have to take care of their business. And they will have plenty of opportunity to do so with the Detroit Pistons (Wednesday), Brooklyn Nets (April 1 and 3) and Toronto Raptors (April 9) still on the schedule.
Whether the Pacers will make that push for to avoid the Play-In is going to be determined based on how they handle their NCAA Tournament road trip that begins Wednesday in Detroit and takes them out West to face the Golden State Warriors (March 22), Los Angeles Lakers (March 24) and LA Clippers (March 25) before bringing them back East to face the Chicago Bulls (March 27).
Yuck. That is a bad road trip.
The Orlando Magic, who lead the Indiana Pacers by 2.5 games now, will have their own challenging schedule during that stretch. But the Magic will be at home that entire time. They could put a lot of cushion between them and the Pacers.
The good news for Indiana might be that an April 5 game at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder is the only remaining game against a title contender.
The April 7 game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Miami Heat looms as the most important game remaining on the schedule. The Pacers currently lead the Heat by a half-game for seventh in the Eastern Conference. That game could determine whether the Pacers skip the Play-In Tournament or whether they host the 7/8 Play-In Game.
What the Orlando Magic's playoff competitors have left on their schedule
8. Miami Heat (37-31)
Home/Road: 9/5
Opponent Win%: .481 (6th easiest)
Biggest Game Left: April 7 at Indiana
Games Left vs. Magic (Season Series): None (MIA Leads 3-1)
The refrain from Orlando Magic fans has to be, "Anybody but Miami."
At this point, everybody in the Eastern Conference has appropriate fear for the Miami Heat. They just always know to show up at this time of the year and their seed does not matter. They play a grimy style that works in the Playoffs.
A young team like the Magic wants nothing to do with an inexperienced team. Barring a really bad stretch to the end the season, it feels like the Magic will avoid a 7/8 Play-In Game against them.
But of all the teams chasing the Magic for a spot in the Playoffs proper or for the 4/5 matchup, the Heat might be the most dangerous. Their schedule sets up extremely favorably for them.
They play nine of their final 14 games at Kaseya Center, where the Heat are just 17-15. Perhaps that is a sign that things are not so easy.
Still, outside of the Magic's current eight-game homestand, nobody is enjoying the comforts of home quite like Miami to close the season. And the Heat's games are more spread out whereas the Magic get all their home games at once.
The Miami Heat will have a four-game homestand that features the New Orleans Pelicans (March 22, the day after facing the Orlando Magic), Cleveland Cavaliers (March 24), Golden State Warriors (March 26, the day before heading to Orlando) and Portland Trail Blazers (March 29).
They close the season with the Dallas Mavericks (April 10) and two against the Toronto Raptors (April 12 and 14) at home. That is a favorable finish and a chance for them to make up ground for sure.
Their road games are not daunting either. They face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday on the road and the Indiana Pacers on April 7. But other than that, they are facing manageable teams on the road.
The Heat could easily make a late charge. They are not far enough out of this to make a run considering their reputation. Then again, the Heat know how to manage themselves too.
Everyone should know better than to count them out.