Not much is expected from the seventh-seed Orlando Magic this postseason. For their first round match-up, the unlikely contenders are headed to Canada to take on one of basketball's best teams in the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors are heavily favored in this series, and it would take nothing short of a miracle for Orlando to come out on top. But don't tell that to the Magic. They are still very confident and ready to battle.
In particular, the series means something extra for center Khem Birch. The Montreal native gets to play basketball in his home country in front of his family and friends.
Via Josh Robbins of The Athletic:
Birch is a Canadian who will have his family, including his 3-month-old daughter, Ariadne, in the Scotiabank Arena stands.
“This is my destiny,” Birch said. “Me and my friend talked about this a month ago. The fact that my family is going to see me and my daughter is going to watch me play for the first time — even though she has no idea what basketball is, she has no idea who I am — just the fact she’s going to be there is going to be special.
“Just how we played tonight, we played with nothing to lose, that’s how we’re going to go into the Toronto series. I think they have more to lose than we do. So it’s going to be a great series.”
Birch, 26, was born in Montreal but attended college in the United States. He began at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
He went undrafted in 2014 and spend time in the G-League and Europe before finally making his NBA debut with Orlando in 2017.
For his career, the center averaged 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists over 92 games (one start).
He is unlikely to play much during this series, but hopefully he will at least make an appearance.
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